Kato EMD SD45

Scale:
N Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


N Scale Kato EMD SD45 with TCS K1D4 Decoder installation. Performed by TCS.

This is a very simple drop in board replacement installation.

First remove the shell. Do this by gently prying up underneath the steps a little at a time. Going back and forth first prying the front then the back. Evenly work off the shell. Below is a picture of the frame with the shell removed and the original lighting board installed.
First remove the shell. Do this by gently prying up underneath the steps a little at a time. Going back and forth first prying the front then the back. Evenly work off the shell. Below is a picture of the frame with the shell removed and the original lighting board installed.
Be sure to apply an insulator (here we used Kapton tape, but eletrical tape would work as well) over the frame to prevent the motor tabs from shorting on the frame. Photo below shows K1D4 decoder installed. You will need to file the inside corners where the decoder fits over the frame to the right of the motor tabs, just a slight amount of filing is needed.
Be sure to apply an insulator (here we used Kapton tape, but eletrical tape would work as well) over the frame to prevent the motor tabs from shorting on the frame. Photo below shows K1D4 decoder installed. You will need to file the inside corners where the decoder fits over the frame to the right of the motor tabs, just a slight amount of filing is needed.

Important Soldering Tip

Please do not use any flux either liquid or paste on the mother board. Over time, the acidic properties of liquid or paste flux will begin eating away at the fiberglass PCB and will damage it. Use only Rosin-core solder or no-clean flux approved for electronics use.

TCS recommends the use of Kester "44" Sn63 Pb37, .015" diameter Rosin-core solder. Kester part number 24-6337-0007.

You can order this solder from the following retailers:
Digikey - PN:KE1110-ND
Techni-Tool - PN:488SO6775

Other solder tips

When stripping wire, only strip a tiny little bit of the insulation. Strip no more than a 1/32 of an inch. When the wire gets tinned with solder, the insulation will shrink back more. Try to not expose any more wire than half the length of the solder pad at most. In no case should solder or exposed wire wire ever be outside the boundary of the the solder pad you are attaching a wire to.
Click here for important information on properly Stripping and Tinning wire