DCC Install: Kato "Sunrise Express" with EM13 / FL12 / FR11 decoders

[Madsing]

These are the steps I have followed to install EM13, FR11 and FR12 decoders in the Kato 10-1564 "Sunrise Express". This is a custom install that requires modification of the light boards and soldering of (very small) wires directly to the decoders. No modification of the car's frame was required.

 

Part 1. EM13 motor decoder

 

• Separate / Isolate the motor connections from the wheel pickup bars using kapton tape.

 

 

• Solder four wires to the EM13, two (DCC) will be connected to the wheel pickups, two will be connected to the motor.

 

 

• The EM13 is on top the car, next to the interior LED.

 

 

• The two wires going to the motor are routed through the corridor. The two wires going to the wheel pickup bars can be soldered at multiple places. I chose to solder them to the two collector bars provided with the 11-221 interior lights.

[Madsing]

Part 2. FR11 interior light decoder

 

• Remove the PCB with the LED and bend its leads towards the back.
• Drill two 1mm holes in the white plastic support for the leads.

• Solder the two LED outputs of the FR11 decoder to the leads. The slot of the FR11 should be at the top. The big 8-pin SMD chip on the FR11 should face inside the car.

 

  

• Solder the two collector bars provided with the 11-221 kit to the two DCC input pads of the FR11.

[Madsing]

Part 3. FL12 head and tail lights decoder

 

• Disassemble the light board. Cut the PCB where indicated below.

• Cut the tracks as indicated (two places).

• Reverse (unsolder, bend the leads in the opposite direction then solder again) the red LED. The white and the red LED should now be in the same direction with their anode (+) connected together to one side of the SMD resistor, and their cathode (-) separated.
• Solder three wires between the LEDs and the FL12 decoder.

 

  

• Wire #1 (red) from the FL12 ⊕ to other side of the SMD resistor (the side not connected to the LEDs).
• Wire #2 (black) from the FL12 LED1 ⊖ to the cathode (-) of the red LED.
• Wire #3 (black) from the FL12 LED2 ⊖ to the cathode (-) of the white LED.
• Finally, solder (using two very short wires) the two DCC inputs of the FL12 decoder to the two collector bars of the light boards.

 

• The whole assembly should fit into the grey frame without requiring any modification

[chadbag]

Cool!