Installing a DN163k0a into Kato Electric Locomotives

[lbriand_fr]

I'm waiting for a DN163K0a for my EF66.

It's just a drop-in decoder, or some modifications are needed?

[CaptOblivious]

I'm waiting for a DN163K0a for my EF66.

It's just a drop-in decoder, or some modifications are needed?

 

Some modifications are needed. You will need to remove the two LEDs from the decoder, and shorten their leads. The placement of the solder pads is sufficiently different that you can't simply switch out the new LEDs for the ones in the original lightboard: You must use trim the leads on the LEDs on the decoder.

 

The second issue is that connectivity with the motor tabs is spotty at best. You can either, as Kashgiri has done, use tiny folded up bits of tin foil placed between the decoder and the motor tabs, or as I have done, solder them in place.

[CaptOblivious]

There is also more information in this thread:

 

http://www.jnsforum.com/index.php/topic,299.0.html

[kashirigi]

I wrote about my experiences installing this decoder here:

 

http://cargoplus.dynalias.net:82/content/view/29/19/

 

You might have to unblock port 82.

 

One day I will find an ISP that doesn't block port 80.

[lbriand_fr]

Thanks.

This looks like the Kato DD51 and the DN163K1b, it's a "near-drop-in" decoder  8)

[kashirigi]

Sorry, I should read more carefully. . .

[CaptOblivious]

Sorry, I should read more carefully. . .

 

huh?

[lbriand_fr]

My DN160K0a arrived at last... ::) (with 2 DZ125, 1 for my Pacina, and the other for a DE10)

 

After a quick glance, I have to shorten the lead's LED for 5mm.

I'll take some pics tomorrow.

[lbriand_fr]

Installation done.

So, the DN163K0a is definitively not a drop-in decoder for the EF66  :D

After shorten the leads of the LED once, I shorten them once again (for 1 damned mm)

 

the connectivity with the motor works fine without any change.

Until I put back the shell...

 

So I use the Kashirigi method, and now it's OK

 

The 1st picture show the Kapton tape on the brass pickup rails, and the DN163K0a with one of his LED shorten (at this time with a nice soldering).

The second, shows the decoder in place with some ugly soldering  ont the leads of the LED (Sometimes I thonk that we should have 4 hands to make nice soldering).

The last one is just after the 1st test run.