MT SW1500 DCC conversions

[amato1969]

Great-looking lashup!

  Frank

[Philip H]

So my white KCS SW has moved onto the project short list, and I'm thinking about decoders.  The advice in this thread is very useful - I clearly need more Kapton Tape then I have on hand - but I have to wonder if the challenges with these boards auger for a hard wire install of the smaller N/Z decoders from TCS and Digitrax.  I'm sure there's 47 reasons why I should just kapton the heck out of the thing and use one of these . . . . but thought I'd ask.

And anyone of you with a DCC decoded unit that has video, throw it up here!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Just get out the tape and go to town.

And here are a pair of them with their Atlas cousins:

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Or are you looking for under the hood shots?
I finally got the blog post published on that: http://conrail1285.com/dcc-installation-in-micro-trains-sw1500s/

[mu26aeh]

I have my MT1500 with TCS, a Lifelike SW9/1200 with digitrax meant for MT UNIT, and 2 more Lifelike SW9/1200 units with TCS M1's installed.  TCS units have better slow speed control right out of package.  I haven't changed any cv's though.

Biggest issue with any of them is the electrical pick up system.  Still need to work on that.

[peteski]

So my white KCS SW has moved onto the project short list, and I'm thinking about decoders.  The advice in this thread is very useful - I clearly need more Kapton Tape then I have on hand - but I have to wonder if the challenges with these boards auger for a hard wire install of the smaller N/Z decoders from TCS and Digitrax.  I'm sure there's 47 reasons why I should just kapton the heck out of the thing and use one of these . . . . but thought I'd ask.

Like this?


I think that Adam might have been a bit overzealous Kaptoning in this thread. But he finally got rid of the pesky short!

To be honest, I'm really puzzled at all the problems I see with the decoder installs in this type of chassis (SW1200.SW1500).  I would like to try to get to the bottom of this problem, but not bad enough to spend a hundred dollars to try to install one of those decoders. 

[mu26aeh]

Like this?


I think that Adam might have been a bit overzealous Kaptoning in this thread. But he finally got rid of the pesky short!

To be honest, I'm really puzzled at all the problems I see with the decoder installs in this type of chassis (SW1200.SW1500).  I would like to try to get to the bottom of this problem, but not bad enough to spend a hundred dollars to try to install one of those decoders. 

I think I could take 90% of the tape off and be fine now.  All problems went away when I milled away area a little bit where decoder slides in.

[Joetrain59]

So what is this Kapton tape I've read about so much? Thinner than vinyl electrical tape? Where does one buy this.

Also, with decoder installed in MT SW1500, is there a rear, cab end light now???
 Thanks,
 Joe D

[RBrodzinsky]

So what is this Kapton tape I've read about so much? Thinner than vinyl electrical tape? Where does one buy this.

Also, with decoder installed in MT SW1500, is there a rear, cab end light now???
 Thanks,
 Joe D

It is a high temperature polyimide film with silicon adhesive. As seen above, it is very thin (1, 2 or 5 mils thick) and transparent. Much much thinner than vinyl electrical tape. You can get a "lifetime" supply with a roll from TCS.

Unless you add the rear lights and wire to the pads on the decoder, no.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

And more than you ever wanted to know.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapton

I was actually just looking its origin up myself.