Kato emd SD90/43MAC - MRC 1808

french_guy Jul 4, 2020

  1. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    Hello
    I'm going to install the MRC #1808 on my Kato emd sd90/43mac.....I know MRC decoders are not considered the best, but this particular one seems to have good reviews. Anyway, I will give it a try (and can still return it to Amazon assuming it's terrible)
    The instruction says to tape on these locations:
    MRC 1808.JPG

    So it looks like the 2 motor pick-up tabs on the side must be covered by tape? Then it means electric pick up is done thru the frame, on the top of the decoder using some of the pcb's pads?
    Thanks
     
  2. BRS Hobbies

    BRS Hobbies TrainBoard Member

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    I look at it as the vertical motor contacts are on the outside of the tape which insulates it from the frame. If you look at the second picture in the instructions, it shows the vertical motor contact outside of the tape with the decoder in place.
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2020
  3. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    Well.........it's not very clear actually
    Are you saying the tape should be place in between the frame and the 2 tabs?
    1 tab is going up, and one is going down....doesn't seem easy to do
    The 2nd picture doesn't show much actually: I mean it doesn't really help to tell if the tabs must be OVER or UNDER the tape....
    mrc #2.JPG
     
  4. BRS Hobbies

    BRS Hobbies TrainBoard Member

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    The way I interpret it is the first picture is prepping and insulating the frame from the decoder. The second picture is showing how it looks after the installation. The main thing is that the vertical motor contacts and the decoder is insulated from the frame. I can't think of a reason to have the tape on the outside of the vertical motor contacts since the loco shell is made out of plastic.
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2020
  5. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, I agree it's weird....But on the 1st picture, it says "Tape must extend down the side as shown".....it's very hard to see where is the motor tab actually
    And I can't find a video on Youtube for this decoder !!!
     
  6. BRS Hobbies

    BRS Hobbies TrainBoard Member

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    It looks like they removed the motor tabs in the 1st picture to show how the tape should go down the side. You would able to see the motor tabs sticking up at the top if they were still attached.
     
  7. french_guy

    french_guy TrainBoard Member

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    So for the sides, I guess I need to make sure the red areas are covered with tape, right?

    side #1.jpg side #2.jpg
     
  8. BRS Hobbies

    BRS Hobbies TrainBoard Member

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    That's correct.
     

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