Installing TCS K3D3 (or Digitrax DN123K3) into Kato NW2

TwinDad Mar 15, 2011

  1. TwinDad

    TwinDad TrainBoard Member

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    Hey, all.

    This install is so easy it hardly needs a how-to, but I wrote one anyway on my blog. Specifically it's for the TCS K3D3 decoder into a Kato NW2, but it will work (I believe - have not tested) for the Digitrax DN123K3 as well.

    Please feel free to have a read and, if you like, provide some feedback. Here's a couple of pictures...

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    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 15, 2011
    Breech2021a likes this.
  2. DCESharkman

    DCESharkman TrainBoard Member

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    Hey TwinDad,

    Nice photos on the installation.

    I can confirm that the installation for the Digitrax decoder is exactly the same.

    There was a mixup and Digitrax decoders showed up instead of TCS decoders, but what the heck. So I have installed both and they are both extremely simple , fast and easy conversions.
     
  3. TwinDad

    TwinDad TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, David. I kept asking myself as I took the shots... what would I want to see if I was reading a tutorial or instruction manual...

    And thanks for the confirmation on the Digitrax. I was pretty sure from looking at the pictures, but didn't want to overstep in case there was some hidden "gotcha"...
     
  4. Pete Steinmetz

    Pete Steinmetz TrainBoard Member

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    Some people had problems with this decoder. I think it was getting the motor clips installed on the board and seating them on the side of the motor.

    I have done 3 and didn't have a problem.

    Thanks for the photos.
     
    Breech2021a likes this.
  5. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    I have done two of these for myself and several more for club-mates. If I remember correctly, the Digitrax boards tend to be a little thinner than the PC boards, whereas the TCS boards are slightly thicker. (I could have those flipped.) On the thinner decoders I take the board back out and take the flat edge of a screwdrivers and apply some firm but careful pressure downward - just a little, and then test fit the board. On the thicker decoders, I insert a small flat screwdriver blade and apply gental upward pressure and then test fit.

    But, yes, these are pretty easy conversions. Nice photos!
     
  6. gregamer

    gregamer TrainBoard Supporter

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    I've done a couple and it was kind of difficult to remove the motor clips. I slid an exacto knife behind one side and kind of bent the clips to get them off. Then straightened them back out before reinstalling.
     
  7. Frank Cotton

    Frank Cotton TrainBoard Member

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    not so happy

    Actually, I do have problems with the board and I am very unhappy.

    First, the smoke stoke at the front - the one farther away from the cab - is being pushed out by the board.

    The ONLY solution is to cut the pin on the smoke stack and to glue it into position.

    Second, as the PCB is thicker than the original PCB and as it has one very thick electrical component - brownish, on the right side, near the big microchip and towards the - it pushes the shell upwards at the front.

    When assembled, the shell rides visibly higher at the front than at the back of the loco.

    Third, but this is a minor problem, the LED near the cab, which lights be back light, isn't sloped like on the original PCB, so the back light isn't lit evenly.

    Man, I love all TCS decoders, but this one is the exception. :thumbs_down:

    I've got no idea how to resolve the problems.

    If it were possible to remove some plastic from the shell so it wouldn't ride so high at the front, but the shell is alread really thin where it needs to be thinned, so this is a no-no.
     
  8. SteamDonkey74

    SteamDonkey74 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Frank,

    These are unusual problems for this board. I wonder if it is not seating correctly. Do you have some photos of the locomotive with and without the shell? Maybe we could help you resolve these.

    Best,
    Adam
     
  9. Breech2021a

    Breech2021a TrainBoard Member

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    Anyone know where the u+ 12v. And ground wire for a TCS keep alive go on this TCS k3D3 board? I managed to fit their KA2 keep alive circuits in the cab. I just can’t find a schematic to do some more wiring. Any help is much appreciated.
     
  10. Breech2021a

    Breech2021a TrainBoard Member

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    Good news, Dan Mycio with TCS train control systems updated the TCS tech page with a wiring diagram where to install the keep alive wires. 4ECC030B-EB29-4146-AC43-92550CCF2C20.jpeg
     

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