I recently bought the new Kato SD40-2 and have the proper decoder (DN163K1C) ready to install. I have not taken the shell off the frame yet. The Digitrax blurb says that I have to ‘apply a small piece of Kapton tape to frame above motor’.
I guess I have a couple of questions if someone can help me. Firstly why is Kapton (or any insulating tape necessary) when the locomotive body is plastic? (Or am I missing something?)
And secondly, I cannot get Kapton tape locally so I have some white vinyl electrical tape 0.007" (0.18mm). Is that suitable?
I appreciate the help. Many thanks.
(If it really is necessary to have actual Kapton tape - and only about a total of three inches worth - you’d think Digitrax would include that in the decoder packaging.)
You can use the Kapton tape that comes with the decoder, becuase you don’t need much, I don’t know about the electrical tape. The tape is there for insulation to keep the decoder from accidently touching the frame, Which conducts the electricity through and cause a short. It has nothing to do with the shell. I hope I could help. I’m assuming from the sound of the SD40-2s your in N scale?
Yes, the SD40-2 is N scale and it will be the first decoder I will have fitted (once I get the shell off).
You mentioned that the Kapton tape came with the decoder. The only tape I see is a small piece of brown opaque tape holding the actual decoder to the strip of white polystyrene packing material and another piece (pink opaque) covering the whole decoder. I’ve never seen Kapton before so I am guessing it’s the bit of brown tape?
Yes, the Kapton is the brownish, almost transparent tape. Regular electrical tape would also suffice, since the only purpose is to keep the decoder from touching the metal frame. The biggest advantage to Kapton is its thinness and the fact that it actually has better insulating qualities than the thicker electrical tape. Kapton tape is rather expensive, so you’re lucky that it is provided with the decoder.