Kato "DCC Friendly" models

[CaptOblivious]

This thread is for listing all the models that Kato makes that are, as Kato calls them, "DCC Friendly"—they have slots hidden in the undercarriage that accept the EM13 motor decoder in the motor car and FL12 headlight decoders in the cab cars. Help me keep the list up-to-date!

Typically, each of these trains will require 1xEM13 for the motor car and 2xFL12 for each cab car. Installation is dead easy. Sample installations here:
http://akihabara.artificial-science.org/2009/04/kato-em13-and-fl12-dcc-decoders-e4-shinkansen/
http://akihabara.artificial-science.org/2009/04/kato-em13-and-fl12-dcc-decoders-e231-500-yamanote-line/

• KIHA82-series (10-229)
• 489-series (10-239)
• 485-series (10-241)
• 101-series Chuo Line (10-253)
• 101-series Sobu Line (10-255)
• 209-500 Keihin-Tohoku Line (10-267)
• E2-1000 shinkansen Hayate (10-278)
• E531-series Joban Line (10-281)
• 683-2000 "Shirasagi" ("White Heron") (10-298)
• E217 Yokosuka Line & Sobu Line (10-495)
• 731-series (10-498)
• KIHA201-series (10-499)
• N700-series shinkansen "Nozomi" (10-547/10-548/10-549)
• E231-500 Yamanote Line (10-578/10-579/10-580)

(wow, that's a lazy list! I'll get back to this later, I'm busy at work, but it is good to have this thread up for now to get people thinking about it)

[lbriand_fr]

On this page, they mentionned some DCC friendly models, but I think this list is not complete.
http://www.katomodels.com/hobby/dcc/kato_friendly.shtml

The N700 (http://www.katomodels.com/product/nmi/n700kei.shtml) is DCC friendly, but not mentionned.

[alpineaustralia]

I would also add the following as they are accept Plug n' Play decoders:

Item No.                                 Model              Decoder
3020-7, 3038                               EF58               Digitrax DN163KOa
                                             DF200             Digitrax DN163KOa
                                             EF60               Digitrax DN163KOa
                                             EF64-0            Digitrax DN163KOa
3024                                           EF64-1000       Digitrax DN163KOa
3032-1, 3019-6, 3019-8, 3019-9,     EF65               Digitrax DN163KOa
3036-1                                        EF200              Digitrax DN163KOa
3034, 3034-3                                EF210              Digitrax DN163KOa
                                              ED75               Digitrax DN163KOa
3021-1, 3021-4,                            EF81                Digitrax DN163KOa
3037-1                                        EH500               Digitrax DN163KOa
10-289                                        101-series          EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-296, 10-297                             209-500 series    EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-261, 10-262                            E231-500 series    EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-520, 10-521                            E231 series          EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-551, 10-552, 10-553                E231 series           EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-541, 10-542                            E233 series          EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-287                                       321-series            EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-536, 10-537                            223 series            EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-525, 10-526, 10-280                E531 series           EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-498                                       731                     EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-547, 10-548, 10-549                N700                   EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-278, 10-279                           E2                       EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-221                                      E3                       EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-292, 10-293                           E4                       EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-295, 10-533                           10100                  EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-534, 10-535                           44 (cars)              EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-499                                      201                       EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)
10-550                                      82                       EM13 (10-351), FL12(10-352), FR11(10-353)

[quinntopia]

Thanks for sharing these lists!  I don't see the Kato 10-237  (Relay Tsubame) listed anywhere (yet), if not, can anyone advise on how difficult it would be to add a decoder to this train? Man, that is a cool looking train!

[CaptOblivious]

This page is also a good resource for determining how to equip Kato trains.
http://www.katomodels.com/hobby/customshop/kakou/index_s.shtml

According to that page the 10-237 does not take the drop-in decoders (I know this because they recommend the Digitrax DZ123)

[mrpig]

quinntopia - The Kato 10-237  (Relay Tsubame) is in the mail right now, should be here in a few days. When I get it DCC'ed I'll post the install.
Might be a while though as I am out of decoders at the moment.

[Bernard]

quinntopia &  Mrpig - It's a little off topic but since you are both talking about the Tsubame, here is a post by Railmind on a Japanese kitbasher and what he did with his 787 Tsubame. His work is outstanding.
http://ozborn.mo-blog.jp/ozborn/

[SubwayHypes]

I have a kato e531 thats apparently DCC friendly.

Educate a noob please.

What exactly is DCC?  It has to do with the current, you keep trains stopped but all their lights still on.  It requires modification both track and train, but what exactly??

Maybe i should start small, im thinking about installing interior LEDs on my commuter

[Martijn Meerts]

DCC is digital control of trains, so you can run lots of trains independent from each other on the same track.

Instead of using a transformer to change the voltage on the tracks, a decoder in the motorcar handles how much voltage the motor gets. In DCC there's always about 16 volts on the tracks. Of course, that also means interior lighting etc. will stay on.


What's required is a DCC command station (several companies make them, for example Digitrax and Lenz) and a decoder in each motorcar/locomotive you want to control. The decoders have programmable ID's, so each train can have it's own ID and you use that to control it's speed, lights etc.

[domino]

Hey all.

I have decided to go DCC(again),so have about 30 trains i must change into DCC, so a small prayer from me to you, PLEASE keep updateing this thread about KAto DCC friendly trains, thanks.

And now some quistions,i do have some KAto DCC friendly trains like the KIHA 10-229, if you look at this link http://www.katomodels.com/hobby/dcc/kato_friendly.shtml
the KIHA looks exatually like the trains in the middle with the decoder 29-352 but i have checked my KIHA and it does not look like the decoder fits under the frame ,it looks more like the decoder 29-353 i should use, can anybody clearify it for me ?

I also have the E4 MAX, im quit sure it is the 29-351 decoder thats fits,yes  ??

And the Kato "EF81 3021-4 " ED75 3030 " EF210 3034 " all use Digitrax DN163KOa , yes ??

And DF200 7007-1   also use  Digitrax DN163KOa ,yes ??


Also have the 683-2000 "Shirasagi" ("White Heron") (10-298), but i can`t find witch decoder thats fits and where to put, anybody  ??

And for the rest off my trains i have to solder decoder  , im not that great with soldering and eletronics, so we will have to see how many decoder and or moter i fried

I have been looking at the Hornby decoder  NMRA R8249 DCC DIGITAL DECODERS , it is cheap and gets the job done, does anybody know these decoders ??

Thanks all for your help.



Regards
brian
domino

[CaptOblivious]

The three Kato decoders do different things, and go in different places.

29-351 "EM13" decoder is for the motorized cars. It can only control a motor—it cannot control lights. You will need one for each motorized car (typically just one) in your train.

29-352 "FL12" decoder is for cab cars, and any other cars that have working headlights and/or marker lights. Typically, there will be only two, one at each end, but some trains have intermediate cab cars too (e.g. a full 10+5 E231 on the Joban line, or a full 8+8 E4 consist), which will not require decoders (since you will simply switch these lights off). This decoder cannot control a motor, just opposed headlight/markerlight pairs.

29-353 "FR11" decoder is for the interior lights. It's designed to work with Kato's interior lighting kits, and is only necessary if you want to control the interior lights (that is, turn them on an off). The LED-based interior lights can be used alone, without a decoder—they will just stay on all the time.

So, typically (And this includes set 10-229 "KIHA 82 Super Express" and 10-298 "683-2000 Shiragasi" you mentioned), you will need 1xEM13 and 2xFL12—the EM13 will go in the car with the motor, and the FL12's will go in the cab cars.

As for the locomotives, you will find helpful information in a different thread here:
http://www.jnsforum.com/index.php/topic,1028.0.html
Installation instructions for EM13 and FL12 here:
http://akihabara.artificial-science.org/2009/04/kato-em13-and-fl12-dcc-decoders-e231-500-yamanote-line/
http://akihabara.artificial-science.org/2009/04/kato-em13-and-fl12-dcc-decoders-e4-shinkansen/

[lbriand_fr]

I also have the E4 MAX, im quit sure it is the 29-351 decoder thats fits,yes  ??

Actually, I'm waiting for 2 FL12 (29-352) and 1 EM13 (29-351) for my E4 Max.
I think the Motor Car will be a little more difficult than the cabs car 

Be carefull with the Digitrax decoder, they are essentially designed for US Kato models, so you have to shorten or lengthen the lead's LED.
How do we saiy "de la bidouille" in english? 

Don't forget to take pictures of your work. It's always interresting to see this.

 

[GuyCS]

Hey im new to the forum, did a little digging and found some more which accept the Kato plug & play DCC decoders. Some have been mentioned already, just thought i'd add them for clarity anyway.

E127-100 (10-582)
683 (10-555)
223-2000 (10-536)
223-2500 (10-921)
321 (10-287)
313-8500 (10-589)
E231 (10-594)
E231-500 (10-578)
E233 (10-801)
E233-1000 (10-543)
E217 (10-843)
E531 (10-570)
313-5000 (10-586)
681-8000 (10-810)
489 (10-818)
E259 (10-821)
E2-1000 (10-278)
E3 (10-221)
E3-1000 (10-222)
E4 (10-292)
N700 (10-547)

Also, the 883 'sonic' Renewed (10-288) is not DCC plug & play 

Thanks, Guy

[Martijn Meerts]

ooh, Final Fantasy fan? =)

[GuyCS]

ooh, Final Fantasy fan? =)

Since FFIX 

[GuyCS]

Forgot to add if anyone knows if the Kato 885 White Sonic (10-286) uses Kato plug & play or if its the same as the 885 Kamome (10-410) where you have to manually solder in a decoder?

[The_Ghan]

Hey Cap'n,

It would be nice if you consolidated everyone's imput into a single list at the top of this thread ... just a thought ...

Cheers

The_Ghan

[The_Ghan]

Forgot to add if anyone knows if the Kato 885 White Sonic (10-286) uses Kato plug & play or if its the same as the 885 Kamome (10-410) where you have to manually solder in a decoder?

Sorry Guy, like 10-410, 10-286 does not accept the Kato decoders.  in the 2011 Kato catalog 10-410 is on p83 and 10-286 is on p84.

[GuyCS]

Forgot to add if anyone knows if the Kato 885 White Sonic (10-286) uses Kato plug & play or if its the same as the 885 Kamome (10-410) where you have to manually solder in a decoder?

Sorry Guy, like 10-410, 10-286 does not accept the Kato decoders.  in the 2011 Kato catalog 10-410 is on p83 and 10-286 is on p84.

Thanks for that, think i'll give it a miss. Havn't got the guts to manually DCC a train yet.

[The_Ghan]

Hi Guy,

Take a look at the Series 683 Thunderbird, 10-555 and 10-556.  It uses the drop in Kato Decoders and is a beautiful unit.

Cheers

The_Ghan

[GuyCS]

Hi Guy,

Take a look at the Series 683 Thunderbird, 10-555 and 10-556.  It uses the drop in Kato Decoders and is a beautiful unit.

Cheers

The_Ghan

Thanks but i've always disliked the way the Thunderbird looks. Just ordered a 16 car set of the N700 by Kato, so looking forward to that!

Guy

[The_Ghan]

Great choice Guy,

You won't be disappointed.  My Kato N700 runs really well.  It's one of the smoothest units I own.  Personally, I'm not a bill-et train fan, but I am pleased with my purchase.

Cheers

The_Ghan

[goldingone]

Hi I have just purchased a N700 but cannot get the EM12 chip installed there is not enough clearance under the drive shaft so the cover will not close??

[CaptOblivious]

Hello! Are you sure the EM13 is installed right-side up? (Just checking the bases.) Can you start a thread and post a photo?

[Webskipper]

Looking at the 2012 Kato Catalog, there are many new or re-releases of Kato locos and passenger cars that are DCC friendly. Too long to list.

These 2 of mine accept Kato DCC decoders:

E5 Hayabusa (Basic 3-Car Set) 10-857
E2 Tohoku Shinkansen Hayate 10-868

All of the current American Locomotives at Kato USA are DCC friendly:TCS drop in motor decoders and the Passenger Cars accept the Lighting Kits:

New!
Chicago Metra 106-8701, 176-6121, and add-on car sets, optional install for prototypical loco lighting TCS K4-LK is a solder-on kit to control the strobe and rear light.