Stack of EM13 and FL12 decoders
The Kato EM13 and FL12 drop-in decoders, when used in Kato “DCC Friendly” models, are basic but fairly nice, and dead-simple to install. In this post, I demonstrate how to install them into Kato’s E231-500 Yamanote Line. In a later post, I’ll show how to install them into an E4 shinkansen.
Installing the FL12 in the Cab Cars
Cab car compartment hatch
Turn the car over, and locate the hatch in the undercarriage: It will be near the cab-end of the car, and should come out pretty easy. You might have to squeeze or poke at something. In this case, there is a large chunk of detail that is used as a handle—you gently press it towards the cab end to unlatch it, and the hatch swings open.
Proper FL12 orientation for lead car
Notice that the decoder can be installed upside down, and this is a bad thing. In the photos, you see that the “wings” have two contact pads each. On the other side, there is only one pad per wing—make sure that side is down, just like in the photos here. Once you’ve got the right-side up, there are two ways to install the decoder. This photo shows how to install if the car will be at the head of the train.
Proper FL12 orientation for tail car
This photo shows how to install if the car will be at the tail. The first way has the headlights on when the throttle is set to “forward”, and the second way has the markerlights on when the throttle is set to “forward”. There are two tiny contact pads at the narrow ends that will help you orient the decoder; I’ve highlighted these with arrows.
FL12 installed
Here is the decoder installed. You drop it into the hatch (or, really, place it with tweezers), and then slide it towards the cab. It may take a little bit of force the first time. Make sure that it is pressed all the way forward, so that you can’t see the contact pads on the wings. Repeat for the other cab car.
You may find that the lights are a bit squirrely at first. In some models, it is possible to push the decoder too far forward; try pulling it back away from the cab end just a tiny bit if the lights don’t seem to want to come on, or do strange things.
Installing the EM13 in the Motor Car
Motor car decoder compartment
The undercarriage details come off easily—grab them gently, and slide them to one side (don’t squeeze them, as you might with other models) to disengage the latch; the piece will pop right off once you’ve disengaged it. You’ll see a small nook to one side of the motor, but one of the axles is blocking access to it, so remove that truck. Gently squeeze the truck to one side while twisting it away from the left or right side of the body; you might remove the shell a little bit to see how its attached, and poke at it.
Proper EM13 orientation
The EM13 can be installed upside down, and that would be very bad. On one side (not pictured) the contacts on the fork-tine-like bits run the entire length of the decoder; those are the pickups and must make contact with the brass rails in the frame. The side that is pictured just has two short contacts on the fork-tines (highlighted with arrows). These are for the motor. So, the decoder will be installed into the nook, oriented just as in the photograph.
EM13 installed
Slide the fork-tines under the round motor pickups, and press the decoder into the nook. Make sure that the decoder is slid all the way in, and isn’t poking up anywhere.
That’s it!