Kato Class 800

Mistakes may damage your locomotive, controller or other accessories. Use a multimeter to make absolutely sure you have completely isolated the motor from the track before testing. Always use the Programming Track for testing. Our guides are provided for reference only, and you proceed entirely at your own risk. Unsure about something - try our DCC Conversion Service instead.

This guide shows how to improve the directional lighting reliability by hard-wiring the decoder into the front and rear units, which avoids the reliance on the springs making a good contact. Any small DCC decoder can feasibly be used, including the actual plug-in Kato EM13 lighting decoder as seen here.

This guide covers all versions of the Kato Class 800 model, which are identical other than the liveries applied:

• Class 800/0 800021 in GWR Green (10-1671)
• Class 800/0 800010 'Michael Bond' in GWR Green with Paddington Bear branding (10-1673)
• Class 800/0 800209 in LNER white/red (10-1674)

Step 1 - Modify lighting PCB

Disassemble the unit by removing the body, followed by the lighting diffuser and lower seating. Unclip the front cab end, and remove the lighting PCB. Solder four wires to the four points as shown.

Step 2 - Install decoder

Connect the four wires to the decoder. If using a Kato EM13 decoder, it is important to note that the inner connection points are wired together (yellow wires), as are the outer connection points (green wires). Flip the decoder over, and solder two more wires (we have used brown here) - these will be the track power.

Step 3 - Isolate track power rails

The two 'rails' that run the length of the unit are track power from the wheels. The point where the rails are raised needs to be insulated, so wrap some Kapton tape around as shown. This will make sure the track power rails cannot short against the lighting PCB that now has wires attached to it.

Step 4 - Connect track power

Solder the brown track power wires from thre decoder onto the track power rails.

Step 5 - Reassemble

Place the decoder in the void where the weight is, ensuring none of the wires are trapped. Reassemble the body and test, you will now have reliable directional lighting in your Class 800.

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