R8249 Eurostar Decoder Installation

Step 1. Locate and remove the two fixing screws on the underside of the locomotive.

Step 2. Carefully remove the body by gently pulling the body sides apart and then pulling the chassis down.

Step 3. Locate the orange capacitor at the rear of the chassis which is attached to the motor.

Step 4. Unsolder both the two red wires and the two black wires from the orange capacitor.

Step 5. Place together and solder the two red wires as shown below.

Step 6. Place and solder together the two black wires as shown below.

Step 7. Remove the decoder from the protective packaging, taking care not to handle the PCB directly as this will cause irreparable damage due to static electricity. It is important to protect the decoder by wrapping the PCB with insulating tape. To prepare the decoder, remove the plug and separate the red, black, orange and grey wires. The rest can but cut as short as possible and insulated with a piece of insulating tape. Strip the red and black wires and lightly "tin" them with solder. Tinning the wires will make the installation easier. Care must be taken when soldering not to breathe in the fumes.

Step 8. Strip and tin the orange and grey wires..

Step 9. Solder the red wire from the decoder to where the two red wires join.

Step 10. Solder the black wire from the decoder to where the two black wires join.

Step 11. Solder the orange wire from the decoder to one of the capacitor legs.

Step 12. Solder the grey wire from the decoder to the other leg of the capacitor.

Step 13. Place the locomotive onto the programming track and test to make sure that the installation has been successful. Remember that the decoder has a default number of “3” and it is recommended that you code the locomotive to the number you require and test again.

Step 14. Once you are satisfied that the decoder is functioning correctly, insulate the bare joins on the red and black wires using insulating tape.

Step 15. Secure the decoder to the lead weight using Blu Tack or other suitable fixative. Ensure that all wires kept clear of any moving parts, but are capable of flexing enough with the moving bogie.

Step 16. Replace the loco body, ensuring that all wires are kept clear of any moving parts and cannot be trapped between the chassis and the body. Test once more to ensure that the installation has been totally successful.