Digitrax Customer Support (Lack Thereof)

[eja]

[EspeeGoldenState]

Funny, I've never had a problem with their (or any) Kapton tape from sticking to the brass rails that it goes around. Heck, they give you enough to do more than one or two locomotives as it is.

As for sending a new piece, at least they send a piece, as I don't believe TCS does. It would cost just as much to send it as you could probably go to your local hobby shop and get a small piece for nothing. Least mine has before.

Chris

[Van Horne]

With all due respect, I am not sure how you expect them to send you a piece of Kapton tape.  By the time it got to you as a separated piece, it wouldn't stick to anything either.  I have found it is not unusual for Kapton tape on decoders to come loose - particularly if they've been sitting around for a long time.  I think most people who do even minimal DCC decoder installations have Kapton tape on hand as a staple. Your really should consider getting a small roll.

Dave

[MichaelWinicki]

Anyone that does decoder installs should have a roll of Kapton tape on hand.

[peteski]

I never liked using Kapton tape for that particular type of install. It is a mickey-mouse solution.  I came up with an alternate install which uses no Kapton tape. I was planning on writing a magazine describing my method but I might just give up and post the info online one of these days.

[narrowminded]

I was considering a vacuum formed "tray" with cover in my mine loco.  It would fit the decoder so wouldn't necessarily be peculiar to the chassis.  Or maybe it would.

Is it possible that the chassis had some assembly oil on it?

[peteski]

I was considering a vacuum formed "tray" with cover in my mine loco.  It would fit the decoder so wouldn't necessarily be peculiar to the chassis.  Or maybe it would.

Is it possible that the chassis had some assembly oil on it?

My method doesn't require any extra parts - just a slight modification of 2 pieces.

[eja]

OK ... so maybe I bit the bullet and buy a small roll. 


Any reason I cannot use electrical tape which I already have on hand ?

eja

[EspeeGoldenState]

OK ... so maybe I bit the bullet and buy a small roll. 


Any reason I cannot use electrical tape which I already have on hand ?

eja

It's too thick, which the entice about Kapton tape. It also doesn't get gooey like electrical tape when removed.

Chris

[MK]

OK ... so maybe I bit the bullet and buy a small roll. 


Any reason I cannot use electrical tape which I already have on hand ?

eja

EDIT: Oops, Chris replied at the same time but we are on the same page. 

No, don't!  Electrical tape is too thick and in a very SHORT time it would gum up, leave residue and unravel.  This is accelerated with temperate and the decoder's electronics generate heat.  Kapton is thin and heat (temperature) resistance.  You can get some on Klein's or Tony's or eBay or even Amazon.

[EspeeGoldenState]

Search ebay for Polyimide tape and its very cheap, its the same thing as the brand name of Kapton.

Chris

[C855B]

Any reason I cannot use electrical tape which I already have on hand ?

Yes: cold flow. This is where the insulating material pushes itself away from pressure points, opening a hole and allowing contact between conductors you may not want to touch each other. Plain ol' plastic electrical tape is particularly notorious for this.

That's what Kapton tape is all about. The material is nearly impervious to cold flow. However, the adhesives on Kapton tape don't age well once pulled off the roll, as you found. So a piece of Kapton tape conveniently included with the decoder starts ticking the moment it's put in the package.

I had a little bit experience using Kapton tape (waaaaay back) when I worked for NASA. More than once I checked an assembly with a cable or something wrapped with Kapton tape, only to have it unravel in my hand because the adhesive had turned into powder. Not even sticky powder, either.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Search ebay for Polyimide tape and its very cheap, its the same thing as the brand name of Kapton.

Chris

Holy *****, is it. Wow.

I have a roll on its way to me now.

Thanks for that incredibly helpful tip.

[eja]

Holy *****, is it. Wow.

I have a roll on its way to me now.

Thanks for that incredibly helpful tip.

Ditto on the thanks for a great tip. !

eja

[John]

wow .. https://www.amazon.com/ProTapes-Pro-Polyimide-Dielectric-Strength/dp/B01J4HJ4YW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1487208488&sr=8-3&keywords=Polyimide+tape