Atlas Silver Dash 8-32BHW

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation of TCS DP2X Digital Decoder is for HO Scale Atlas Silver Dash 8-32BHW and was performed by A.G.

The three upper pictures show the beautiful Atlas Silver Dash 8-32BHW with its shell on prior the TCS DP2X decoder installation.
The three upper pictures show the beautiful Atlas Silver Dash 8-32BHW with its shell on prior the TCS DP2X decoder installation.
Unscrew the front screw (circled in red) that holds the coupler pocket to the chassis and remove front coupler pocket.
Unscrew the front screw (circled in red) that holds the coupler pocket to the chassis and remove front coupler pocket.
Unscrew the back screw (circled in red) that holds the coupler pocket to the chassis and remove rear coupler pocket.
Unscrew the back screw (circled in red) that holds the coupler pocket to the chassis and remove rear coupler pocket.
Remove the fuel tank by sliding both of its sides off. Grasping the shell by the solid area between the grills, lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis.
Remove the fuel tank by sliding both of its sides off. Grasping the shell by the solid area between the grills, lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis.
This picture illustrates the original light board with the DCC-ready plug. In the lower right corner of the DCC socket you can see small triangle mark - that is the "pin # 1" indication that should match the PIN#1 of the decoder. (see the manual that came with DP2X for more details.)
This picture illustrates the original light board with the DCC-ready plug. In the lower right corner of the DCC socket you can see small triangle mark - that is the "pin # 1" indication that should match the PIN#1 of the decoder. (see the manual that came with DP2X for more details.)
Remove the dummy plug as shown in the picture above.
Remove the dummy plug as shown in the picture above.
Plug the DP2X into the DCC socket so that the PIN#1 of the decoder is lined up with "first pin indicator" on the board.
Plug the DP2X into the DCC socket so that the PIN#1 of the decoder is lined up with "first pin indicator" on the board.
Here is a picture of completed DP2X decoder installation. Black, electrical tape was used to fix the led's wires to the locomotive light board so that it stays in one place which makes shell placement easier. Hold the shell in one hand and the chassis in your other hand. Lining up the front of both pieces, lower the shell onto the chassis, keeping the lower edge of the shell parallel with the chassis. Do not forget to attach both couplers back to the chassis.
Here is a picture of completed DP2X decoder installation. Black, electrical tape was used to fix the led's wires to the locomotive light board so that it stays in one place which makes shell placement easier. Hold the shell in one hand and the chassis in your other hand. Lining up the front of both pieces, lower the shell onto the chassis, keeping the lower edge of the shell parallel with the chassis. Do not forget to attach both couplers back to the chassis.

Important Soldering Tip

Please do not use any flux either liquid or paste on the mother board. Over time, the acidic properties of liquid or paste flux will begin eating away at the fiberglass PCB and will damage it. Use only Rosin-core solder or no-clean flux approved for electronics use.

TCS recommends the use of Kester "44" Sn63 Pb37, .015" diameter Rosin-core solder. Kester part number 24-6337-0007.

You can order this solder from the following retailers:
Digikey - PN:KE1110-ND
Techni-Tool - PN:488SO6775

Other solder tips

When stripping wire, only strip a tiny little bit of the insulation. Strip no more than a 1/32 of an inch. When the wire gets tinned with solder, the insulation will shrink back more. Try to not expose any more wire than half the length of the solder pad at most. In no case should solder or exposed wire wire ever be outside the boundary of the the solder pad you are attaching a wire to.
Click here for important information on properly Stripping and Tinning wire