Atlas EMD MP-15DC

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-ATL-2

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

AK-MB1

Speaker Kit


Installation

This installation is for a HO Scale Atlas EMD MP-15DC using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1 Motherboard with built in Keep Alive®
and UNIV-SH4-C WOWSpeaker by TCS.

HO-Scale Atlas EMD MP-15DC shown prior to installation.
HO-Scale Atlas EMD MP-15DC shown prior to installation.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear coupler screws highlighted above in red and their housings. With the couplers removed, gently squeeze the top shell along each side of the frame and lift the shell off of the frame.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear coupler screws highlighted above in red and their housings. With the couplers removed, gently squeeze the top shell along each side of the frame and lift the shell off of the frame.
The Atlas EMD MP-15DC shown with the shell off. Remove the wires from the original lighting board and remove the board from the chassis.
The Atlas EMD MP-15DC shown with the shell off. Remove the wires from the original lighting board and remove the board from the chassis.
With the original lighting board removed, clip off the connectors, then trim, tin, or lengthen the wires as necessary. On the front of the chassis, also remove the small front weight and plastic piece containing it. This piece is discarded.
With the original lighting board removed, clip off the connectors, then trim, tin, or lengthen the wires as necessary. On the front of the chassis, also remove the small front weight and plastic piece containing it. This piece is discarded.
Attach the AK-MB1 and solder the motor and track pickup wires according to your included wiring diagram. You can now see the speaker frame opening at the front of the chassis.
Attach the AK-MB1 and solder the motor and track pickup wires according to your included wiring diagram. You can now see the speaker frame opening at the front of the chassis.
In this installation, we lengthened the original lighting wire leads and using a small dab of hot melt glue, attached the front LED to the light tube. The leads for this as well as the rear LED were soldered to the AK-MB1 according to the included wiring diagram We have found that LED light output is brightest when shinning directly into the end of the light tube, but in some circumstances they may be placed along the length of the tube as well with satisfactory results. In doing so, white light LED output would be least affected, while non white LED output will be more affected by placement.
In this installation, we lengthened the original lighting wire leads and using a small dab of hot melt glue, attached the front LED to the light tube. The leads for this as well as the rear LED were soldered to the AK-MB1 according to the included wiring diagram We have found that LED light output is brightest when shinning directly into the end of the light tube, but in some circumstances they may be placed along the length of the tube as well with satisfactory results. In doing so, white light LED output would be least affected, while non white LED output will be more affected by placement.
A detail photo showing the placement of the front LED into the top front of the shell.
A detail photo showing the placement of the front LED into the top front of the shell.
With the lighting in place and using hot melt glue, secure the 25mm x 14mm speaker face down onto the frame opening as shown above. Solder the speaker wire leads to the AK-MB1. NOTE: You must be very careful to avoid getting glue on the speaker cone. Glue on the speaker will ultimately cause it to produce no sound and fail.
With the lighting in place and using hot melt glue, secure the 25mm x 14mm speaker face down onto the frame opening as shown above. Solder the speaker wire leads to the AK-MB1. NOTE: You must be very careful to avoid getting glue on the speaker cone. Glue on the speaker will ultimately cause it to produce no sound and fail.
NOTE: We found that by adding a strip of 3/4" Kapton tape TCS part #KT3 (available in 1/4" to 1" widths under Kapton tape on the order page) surrounding the front frame underneath the speaker mount, there was a significant sound improvement. After placing the tape, with a blunt flat instrument, we burnished it tightly to the frame. This addition, shown above, contains the sound and creates a resonating chamber, directing it downward and out of the locomotive.
NOTE: We found that by adding a strip of 3/4" Kapton tape TCS part #KT3 (available in 1/4" to 1" widths under Kapton tape on the order page) surrounding the front frame underneath the speaker mount, there was a significant sound improvement. After placing the tape, with a blunt flat instrument, we burnished it tightly to the frame. This addition, shown above, contains the sound and creates a resonating chamber, directing it downward and out of the locomotive.
You can now plug in your WOW121 decoder. Close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. You Atlas EMD MP-15DC is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
You can now plug in your WOW121 decoder. Close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. You Atlas EMD MP-15DC is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!

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

Lacing Cord

In order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, we recommend lacing the wires into a bundle using lacing cord. Lacing cord is a wax impregnated string used for wire bundling and making harnesses. There are many choices of lacing cord available from Digikey www.digikey.com. 
We use part number 802534B BK032-ND