Atlas Also C420

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:

DP5



This installation of TCS DP5 digital decoder is for HO-Scale Atlas Alco C420 and was performed by A.G.

Here is the picture of the Atlas Master C420 locomotive prior to the TCS DP5 decoder installation.
Here is the picture of the Atlas Master C420 locomotive prior to the TCS DP5 decoder installation.
Remove both couplings by unscrewing a screw on both sides of the locomotive (Marked in red) and remove the shell by squeezing on either of the locomotive and rocking the shell back and forth until it lifts from the frame.
Remove both couplings by unscrewing a screw on both sides of the locomotive (Marked in red) and remove the shell by squeezing on either of the locomotive and rocking the shell back and forth until it lifts from the frame.
Here is a picture of the chassis with the original light board removed.
Here is a picture of the chassis with the original light board removed.
Remove the 8-PIN NMRA plug as shown in the picture above.
Remove the 8-PIN NMRA plug as shown in the picture above.
Here is the picture of the 8PIN NMRA socket that the DP5 will be installed in.
Here is the picture of the 8PIN NMRA socket that the DP5 will be installed in.
Here is a picture of the finished TCS DP5 Installation. Make sure that the PIN #1 of the decoder is lined up with the mark of the original light board. For the additional information see the manual that came with the decoder.
Here is a picture of the finished TCS DP5 Installation. Make sure that the PIN #1 of the decoder is lined up with the mark of the original light board. For the additional information see the manual that came with the decoder.

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