Atlas Trainman ALCO RS-32

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation of DP2X or MC2P-SH Digital Decoder is for HO Scale Atlas Trainman ALCO RS-32 and was performed by A.G.

The three upper pictures show the beautiful Atlas Trainman ALCO RS-32 with its shell on prior to the TCS DP2X Decoder Installation.
The three upper pictures show the beautiful Atlas Trainman ALCO RS-32 with its shell on prior to the TCS DP2X Decoder Installation.
Using a phillips screwdriver, remove the screw that holds the rear coupler to the chassis.
Using a phillips screwdriver, remove the screw that holds the rear coupler to the chassis.
Using a phillips screwdriver, remove the screw that holds the front coupler to the chassis.
Using a phillips screwdriver, remove the screw that holds the front coupler to the chassis.
Remove the fuel tank.
Remove the fuel tank.
Grasping the shell by the solid area between the grills, lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis.
Grasping the shell by the solid area between the grills, lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis.
Here is a close-up picture of the Atlas plug. This plug needs to be removed and substituted with TCS DP2X.
Here is a close-up picture of the Atlas plug. This plug needs to be removed and substituted with TCS DP2X.
Remove the DCC plug from its NMRA socket as shown in the picture above.
Remove the DCC plug from its NMRA socket as shown in the picture above.
Here is a close-up of the 8 PIN NMRA Plug where one can see designation mark for the PIN#1
Here is a close-up of the 8 PIN NMRA Plug where one can see designation mark for the PIN#1
Drop the TCS DP2X decoder into the socket exactly as it is shown in the picture above.
Drop the TCS DP2X decoder into the socket exactly as it is shown in the picture above.
Here is a picture of completed TCS DP2X decoder installation in Atlas Trainman ALCO RS-32
Here is a picture of completed TCS DP2X decoder installation in Atlas Trainman ALCO RS-32

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