Bachmann Spectrum Acela HHP-8

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


The installation is for HO Scale Bachmann Spectrum Acela HHP-8 Loco. It uses TCS MC2P-UK decoder and was performed by A.G.

The three upper pictures represent the locomotive prior to the decoder installation. The MC2P-UK decoder will be fitted into the locomotive.
The three upper pictures represent the locomotive prior to the decoder installation. The MC2P-UK decoder will be fitted into the locomotive.
To open the body shell, remove the body shell by gently pulling the bottom sides out and lifting the shell. The upper picture shows the Bachmann original light board where 8PIN NMRA socket can be seen.
To open the body shell, remove the body shell by gently pulling the bottom sides out and lifting the shell. The upper picture shows the Bachmann original light board where 8PIN NMRA socket can be seen.
The close-up of the 8PIN NMRA socket. Remove the two metal plugs that locomotive came equipped with.
The close-up of the 8PIN NMRA socket. Remove the two metal plugs that locomotive came equipped with.
Insert the TCS MC2P-UK decoder so that the orange wire is lined-up with pin #1 of the NMRA socket.
Insert the TCS MC2P-UK decoder so that the orange wire is lined-up with pin #1 of the NMRA socket.
Here is a picture of the finished decoder installation.
Here is a picture of the finished decoder installation.

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