Intermountain ES44ac

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-INT-3

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

IB-MB1

Speaker Kit
Accessories


Installation

This installation is for a HO-Scale Intermountain ES44ac using a TCS IB-MB1 with a built in KA2 Keep Alive® device and WOW121-Diesel decoder.

HO-Scale Intermountain ES44ac prior to TCS IB-MB1 and WOW121-Diesel decoder installation.
HO-Scale Intermountain ES44ac prior to TCS IB-MB1 and WOW121-Diesel decoder installation.
HO-Scale Intermountain ES44ac prior to TCS IB-MB1 and WOW121-Diesel decoder installation.
HO-Scale Intermountain ES44ac prior to TCS IB-MB1 and WOW121-Diesel decoder installation.
In order to remove the shell, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings. Next, we must carefully detach the side railings and step railings from the cab area of the shell. The blue rectangles denote the areas of the railings to be removed.
In order to remove the shell, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings. Next, we must carefully detach the side railings and step railings from the cab area of the shell. The blue rectangles denote the areas of the railings to be removed.
With the coupler assemblies and railings detached, the shell can be lifted up and off of the locomotives chassis.
With the coupler assemblies and railings detached, the shell can be lifted up and off of the locomotives chassis.
With the shell removed, we can now unplug all the JST connections and remove the four screws securing the factory light board. Next, desolder the F4 wire lead from the factory light board.
With the shell removed, we can now unplug all the JST connections and remove the four screws securing the factory light board. Next, desolder the F4 wire lead from the factory light board.
With the factory light board removed we can now mount the TCS IB-MB1 and secure it using the four screws removed earlier. Once secured, reconnect all the JST connections being mindfull of their proper placement.
With the factory light board removed we can now mount the TCS IB-MB1 and secure it using the four screws removed earlier. Once secured, reconnect all the JST connections being mindfull of their proper placement.
Next, resolder F4 to the inner pad on the TCS IB-MB1. Note that every pad and connector position on the IB-MB1 is the same as how it was positioned on the factory light board.
Next, resolder F4 to the inner pad on the TCS IB-MB1. Note that every pad and connector position on the IB-MB1 is the same as how it was positioned on the factory light board.
With the IB-MB1 mounted and connected, we can now work on the speaker install. A 28mm speaker baffle is included with this locomotive and is located under the cooling hood. Carefully lift up on ths side lips of the hood and remove it from the rest of the shell. Next, remove the speaker baffle from the shell.
With the IB-MB1 mounted and connected, we can now work on the speaker install. A 28mm speaker baffle is included with this locomotive and is located under the cooling hood. Carefully lift up on ths side lips of the hood and remove it from the rest of the shell. Next, remove the speaker baffle from the shell.
For an easy install, we used our JST Speaker Connector (Item # 1660) and soldered the one end to our 28mm WOWSpeaker (Item # 1555). Next, align the wires with their exit channels and carefully place the speaker into the baffle.
For an easy install, we used our JST Speaker Connector (Item # 1660) and soldered the one end to our 28mm WOWSpeaker (Item # 1555). Next, align the wires with their exit channels and carefully place the speaker into the baffle.
Next, reinstall the speaker and baffle assembly into the locomotives shell. Reinstall the cooling hood onto the shell.
Next, reinstall the speaker and baffle assembly into the locomotives shell. Reinstall the cooling hood onto the shell.
With the speaker set up complete, we can now connect the JST lead from the speaker to the IB-MB1. Next, install the TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder. Finally, place the locomotives shell back on and reintsall the front and rear coupler assemblies and railings. You have now installed a TCS IB-MB1 with a built in KA2 Keep Alive® and WOW121-Diesel decoder into your HO-Scale Intermountain ES44ac.
With the speaker set up complete, we can now connect the JST lead from the speaker to the IB-MB1. Next, install the TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder. Finally, place the locomotives shell back on and reintsall the front and rear coupler assemblies and railings. You have now installed a TCS IB-MB1 with a built in KA2 Keep Alive® and WOW121-Diesel decoder into your HO-Scale Intermountain ES44ac.

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