Life Like Proto 1000 F3B DCC Ready

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:

LL8



NOTE: While this installation demonstrates the use of an DP2X-UK in this locomotive we have since added the LL8 to our decoder line. The LL8 is designed to fit the Life Like Proto 2000 series and would greatly simplify this installation.

This installation of TCS DP2X-UK Decoder is for HO Scale LifeLike Proto 1000 F3B DCC Ready and was performed by A.G.

The locomotive is shown here as a courtesy of Larry Kolbe.

The two upper pictures show the LifeLike Proto 1000 F3B DCC Ready with its shell on prior to TCS DP2X-UK decoder installation.
The two upper pictures show the LifeLike Proto 1000 F3B DCC Ready with its shell on prior to TCS DP2X-UK decoder installation.
Gently unsnap tabs from circles above fuel tank on both locomotive sides. Grasping the shell at the center top of both sides (being careful not to crush the grilles), lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis. The picture above shows the locomotive with its shell taken off and original light board.
Gently unsnap tabs from circles above fuel tank on both locomotive sides. Grasping the shell at the center top of both sides (being careful not to crush the grilles), lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis. The picture above shows the locomotive with its shell taken off and original light board.
Remove the original light board by unscrewing two phillips screws.
Remove the original light board by unscrewing two phillips screws.
Unplug the small PC board and remove the large light board as shown in the picture above.
Unplug the small PC board and remove the large light board as shown in the picture above.
Remove the original light board and flip the PC board up side down so that you can plug our DP2X-UK. Fix the PC Board to the chassis with the screw that came with the locomotive.
Remove the original light board and flip the PC board up side down so that you can plug our DP2X-UK. Fix the PC Board to the chassis with the screw that came with the locomotive.
Plug the PC Board so that the Pin #1 of the decoder is lined up with Pin #1 of the PC board.Place the shell back on and the B-Unit is ready to go!
Plug the PC Board so that the Pin #1 of the decoder is lined up with Pin #1 of the PC board.Place the shell back on and the B-Unit is ready to go!

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