Life Like Proto 1000 FM

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:

T1



This installation of TCS T1 Decoder is for HO Scale LifeLike Proto 1000 FM and was performed by Scott Russell (CR and S Trains) of Sandy Hook, CT.

Spread the shell at the tanks and slip it off the chassis by tilting it forward to clear the front coupler. Cut the circuit board traces in 3 places, as shown.
Spread the shell at the tanks and slip it off the chassis by tilting it forward to clear the front coupler. Cut the circuit board traces in 3 places, as shown.
Solder the TCS T1 decoder wires in the holes as follows: P1 (Orange), P8 (Red), P7 (Blue), P6 (White), P5 (Gray), P4 (Black). Green, Yellow and Violet are not used (I tape them out of the way with Kapton tape).
Solder the TCS T1 decoder wires in the holes as follows: P1 (Orange), P8 (Red), P7 (Blue), P6 (White), P5 (Gray), P4 (Black). Green, Yellow and Violet are not used (I tape them out of the way with Kapton tape).
The headlight will be dim because Proto used a 2v bulb with the diode dropping circuit. It will look much better if it is replaced with a 1.5v bulb (low current type). Do not short across the resistor to make it brighter as you will burn out the decoder output. You can also wire a 12v bulb directly to the blue and white wires instead of soldering them to the board. Replace the shell Note; If you ever need to know what colors go to what pins on this type installation, the colored diagram on the back cover of the DP5X manual is a handy reference.
The headlight will be dim because Proto used a 2v bulb with the diode dropping circuit. It will look much better if it is replaced with a 1.5v bulb (low current type). Do not short across the resistor to make it brighter as you will burn out the decoder output. You can also wire a 12v bulb directly to the blue and white wires instead of soldering them to the board. Replace the shell Note; If you ever need to know what colors go to what pins on this type installation, the colored diagram on the back cover of the DP5X manual is a handy reference.

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