Life Like Proto 1000 RS-2

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


Installation

This installation is for a HO-Scale Life Like Proto 1000 RS-2 using a TCS WOW101 Diesel Decoder, WAUX-KA4 Keep Alive® 
and UNIV-SH4-C WOWSpeaker kit by TCS.

HO-Scale Life Like Proto 1000 RS-2 shown prior to installation.
HO-Scale Life Like Proto 1000 RS-2 shown prior to installation.
To start off this install, remove the front and rear coupler screws highlighted above and pull them out. With the couplers removed gently pull outwards along each side of the frame. Take care to release the handrails before you lift off the shell so they don't break.
To start off this install, remove the front and rear coupler screws highlighted above and pull them out. With the couplers removed gently pull outwards along each side of the frame. Take care to release the handrails before you lift off the shell so they don't break.
The Life Like Proto 1000 RS-2 shown with the shell off. Remove the the wires from the original lighting board and then the four screws whose locations are highlighted above in red. Remove the board from the chassis. At this time, remove also the original LEDs and place them aside for reinstallation later.
The Life Like Proto 1000 RS-2 shown with the shell off. Remove the the wires from the original lighting board and then the four screws whose locations are highlighted above in red. Remove the board from the chassis. At this time, remove also the original LEDs and place them aside for reinstallation later.
With the original lighting board removed, trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary.
With the original lighting board removed, trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary.
In this installation as the shell is very close fitting, it is necessary to trim off flush the original lighting board mounting tabs as highlighted above in red to allow space for the components to be installed.
In this installation as the shell is very close fitting, it is necessary to trim off flush the original lighting board mounting tabs as highlighted above in red to allow space for the components to be installed.
Using double sided foam tape, mount the WOW101 Diesel Decoder to the frame as shown above. Plug in the harness connectors and trim the harness wires to length.
Using double sided foam tape, mount the WOW101 Diesel Decoder to the frame as shown above. Plug in the harness connectors and trim the harness wires to length.
Wire splice in the track and motor pickup wires to the WOW101 Diesel Decoder. Shrink tube statement: Using small lengths of TCS 3/32" and 3/64" shrink tubing, insulate these solder leads.
Wire splice in the track and motor pickup wires to the WOW101 Diesel Decoder. Shrink tube statement: Using small lengths of TCS 3/32" and 3/64" shrink tubing, insulate these solder leads.
Next, mount the KA4 Keep Alive® behind the front LED mount with the speaker. Keep them both in place using hot melt glue. It is important to mount this speaker flush with one edge of the frame to allow a space for future routing of the wires NOTE: You must be very careful to avoid getting glue on the speaker cone.
Next, mount the KA4 Keep Alive® behind the front LED mount with the speaker. Keep them both in place using hot melt glue. It is important to mount this speaker flush with one edge of the frame to allow a space for future routing of the wires NOTE: You must be very careful to avoid getting glue on the speaker cone.
Using a small dab of hot melt glue, replace the LED lights in the front and rear and splice the wires into the harness as shown. With using LEDs and the WOW 101, it is necessary to add in a 1/6w 1k ohm resistor as highlighted above in red to these wire leads.
Using a small dab of hot melt glue, replace the LED lights in the front and rear and splice the wires into the harness as shown. With using LEDs and the WOW 101, it is necessary to add in a 1/6w 1k ohm resistor as highlighted above in red to these wire leads.
Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord.Now you can close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. Your Life Like Proto 1000 RS-2 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord.Now you can close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. Your Life Like Proto 1000 RS-2 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!

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

Lacing Cord

In order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, we recommend lacing the wires into a bundle using lacing cord. Lacing cord is a wax impregnated string used for wire bundling and making harnesses. There are many choices of lacing cord available from Digikey www.digikey.com. 
We use part number 802534B BK032-ND