Life Like Proto 2000 BL2

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-KAT-3

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

AS-MB2-NC

Speaker Kit
Keep Alive®

KA4



Installation

This installation is for a HO Scale Life Like Proto 2000 BL2 using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, A2-MB2 NC Motherboard, KA4 Keep Alive® and UNIV-SH1-C WOWSpeaker kit.

HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 BL2 shown prior to installation. To start this install, gently pulling outwards along each side of the frame releasing the shell out from the small button on each side as highlighted above in red and then lift the shell off of the frame. Take care with the handrails as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 BL2 shown prior to installation. To start this install, gently pulling outwards along each side of the frame releasing the shell out from the small button on each side as highlighted above in red and then lift the shell off of the frame. Take care with the handrails as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
The Life Like Proto 2000 shown with out the shell.
The Life Like Proto 2000 shown with out the shell.
To remove the original lighting board, remove two screws located in the front left and rear right corner as highlight above in red, then also remove the black plastic platform located underneath it by removing the the two screws on either side towards the rear as highlighted in blue. Save these later screws for reinstallation of this piece.
To remove the original lighting board, remove two screws located in the front left and rear right corner as highlight above in red, then also remove the black plastic platform located underneath it by removing the the two screws on either side towards the rear as highlighted in blue. Save these later screws for reinstallation of this piece.
Shown with the lighting board and platform removed. Trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary. Remove and discard the original 1.5 V bulbs. For this installation, it will be replaced with a LEDs inserted into the original housing.
Shown with the lighting board and platform removed. Trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary. Remove and discard the original 1.5 V bulbs. For this installation, it will be replaced with a LEDs inserted into the original housing.
Locate the metal tab on top of the engine and solder a connection point to the front of it as highlighted above in red, then solder on a wire lead. This will become one side of the motor lead.
Locate the metal tab on top of the engine and solder a connection point to the front of it as highlighted above in red, then solder on a wire lead. This will become one side of the motor lead.
Reinstall the plastic platform piece with the screws you saved and using double sided foam tape, mount the AS-MB2 NC to it. Make sure it is positioned front to rear in a way to allow room for the speaker installation behind it.
Reinstall the plastic platform piece with the screws you saved and using double sided foam tape, mount the AS-MB2 NC to it. Make sure it is positioned front to rear in a way to allow room for the speaker installation behind it.
Using the same tape, mount the KA4 Keep Alive® to the frame in front of the AS-MB2 NC and solder the wire leads according to the included wiring diagram.
Using the same tape, mount the KA4 Keep Alive® to the frame in front of the AS-MB2 NC and solder the wire leads according to the included wiring diagram.
Likewise, with the 35mm X 16mm WOWSound speaker inserted into the UNIV-SH1-C enclosure, mount this assembly to the frame and solder the wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram. NOTE: In this installation, the open fans on the roof have loose fan blades. In order to prevent vibration which could compromise the sound quality, we recommend that you add a small drop of model glue to the junction of the fan blades and spindle to prevent this movement. If your speaker enclosure installation covers the portholes on the enclosure, we recommend adding new port hole(s) similar to the original porting. Be sure that the new portholes are the same size and amount of the original and are vented freely into the locomotive We have found introducing a port of the correct size greatly increases the volume and sound quality of the installation. Too much or too little porting decreases the sound quality.
Likewise, with the 35mm X 16mm WOWSound speaker inserted into the UNIV-SH1-C enclosure, mount this assembly to the frame and solder the wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram. NOTE: In this installation, the open fans on the roof have loose fan blades. In order to prevent vibration which could compromise the sound quality, we recommend that you add a small drop of model glue to the junction of the fan blades and spindle to prevent this movement. If your speaker enclosure installation covers the portholes on the enclosure, we recommend adding new port hole(s) similar to the original porting. Be sure that the new portholes are the same size and amount of the original and are vented freely into the locomotive We have found introducing a port of the correct size greatly increases the volume and sound quality of the installation. Too much or too little porting decreases the sound quality.
With these three components installed, mount the LEDs in the original bulbs locations. Solder these new leads to the AS-MB2 NC according to the included wiring diagram. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
With these three components installed, mount the LEDs in the original bulbs locations. Solder these new leads to the AS-MB2 NC according to the included wiring diagram. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
You can now plug in your WOW121 decoder. 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 2000 BL2 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
You can now plug in your WOW121 decoder. 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 2000 BL2 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