Life Like Proto 2000 GP60

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-ATL-7

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 GP60.

With milling of the frame, DXI has been able to utilize a AS-MB2 NC, KA4 Keep Alive® and UNIV-SH4-C WOWSound kit.

HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 GP60 shown prior to installation.
HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 GP60 shown prior to installation.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear coupler screws highlighted above and their housings. With the couplers removed, while gently pulling outwards at each end and along each side of the frame, lift the shell off of the frame. Take care to release the handrails as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear coupler screws highlighted above and their housings. With the couplers removed, while gently pulling outwards at each end and along each side of the frame, lift the shell off of the frame. Take care to release the handrails as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
Shown with the shell off.
Shown with the shell off.
Remove the screw highlighted above in red and remove the original lighting board and all the wiring connected to it. In this installation, we are replacing the original bulbs with LED lighting so we removed the light bulbs as well. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
Remove the screw highlighted above in red and remove the original lighting board and all the wiring connected to it. In this installation, we are replacing the original bulbs with LED lighting so we removed the light bulbs as well. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
With the frame milled, trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary.
With the frame milled, trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary.
To make a solid new connection for the motor pick up, gently lift the original contact bar, being careful with the spring located below and solder a new connection point as shown above to the left. As the right side track pick up in within the frame, we must drill and tap in a small screw post to it to make this connection. Above right you see the pre-soldered connection assembly and below this pick up attached to the frame properly.
To make a solid new connection for the motor pick up, gently lift the original contact bar, being careful with the spring located below and solder a new connection point as shown above to the left. As the right side track pick up in within the frame, we must drill and tap in a small screw post to it to make this connection. Above right you see the pre-soldered connection assembly and below this pick up attached to the frame properly.
Using double sided foam tape, attach the AS-MB2 NC to the frame and solder the motor and track pickup wires according to the included wiring diagram.
Using double sided foam tape, attach the AS-MB2 NC to the frame and solder the motor and track pickup wires according to the included wiring diagram.
Next, secure the new LEDs into the original locations using a small dab of hot melt glue and solder the wire leads for each to the AS-MB2 NC according to the included wiring diagram. For this installation, we soldered the front (white wire) and rear (yellow wire) headlights to the forward and rear LED pads and the number board lights (green wire) to function pad #1.
Next, secure the new LEDs into the original locations using a small dab of hot melt glue and solder the wire leads for each to the AS-MB2 NC according to the included wiring diagram. For this installation, we soldered the front (white wire) and rear (yellow wire) headlights to the forward and rear LED pads and the number board lights (green wire) to function pad #1.
Shown with the LEDs in place and properly connected.
Shown with the LEDs in place and properly connected.
With the 25mm X 14mm WOWSound speaker inserted into the UNI-SH4-C enclosure, using the same double sided foam tape, mount this assembly to the frame as shown. Solder the wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram. 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 the 25mm X 14mm WOWSound speaker inserted into the UNI-SH4-C enclosure, using the same double sided foam tape, mount this assembly to the frame as shown. Solder the wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram. 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.
Using a small amount of hot melt glue, mount the KA4 Keep Alive® to the front of the frame as shown above, also utilizing the double sided foam tape below the lighting mount. Solder these leads to the AS-MB2 NC as instructed.
Using a small amount of hot melt glue, mount the KA4 Keep Alive® to the front of the frame as shown above, also utilizing the double sided foam tape below the lighting mount. Solder these leads to the AS-MB2 NC as instructed.
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 GP60 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 GP60 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