Life Like Proto 2000 SD7

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-KAT-1

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

AK-MB1

Speaker Kit


Installation

This installation is for a HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 SD7 using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1 Motherboard with built in Keep Alive® and UNIV-SH1-C WOWSpeaker kit.

HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 SD7 shown prior to installation. To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear coupler screws 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.
HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 SD7 shown prior to installation. To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear coupler screws 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.
To remove the original lighting board, Remove the four screws as highlighted above in red and remove the board.
To remove the original lighting board, Remove the four screws as highlighted above in red and remove the board.
After the board is removed, carefully remove the two rear and single front mounting posts as highlighted above. In this installation, we also removed and discard the original 1.5 V bulbs and replaced them with LEDs inserted into the original locations. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
After the board is removed, carefully remove the two rear and single front mounting posts as highlighted above. In this installation, we also removed and discard the original 1.5 V bulbs and replaced them with LEDs inserted into the original locations. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
Using double sided foam tape, attach the AK-MB1 to the frame as shown above. Likewise, with the same tape, with the 35mm X 16mm WOWSound speaker inserted into the UNIV-SH1-C enclosure, mount this assembly the rear of the frame. 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. Solder the motor, track, lighting and speaker leads to the AK-MB1 according to the included wiring diagram.
Using double sided foam tape, attach the AK-MB1 to the frame as shown above. Likewise, with the same tape, with the 35mm X 16mm WOWSound speaker inserted into the UNIV-SH1-C enclosure, mount this assembly the rear of the frame. 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. Solder the motor, track, lighting and speaker leads to the AK-MB1 according to the included wiring diagram.
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 SD7 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 SD7 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