Stewart VO-1000

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-BAC-4

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

IB-MB1-NC

Speaker Kit


Installation

This installation is for a HO-Scale Stewart VO-1000 using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, IB-MB1-NC with Keep Alive® and UNIV-SH1-C WOWSpeaker kit. 

HO-Scale Stewart VO-1000 with the shell on prior to installation.
HO-Scale Stewart VO-1000 with the shell on prior to installation.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings. To do this, lift off the retention tab on top of the coupler and the assembly will come out. Once that is complete, lift off the shell by holding the fuel tank with one hand, squeezing the shell on either side at the tabs with the other and then lift it off the chassis.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings. To do this, lift off the retention tab on top of the coupler and the assembly will come out. Once that is complete, lift off the shell by holding the fuel tank with one hand, squeezing the shell on either side at the tabs with the other and then lift it off the chassis.
With the shell off, we can now remove the wires and release the two clips on top of the board and the board will lift off the frame. Trim, tin or lengthen the track and motor leads as necessary.
With the shell off, we can now remove the wires and release the two clips on top of the board and the board will lift off the frame. Trim, tin or lengthen the track and motor leads as necessary.
To install the new IB-MB1-NC motherboard, you will need to trim the mounting tabs flush as illustrated above. Then, using double-sided foam tape on top of the two motor platforms and rear frame weight, press the IB-MB1-NC carefully, but firmly down to secure it in place.
To install the new IB-MB1-NC motherboard, you will need to trim the mounting tabs flush as illustrated above. Then, using double-sided foam tape on top of the two motor platforms and rear frame weight, press the IB-MB1-NC carefully, but firmly down to secure it in place.
With the motherboard installed, solder the track and motor leads to the IB-MB1-NC according to instructions in the included wiring diagram.
With the motherboard installed, solder the track and motor leads to the IB-MB1-NC according to instructions in the included wiring diagram.
Remove the front light component from the top of the shell and trim the leads as shown above left. Trim the rear lighting leads as well as indicated in the right photo.
Remove the front light component from the top of the shell and trim the leads as shown above left. Trim the rear lighting leads as well as indicated in the right photo.
With the shortened original lighting leads, solder a new lead wire to each connection and protect them with shrink tubing. Using a small dab of hot melt glue, reset the front LED in place.
With the shortened original lighting leads, solder a new lead wire to each connection and protect them with shrink tubing. Using a small dab of hot melt glue, reset the front LED in place.
Next, insert the 35mm X 16mm speaker into the UNIV-SH1-C Speaker enclosure and using double sided foam tape, mount this assembly to the top of the frame. Solder the speaker leads onto the motherboard. 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.
Next, insert the 35mm X 16mm speaker into the UNIV-SH1-C Speaker enclosure and using double sided foam tape, mount this assembly to the top of the frame. Solder the speaker leads onto the motherboard. 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 speaker assembly in place, solder the lighting leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram. We have found that LED light output is brightest when shinning directly into the end of the light tube, but in some circumstances, they may be placed along the length of the tube as well with satisfactory results. In doing so, white light LED output would be least affected, while non-white LED output will be more affected by placement.
With the speaker assembly in place, solder the lighting leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram. We have found that LED light output is brightest when shinning directly into the end of the light tube, but in some circumstances, they may be placed along the length of the tube as well with satisfactory results. In doing so, white light LED output would be least affected, while non-white LED output will be more affected by placement.
You can now plug in the 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 Stewart VO-1000 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
You can now plug in the 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 Stewart VO-1000 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