Life Like Proto 2000 2-10-2 Steam

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WSK-BAC-4

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

B-MB4

Speaker Kit


Installation

This installation is for a HO Scale Life Like Proto 2000 2-10-2 Steam using a TCS WOW121 Steam Decoder,B-MB4 Motherboard with built in Keep Alive® and 28mm WOWSpeaker. Shown prior to installation.
This installation is for a HO Scale Life Like Proto 2000 2-10-2 Steam using a TCS WOW121 Steam Decoder,B-MB4 Motherboard with built in Keep Alive® and 28mm WOWSpeaker. Shown prior to installation.
To start off this install, we must first remove the tender housing. Separate the shell from the frame at the 2 points highlighted above on each end and 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 tender housing. Separate the shell from the frame at the 2 points highlighted above on each end and lift the shell off of the frame. Take care to release the handrails as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
The Life Like Proto 2000 2-10-2 shown with the tender shell off. Remove the screws and unplug the wires from the original lighting board, removing it from the chassis. Remove the original speakers at this time. These will not be used.
The Life Like Proto 2000 2-10-2 shown with the tender shell off. Remove the screws and unplug the wires from the original lighting board, removing it from the chassis. Remove the original speakers at this time. These will not be used.
With the original lighting board removed. Remove the connectors then trim, tin or lengthen the wire leads as needed and using small lengths of TCS 3/32" and 3/64" shrink tubing, insulate these solder leads.
With the original lighting board removed. Remove the connectors then trim, tin or lengthen the wire leads as needed and using small lengths of TCS 3/32" and 3/64" shrink tubing, insulate these solder leads.
Set the 28mm WOWSound speaker into the frame opening and solder these wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram. Using hot melt glue, secure the speaker to the frame. NOTE: You must be very careful to avoid getting glue on the speaker cone. Glue on the speaker will ultimately cause it to produce no sound and fail.
Set the 28mm WOWSound speaker into the frame opening and solder these wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram. Using hot melt glue, secure the speaker to the frame. NOTE: You must be very careful to avoid getting glue on the speaker cone. Glue on the speaker will ultimately cause it to produce no sound and fail.
This tender has a junction board in place making it very easy for soldering this installation. Solder the tender track pick up leads to the board as shown. In this installation, omitting the speaker enclosure allows the sound from the rear of the speaker to resonate inside the shell and exit the second speaker port, greatly increasing quality of the sound output.
This tender has a junction board in place making it very easy for soldering this installation. Solder the tender track pick up leads to the board as shown. In this installation, omitting the speaker enclosure allows the sound from the rear of the speaker to resonate inside the shell and exit the second speaker port, greatly increasing quality of the sound output.
Next solder the jumper leads from the B-MB4 to the juction board including the rear LED, motor, locomotive track pickup and locomotive headlight LED. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
Next solder the jumper leads from the B-MB4 to the juction board including the rear LED, motor, locomotive track pickup and locomotive headlight LED. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
Another view of these connections onto the junction board for clarity.
Another view of these connections onto the junction board for clarity.
With the connections complete, screw the B-MB4 to the tender using a single screw as shown. 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, which 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 Now you can close up the tender and connect it to the locomotive. 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 2-10-2 Steam is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
With the connections complete, screw the B-MB4 to the tender using a single screw as shown. 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, which 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 Now you can close up the tender and connect it to the locomotive. 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 2-10-2 Steam 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