Bowser FT A unit

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-ATL-2

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

AK-MB1

Speaker Kit


Installation

Bowser FT a unit Installation featuring the Ak-MB1 Motherboard with Keep Alive®, WOW121-Diesel Decoder and 25mm  14mm Speaker by TCS. We added a TCS Motor Mount for this installation.

Bowser FT a unit shown with the shell on prior to installation. To remove the shell, remove the front coupler and ease the shell along both sides of the locomotive. While gently pulling out the shell along the sides and end, release the shell upwards.
Bowser FT a unit shown with the shell on prior to installation. To remove the shell, remove the front coupler and ease the shell along both sides of the locomotive. While gently pulling out the shell along the sides and end, release the shell upwards.
The Bowser FT A unit shown with the shell off. Remove the original lighting board and other components.
The Bowser FT A unit shown with the shell off. Remove the original lighting board and other components.
Using a sanded or similar, remove the bottom curved portion of the motormount to achieve a flat bottom.
Using a sanded or similar, remove the bottom curved portion of the motormount to achieve a flat bottom.
Using foam, double sided tape, secure the motor mount in place on top of the motor. Trim, lengthen and tin the wire leads as necessary.
Using foam, double sided tape, secure the motor mount in place on top of the motor. Trim, lengthen and tin the wire leads as necessary.
Using the same foam, double sided tape, mount the AK-MB1 motherboard to the motor mount as shown. Solder the track and motor wire leads to it according to the included wiring diagram.
Using the same foam, double sided tape, mount the AK-MB1 motherboard to the motor mount as shown. Solder the track and motor wire leads to it according to the included wiring diagram.
With the 25mm X 14mm WOWSound speaker inserted into the UNIV-SH4-C enclosure, mount this assembly to the rear of the chassis as shown using a small dab of hot melt glue. Solder these wire leads to the motherboard. If your speaker enclosure installation covers the portholes on the enclosure, we recommend adding new porthole(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 UNIV-SH4-C enclosure, mount this assembly to the rear of the chassis as shown using a small dab of hot melt glue. Solder these wire leads to the motherboard. If your speaker enclosure installation covers the portholes on the enclosure, we recommend adding new porthole(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 dab of hot melt glue, Mount the front LED to the front light tube as shown. 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 the non white LED output will be more affected by placement. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
Using a small dab of hot melt glue, Mount the front LED to the front light tube as shown. 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 the non white LED output will be more affected by placement. 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 Bowser Ft A unit 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 Bowser Ft A unit 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