BLI EMD SW7 Phase 2

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 documentation is for the HO-Scale Broadway Limited Imports EMD SW7 Phase 2. This installation uses the TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AS-MB2 NC with KA4 Keep Alive®, and UNIV-SH4-C WOWSpeaker Kit.

The BLI EMD SW7 Phase 2 shown prior to installation.
The BLI EMD SW7 Phase 2 shown prior to installation.
After removing the couplers, gently squeeze the top of the shell on either side and lift it off of the platform. Remove all the parts mounted on the chassis, leaving the front lighting board in place and the lighting board on the inside of the shell. These lighting boards will be re-used in this installation.
After removing the couplers, gently squeeze the top of the shell on either side and lift it off of the platform. Remove all the parts mounted on the chassis, leaving the front lighting board in place and the lighting board on the inside of the shell. These lighting boards will be re-used in this installation.
With the lighting board removed, trim or lengthen, then tin the wires as necessary.
With the lighting board removed, trim or lengthen, then tin the wires as necessary.
Using foam double-sided tape, mount the AS-MB2-NC motherboard to the top of the motor plate and solder the track pickup, motor, and front LED leads to it in accordance with the wiring diagram.
Using foam double-sided tape, mount the AS-MB2-NC motherboard to the top of the motor plate and solder the track pickup, motor, and front LED leads to it in accordance with the wiring diagram.
With the 25mm x 14mm speaker inserted into the UNIV-SH4-C speaker housing, use hot melt glue to mount it onto the frame as shown. 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 porthole(s) are the same size as 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 speaker inserted into the UNIV-SH4-C speaker housing, use hot melt glue to mount it onto the frame as shown. 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 porthole(s) are the same size as 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 KA4 Keep Alive® to the frame as shown.
Using a small dab of hot melt glue, mount the KA4 Keep Alive® to the frame as shown.
Solder the lighting leads from the top of the shell and the installation is complete.
Solder the lighting leads from the top of the shell and the installation is complete.
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 BLI EMD SW7 Phase 2 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
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 BLI EMD SW7 Phase 2 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