Athearn RTR EMD SD60

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-ATH-5

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

RTR-MB1

Speaker Kit


Installation

Installation for a Athearn SD60 using a WOW121-Diesel Decoder, RTR-MB1 Motherboard with Keep-Alive® and UNIV-SH1-C Speaker Kit by TCS.

The Athearn SD60 shown with the shell on prior to installlation.
The Athearn SD60 shown with the shell on prior to installlation.
First, remove the coupler box screws as highlighted in red above and the coupler boxes from both ends of the locomotive.
First, remove the coupler box screws as highlighted in red above and the coupler boxes from both ends of the locomotive.
With the couplers removed the shell should lift right off the chassis.
With the couplers removed the shell should lift right off the chassis.
Remove the wires from the tabs on the original lighting board and then lift the lighting board from the front to unclip it from the motor and lift it off.
Remove the wires from the tabs on the original lighting board and then lift the lighting board from the front to unclip it from the motor and lift it off.
Attach the RTR-MB1 to the top of the motor by reversing the motions you used to remove the original lighting board.
Attach the RTR-MB1 to the top of the motor by reversing the motions you used to remove the original lighting board.
Solder the track and motor connections to the RTR-MB1 according to the included wiring diagram. When attaching the wires to the pads, it is not necessary to insert the wires through the holes. We recommend attaching the wires flat on top of the solder pads.
Solder the track and motor connections to the RTR-MB1 according to the included wiring diagram. When attaching the wires to the pads, it is not necessary to insert the wires through the holes. We recommend attaching the wires flat on top of the solder pads.
Next, mount your speaker in the speaker enclosure and hot glue it facing out under the fan vents on top of the shell. 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, mount your speaker in the speaker enclosure and hot glue it facing out under the fan vents on top of the shell. 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.
Now solder the speaker and lighting wires to the RTR-MB1. This locomotive uses 1.5v bulbs, and since RTR-MB1 has a built-in 1.5V power supply we can use the original bulbs with no modification. It is also possible to install LED lighting. 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.
Now solder the speaker and lighting wires to the RTR-MB1. This locomotive uses 1.5v bulbs, and since RTR-MB1 has a built-in 1.5V power supply we can use the original bulbs with no modification. It is also possible to install LED lighting. 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.
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.
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.
Finally, plug your WOW121-Diesel decoder into the RTR-MB1 motherboard and your installation is complete. Replace the shell (it should slide over the installation easily), and replace the couplers on the shell. Your WOWSound equipped engine is now ready to run!
Finally, plug your WOW121-Diesel decoder into the RTR-MB1 motherboard and your installation is complete. Replace the shell (it should slide over the installation easily), and replace the couplers on the shell. Your WOWSound equipped engine is now ready to run!

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