Atlas GE DASH 8-40B

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-ATL-2

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

AK-MB1

Speaker Kit


Installation

This installation is for a HO-Scale Atlas DASH 8-40B using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1 Motherboard with built in Keep Alive®, and UNIV-SH4-C WOWSpeaker kit.

HO-Scale Atlas DASH 8-40B prior to WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1, and UNIV-SH1-C installation.
HO-Scale Atlas DASH 8-40B prior to WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1, and UNIV-SH1-C installation.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings. Once that is complete, the shell will lift off of the chassis.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings. Once that is complete, the shell will lift off of the chassis.
With the shell off, we can now remove the factory light board. First remove any wire clips and disconnect the wires from the board. Once the wires are loose, the factory light board can easily be unclipped from the motor mount and the rear "Analog"/"DCC" selector board can be unscrewed and removed.
With the shell off, we can now remove the factory light board. First remove any wire clips and disconnect the wires from the board. Once the wires are loose, the factory light board can easily be unclipped from the motor mount and the rear "Analog"/"DCC" selector board can be unscrewed and removed.
Now with the factory light board removed, we can now clip in the AK-MB1. Next, solder the motor and track pickup wires to the AK-MB1 according to the wiring diagram in your motherboard manual. This engine came supplied with 12volt bulbs, they must be replaced with LED's because the AK-MB1 is configured for LED use only. However for convenience the AK-MB1 has built in current limit resistors in series with the light outputs for LED use so no additional resistors are needed. We used our own TCS Sunny White LED's SKU number: 1288.
Now with the factory light board removed, we can now clip in the AK-MB1. Next, solder the motor and track pickup wires to the AK-MB1 according to the wiring diagram in your motherboard manual. This engine came supplied with 12volt bulbs, they must be replaced with LED's because the AK-MB1 is configured for LED use only. However for convenience the AK-MB1 has built in current limit resistors in series with the light outputs for LED use so no additional resistors are needed. We used our own TCS Sunny White LED's SKU number: 1288.
With the AK-MB1 mounted, we can now solder some wire leads to our speaker and place our speaker inside the UNIV-SH4-C speaker housing. With our speaker mounting in the housing we glued the complete package up into the shell as seen below. 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.
With the AK-MB1 mounted, we can now solder some wire leads to our speaker and place our speaker inside the UNIV-SH4-C speaker housing. With our speaker mounting in the housing we glued the complete package up into the shell as seen below. 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.
Lastly, solder your speaker wires to the AK-MB1 and plug in your WOW121-Diesel decoder.
Lastly, solder your speaker wires to the AK-MB1 and plug in your WOW121-Diesel decoder.
With all three main components mounted, we can now 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.
With all three main components mounted, we can now 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.

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