Bachmann EMD SD45

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-BAC-1

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

GEN-MB1

Speaker Kit
Accessories


Installation

This installation documentation is for the HO Scale Bachmann SD-45. This installation uses the TCS WOW121 Decoder, GEN-MB1 motherboard with Keep Alive®, motherboard mounting clip, and UNIV-SH1-C WOWSpeaker.

The Bachmann SD-45 shown with the shell on prior to installation.
The Bachmann SD-45 shown with the shell on prior to installation.
To begin, first remove the front and rear coupler screws and boxes as highlighted above. The shell can then be removed by pulling straight upward.
To begin, first remove the front and rear coupler screws and boxes as highlighted above. The shell can then be removed by pulling straight upward.
Shown with the shell off. Remove the wires from the original lighting board, unscrew the board from the chassis and remove it.
Shown with the shell off. Remove the wires from the original lighting board, unscrew the board from the chassis and remove it.
With the original lighting board removed, trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary. IMPORTANT: Remove the yellow capacitor attached to the motor as highlighted in blue above. It will cause speed control problems for the decoder if left in place.
With the original lighting board removed, trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary. IMPORTANT: Remove the yellow capacitor attached to the motor as highlighted in blue above. It will cause speed control problems for the decoder if left in place.
Using foam double-sided tape, secure the motherboard mount to the top of the motor and then attach the GEN-MB1 onto it. Solder the motor and track connections to the GEN-MB1.
Using foam double-sided tape, secure the motherboard mount to the top of the motor and then attach the GEN-MB1 onto it. Solder the motor and track connections to the GEN-MB1.
To facilitate a level platform on which to mount the speaker enclosure, file off the original board mounting tabs as shown above.
To facilitate a level platform on which to mount the speaker enclosure, file off the original board mounting tabs as shown above.
Next, insert the 35mm x 16mm speaker into the UNIV-SH1C enclosure. Using foam double-sided tape, mount this assembly on top of the frame. Solder the speaker wires to the GEN-MB1.
Next, insert the 35mm x 16mm speaker into the UNIV-SH1C enclosure. Using foam double-sided tape, mount this assembly on top of the frame. Solder the speaker wires to the GEN-MB1.
Solder the front and rear lighting leads to the GEN-MB1 according to the wiring diagram.
Solder the front and rear lighting leads to the GEN-MB1 according to the wiring diagram.
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 Bachmann SD-45 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 Bachmann SD-45 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

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