Bachmann EMD GP30

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-BAC-4

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

IB-MB1-NC

Speaker Kit


Installation

This installation documentation is for the HO-scale Bachmann GP30 diesel. This installation uses the WDK-BAC-4 WOWKit which includes the WOW121-Diesel decoder, IB-MB1-NC motherboard, and UNIV-SH1 speaker kit, and was performed by DCC Xpress Installations.

HO-Scale Bachmann GP30 prior to installation.
HO-Scale Bachmann GP30 prior to installation.
To start off this install, we must first remove the two screws indicated above that are located underneath the fuel tank.
To start off this install, we must first remove the two screws indicated above that are located underneath the fuel tank.
Next, remove the two screws on the frame under the tank as indicated in red above. Once removed, the shell will lift off of the frame.
Next, remove the two screws on the frame under the tank as indicated in red above. Once removed, the shell will lift off of the frame.
Underneath the locomotive chassis are three hardwired yellow capacitors marked with “104” highlighted in red. Carefully remove these using a clipper. If these capacitors are left in place, they will interfere with TCS' Auto-Adjusting BEMF and cause rough running and poor motor performance. It is not necessary to remove the other two green components with color stripes on them.
Underneath the locomotive chassis are three hardwired yellow capacitors marked with “104” highlighted in red. Carefully remove these using a clipper. If these capacitors are left in place, they will interfere with TCS' Auto-Adjusting BEMF and cause rough running and poor motor performance. It is not necessary to remove the other two green components with color stripes on them.
Before clipping or de-soldering wires, take note of the wiring to be sure to replace it in it's correct location. you can mark or color your wires to make sure they are properly connected to the IB-MB1-NC later. At this point, remove the screws located at each end of the original lighting board as highlighted above in red. De-solder the wires and remove the board.
Before clipping or de-soldering wires, take note of the wiring to be sure to replace it in it's correct location. you can mark or color your wires to make sure they are properly connected to the IB-MB1-NC later. At this point, remove the screws located at each end of the original lighting board as highlighted above in red. De-solder the wires and remove the board.
Shown with the original lighting board removed. Trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary.
Shown with the original lighting board removed. Trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary.
One top of the frame there are two metal threaded standoffs. Trim these off with cutters and file smoothly to allow for the installation of the IB-MB1-NC motherboard.
One top of the frame there are two metal threaded standoffs. Trim these off with cutters and file smoothly to allow for the installation of the IB-MB1-NC motherboard.
Using double sided foam tape, mount the IB-MB1-NC to the top of the frame and solder the motor and track leads in place. Ensure that there is a layer of insulation underneath the board to prevent short circuits to the frame. When soldering, ensure that there are no globs of leftover solder, or loose solder balls that could cause shorts.
Using double sided foam tape, mount the IB-MB1-NC to the top of the frame and solder the motor and track leads in place. Ensure that there is a layer of insulation underneath the board to prevent short circuits to the frame. When soldering, ensure that there are no globs of leftover solder, or loose solder balls that could cause shorts.
With this done, solder the speaker wire leads to the IB-MB1-NC motherboard. Insert the 35mm X 16mm speaker into the UNIV-SH1 enclosure and using double-sided foam tape, mount it to the frame as shown. 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. NOTE: It is not necessary to glue your speaker into the enclosure. If you do choose to use glue, 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 this done, solder the speaker wire leads to the IB-MB1-NC motherboard. Insert the 35mm X 16mm speaker into the UNIV-SH1 enclosure and using double-sided foam tape, mount it to the frame as shown. 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. NOTE: It is not necessary to glue your speaker into the enclosure. If you do choose to use glue, 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.
Taking the original lighting board, remove the LED’s from the board. Be mindful of the polarity of the LED’s. The cathode has the flat side and you can see a larger flag shape part in the LED. The other side is the anode, it connects to blue (+12v).
Taking the original lighting board, remove the LED’s from the board. Be mindful of the polarity of the LED’s. The cathode has the flat side and you can see a larger flag shape part in the LED. The other side is the anode, it connects to blue (+12v).
Solder the LED's to new wire leads and using a dab of hot melt glue, place these on the the light tubes.
Solder the LED's to new wire leads and using a dab of hot melt glue, place these on the the light tubes.
Solder the lighting wire leads as indicated in your wiring diagram to the IB-MB1-NC motherboard. 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.
Solder the lighting wire leads as indicated in your wiring diagram to the IB-MB1-NC motherboard. 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.
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 GP30 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 GP30 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