Intermountain U18B

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-INT-1

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

IB-MB2

Speaker Kit
Accessories


Installation

This installation is for a HO-Scale Intermountain U18B using a TCS IB-MB2 with a built in KA2 Keep Alive® device and WOW121-Diesel decoder.

HO-Scale Intermountain U18B prior to TCS IB-MB2 and WOW121-Diesel decoder installation
HO-Scale Intermountain U18B prior to TCS IB-MB2 and WOW121-Diesel decoder installation
In order to remove the shell, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings.
In order to remove the shell, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings.
With the couplers and their housings removed, the shell can be lifted up and off of the locomotives chassis.
With the couplers and their housings removed, the shell can be lifted up and off of the locomotives chassis.
With the shell removed, we can now unplug all the JST connections. Next, remove the four screws securing the factory light board.
With the shell removed, we can now unplug all the JST connections. Next, remove the four screws securing the factory light board.
With the factory light board removed, we're left with two long screws (front) and two short screws (rear).
With the factory light board removed, we're left with two long screws (front) and two short screws (rear).
Additionally, we are left with a shim bracket (front), which we will reuse along with the four screws in the next step.
Additionally, we are left with a shim bracket (front), which we will reuse along with the four screws in the next step.
Next, place the TCS IB-MB2 in its mounting place and secure using the four screws and front shim. Now you can solder the 2-Pin JST speaker connection harness to your speaker, and mount your speaker in the enclosure.
Next, place the TCS IB-MB2 in its mounting place and secure using the four screws and front shim. Now you can solder the 2-Pin JST speaker connection harness to your speaker, and mount your speaker in the enclosure.
Mount the speaker behind the motherboard in the cutout in the frame (we used hot glue, but you may be able to use screws), plug the JST connectors into the IB-MB2 (according to the diagram that came with the motherboard literature), and plug-in the WOW121-Diesel decoder.
Mount the speaker behind the motherboard in the cutout in the frame (we used hot glue, but you may be able to use screws), plug the JST connectors into the IB-MB2 (according to the diagram that came with the motherboard literature), and plug-in the WOW121-Diesel decoder.
For ease of putting the locomotives shell back on, we used some kapton tape to secure the wires and keep them out of the way. Finally, place the locomotives shell back on and reintsall the front and rear couplers and their housings. Note: In this install, we decided to use the factory speaker and baffel. You have now installed a TCS IB-MB2 with a built in KA2 Keep Alive® and WOW121-Diesel decoder into your HO-Scale Intermountain U18B.
For ease of putting the locomotives shell back on, we used some kapton tape to secure the wires and keep them out of the way. Finally, place the locomotives shell back on and reintsall the front and rear couplers and their housings. Note: In this install, we decided to use the factory speaker and baffel. You have now installed a TCS IB-MB2 with a built in KA2 Keep Alive® and WOW121-Diesel decoder into your HO-Scale Intermountain U18B.

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