Atlas GP38-2

Scale:
N Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


N Scale Atlas GP38-2 with TCS AMD4 - performed by J.M.

First remove the shell be squeezing it on either side and rocking it back and forth until it lifts off. Once that is complete your chassis should look like the one below. Loosen both screws highlighted in red below to free the lighting board and fit the AMD4.
First remove the shell be squeezing it on either side and rocking it back and forth until it lifts off. Once that is complete your chassis should look like the one below. Loosen both screws highlighted in red below to free the lighting board and fit the AMD4.
When the lighting board is removed your chassis should look like the one below.
When the lighting board is removed your chassis should look like the one below.
Be sure that the copper motor tabs are properly aligned so they will not touch the frame or each other.If need be wrap the frame in kapton tape to avoid accidental contact. Once the AMD4 has been installed in the locomotive tighten the screws on the sides of the frame and your installation should look like the one below.
Be sure that the copper motor tabs are properly aligned so they will not touch the frame or each other.If need be wrap the frame in kapton tape to avoid accidental contact. Once the AMD4 has been installed in the locomotive tighten the screws on the sides of the frame and your installation should look like the one below.
Alternatively you can slip the motor tabs through the slots in the decoder. This will ensure good motor connection and reduce the risk of shorting against the frame.
Alternatively you can slip the motor tabs through the slots in the decoder. This will ensure good motor connection and reduce the risk of shorting against the frame.
Replace the shell and your locomotive is ready to run.
Replace the shell and your locomotive is 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