Life Like GP18 (Old Version)

Scale:
N Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:

CN



This installation is for the older N Scale Life-Like GP18's using the TCS CN Decoder performed by Tim Diez.

The installation is not as difficult as one would think. It requires some trimming of the weights and simple soldering. I simply removed the weights and filed them down in a vice by hand. To avoid short circuits, apply electrical tape to the top of the weights.
The installation is not as difficult as one would think. It requires some trimming of the weights and simple soldering. I simply removed the weights and filed them down in a vice by hand. To avoid short circuits, apply electrical tape to the top of the weights.
The picture above shows the rear weight after filing. These models are light, so only remove enough to fit the decoders.
The picture above shows the rear weight after filing. These models are light, so only remove enough to fit the decoders.
Next, clip the rear power connection and wire them to the rear decoder half. Be sure to leave enough room to get the weight back in.
Next, clip the rear power connection and wire them to the rear decoder half. Be sure to leave enough room to get the weight back in.
Clip the front power connection next, and the motor wires. Wire them to the front decoder half.
Clip the front power connection next, and the motor wires. Wire them to the front decoder half.
Finally, wire the two decoder halves together. Once testing is done and things work correctly, tape the wires in place.
Finally, wire the two decoder halves together. Once testing is done and things work correctly, tape the wires in place.

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