Life Like GP20

Scale:
N Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation of the TCS L1D4 Decoder is for N-Scale Life Like GP20 and was performed by TCS.

First remove the shell by gripping it in the middle and lifting up.
First remove the shell by gripping it in the middle and lifting up.
Next, slide the lighting board towards the rear of the locomotive and lift it up as shown in the image below.
Next, slide the lighting board towards the rear of the locomotive and lift it up as shown in the image below.
Reverse the the movements used to remove the lighting board to install the L1D4 decoder. NOTE: care should be taken to ensure the motor tabs on either side of the locomotive are overlapped by the motor pickup tabs on the decoder.
Reverse the the movements used to remove the lighting board to install the L1D4 decoder. NOTE: care should be taken to ensure the motor tabs on either side of the locomotive are overlapped by the motor pickup tabs on the decoder.
With the decoder installed and the motor tabs properly contacting the decoders motor pickup tabs you are ready to replace the shell and run your engine.
With the decoder installed and the motor tabs properly contacting the decoders motor pickup tabs you are ready to replace the shell and run your engine.

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