Atlas C30-7

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-ATL-2

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

AK-MB1

Speaker Kit


Installation

This installation is for a HO-Scale Atlas C30-7 using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1 Motherboard with built in Keep Alive®
and UNIV-SH4-C WOWSpeaker kit by TCS.

HO-Scale Atlas C30-7 prior to installation.
HO-Scale Atlas C30-7 prior to installation.
To begin this installation, with a pair of small pliers, remove the pin from the couplers highlighting in red above at each end of the locomotive. Lift the shell off of the chassis by gently squeezing to release the catch clips on either side of the shell.
To begin this installation, with a pair of small pliers, remove the pin from the couplers highlighting in red above at each end of the locomotive. Lift the shell off of the chassis by gently squeezing to release the catch clips on either side of the shell.
Shown with the shell off. Identify all the connections on the original lighting board.
Shown with the shell off. Identify all the connections on the original lighting board.
Next, remove the screw on the front weight as highlighted above and separate the front light bulb. Remove the screw below the frame and then the front weight.
Next, remove the screw on the front weight as highlighted above and separate the front light bulb. Remove the screw below the frame and then the front weight.
Remove the wires and the original lighting board.
Remove the wires and the original lighting board.
Attach the new AK-MB1 motherboard onto the original chassis clips and solder the motor and track connections to it.
Attach the new AK-MB1 motherboard onto the original chassis clips and solder the motor and track connections to it.
Show with these wire leads soldered in place. Install the LED lights onto the ends of the existing light tubes with a dab of hot glue and solder the light connections onto the AK-MB1 according to the included wiring diagram. 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.
Show with these wire leads soldered in place. Install the LED lights onto the ends of the existing light tubes with a dab of hot glue and solder the light connections onto the AK-MB1 according to the included wiring diagram. 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.
Install the 25mm x 14mm speaker into the UNIV-SH4-C enclosure and then mount this assembly into the roof of the shell, under the front lighting tube, using double sided foam tape, then solder the speaker connections onto the AK-MB1. 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.
Install the 25mm x 14mm speaker into the UNIV-SH4-C enclosure and then mount this assembly into the roof of the shell, under the front lighting tube, using double sided foam tape, then solder the speaker connections onto the AK-MB1. 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.
Shown with the speaker and lighting in place. Next, plug the WOW121-Diesel decoder into the AK-MB1 motherboard.
Shown with the speaker and lighting in place. Next, plug the WOW121-Diesel decoder into the AK-MB1 motherboard.
Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord, which is a wax impregnated string used for wire bundling and making harnesses.
Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord, which is a wax impregnated string used for wire bundling and making harnesses.
Reassemble the shell and couplers being sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. Your Atlas C30-7 is now ready to roll with WOWSound!
Reassemble the shell and couplers being sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. Your Atlas C30-7 is now ready to roll with WOWSound!

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