Atlas GE DASH 8-32BW

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 DASH 8-32BW using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1 Motherboard with built in Keep Alive®, and UNIV-SH4-C WOWSpeaker kit.

HO-Scale DASH 8-40BW prior to WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1, and UNIV-SH4-C installation.
HO-Scale DASH 8-40BW prior to WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1, and UNIV-SH4-C installation.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings. Once that is complete, the shell will lift off of the chassis.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear couplers and their housings. Once that is complete, the shell will lift off of the chassis.
With the shell off, we can now remove the factory light board. First remove any wire clips and disconnect the wires from the original lighting board.
With the shell off, we can now remove the factory light board. First remove any wire clips and disconnect the wires from the original lighting board.
Once the wires are loose, the factory light board can easily be unclipped from the motor mount, and the board on the right (highlighted above) can be unscrewed and removed.
Once the wires are loose, the factory light board can easily be unclipped from the motor mount, and the board on the right (highlighted above) can be unscrewed and removed.
Now with the factory light board removed, we can now clip in the AK-MB1. This engine uses 12v bulbs but we replaced them with warm white LED's. Since the AK-MB1 already has current limit resistors on board for LED use there is no need to add them.
Now with the factory light board removed, we can now clip in the AK-MB1. This engine uses 12v bulbs but we replaced them with warm white LED's. Since the AK-MB1 already has current limit resistors on board for LED use there is no need to add them.
Next, install the speaker in the the housing and mount it up under the shell. As you can see from the image below the speaker is mounted about .75" back from the cab. It is critical that you carefully line up the speaker and housing as there is not a lot of room for a speaker in this installation. NOTE: You must be very careful to avoid getting glue on the speaker cone. Glue on the speaker will ultimately cause it to produce no sound and fail.
Next, install the speaker in the the housing and mount it up under the shell. As you can see from the image below the speaker is mounted about .75" back from the cab. It is critical that you carefully line up the speaker and housing as there is not a lot of room for a speaker in this installation. NOTE: You must be very careful to avoid getting glue on the speaker cone. Glue on the speaker will ultimately cause it to produce no sound and fail.
Lastly, solder your speaker wires to the AK-MB1 and plug in your WOW121-Diesel decoder.
Lastly, solder your speaker wires to the AK-MB1 and plug in your WOW121-Diesel decoder.
Replace the shell and coupler boxes, and your locomotive is ready to run!
Replace the shell and coupler boxes, 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