Proto 2000 PB Locomotive

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


Installation

This installation is for a HO Scale Life Like Proto 2000 PB Locomotive using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, IB-MB1 NC Motherboard with built in Keep Alive® and 28mm WOWSpeaker kit.

HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 PB Locomotive shown prior to installation.
HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 PB Locomotive shown prior to installation.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear screws along either side of the frame bottom. With these removed, while gently pulling outwards along each side of the shell, lift the shell off of the frame. Take care to release the handrails and ladders as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear screws along either side of the frame bottom. With these removed, while gently pulling outwards along each side of the shell, lift the shell off of the frame. Take care to release the handrails and ladders as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
Shown with the shell off. As there is no motor or track pick ups in this unit, we need to create track pick ups to draw power for the decoder.
Shown with the shell off. As there is no motor or track pick ups in this unit, we need to create track pick ups to draw power for the decoder.
Remove the small plastic top cap holding the truck into the frame and then remove each truck through the bottom of the frame.
Remove the small plastic top cap holding the truck into the frame and then remove each truck through the bottom of the frame.
On either side of each truck, create a pick up connection at the tab highlighted above in red for the track pick up leads. Solder these leads to the right and left side of each truck. In this installation, we gently filed the metal tab surface, removing the coating to reveal the copper surface, which would allow the solder to adhere.
On either side of each truck, create a pick up connection at the tab highlighted above in red for the track pick up leads. Solder these leads to the right and left side of each truck. In this installation, we gently filed the metal tab surface, removing the coating to reveal the copper surface, which would allow the solder to adhere.
With the leads in place, using snips, remove the mount tabs on the motor mount to create a flat surface to mount the IB-MB1 NC motherboard.
With the leads in place, using snips, remove the mount tabs on the motor mount to create a flat surface to mount the IB-MB1 NC motherboard.
Using hot melt glue or double sided foam tape, secure the motor mount to the center of the frame.
Using hot melt glue or double sided foam tape, secure the motor mount to the center of the frame.
Using double sided foam tape, mount the IB-MB1 NC to the motor mount and frame as shown above. We offset it towards the rear to allow for space to mount the speaker, but kept it forward enough to avoid the rear truck movement. Solder the new track leads to it according to the included wiring diagram.
Using double sided foam tape, mount the IB-MB1 NC to the motor mount and frame as shown above. We offset it towards the rear to allow for space to mount the speaker, but kept it forward enough to avoid the rear truck movement. Solder the new track leads to it according to the included wiring diagram.
Next, with the 28mm WOWsound speaker inserted into the UNIV-SH2 -C enclosure, using double sided foam tape, mount this assembly onto the frame facing up. Solder the wire leads to the IB-MB1 NC according to the included wiring diagram. 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.
Next, with the 28mm WOWsound speaker inserted into the UNIV-SH2 -C enclosure, using double sided foam tape, mount this assembly onto the frame facing up. Solder the wire leads to the IB-MB1 NC according to the included wiring diagram. 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.
You can now plug in your WOW121 decoder. Now you can close up the locomotive and reinstall the shell screws. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. Your Life Like Proto 2000 PB Locomotive is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
You can now plug in your WOW121 decoder. Now you can close up the locomotive and reinstall the shell screws. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. Your Life Like Proto 2000 PB Locomotive is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!

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