Life Like Proto 2000 ALCO PA

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:


This installation of TCS DP2X-UK Decoder is for HO Scale Life Like Proto 2000 ALCO PA and was performed by A.G.

It is worth mentioning that this installation is very easy and it can be done by the beginner.

The three upper pictures show the beautiful Life Like Proto 2000 ALCO PA with its shell on.
The three upper pictures show the beautiful Life Like Proto 2000 ALCO PA with its shell on.
Gently unsnap tabs on the shell from indentations in the chassis on both sides. Grasping the shell at the center top of both sides, bring shell forward in order to clear the front coupler. After clearing the coupler, lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis.
Gently unsnap tabs on the shell from indentations in the chassis on both sides. Grasping the shell at the center top of both sides, bring shell forward in order to clear the front coupler. After clearing the coupler, lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis.
Circled in red is the front coupler that you need to be careful with while removing the shell.
Circled in red is the front coupler that you need to be careful with while removing the shell.
Picture of the locomotive with its shell taken off and original light board - DCC plug circled in red.
Picture of the locomotive with its shell taken off and original light board - DCC plug circled in red.
Remove the DCC plug from the socket (circled in red).
Remove the DCC plug from the socket (circled in red).
Plug our DP2X-UK decoder so that its first pin (marked on the decoder's board as a gold dot) faces the lower left corner of the original light board. (If you insert the decoder the wrong way you will not damage it so if your first attempt doesn't work - simply flip the decoder around). Hold the shell in one hand and the chassis in the other. Place the front coupler (on the chassis) through the opening in the pilot (on the shell). Lower shell onto chassis. Continue lowering the shell until the four round tabs on the chassis (two on each side, just above the fuel tank) snap into the four circular indentations on the side of the shell.
Plug our DP2X-UK decoder so that its first pin (marked on the decoder's board as a gold dot) faces the lower left corner of the original light board. (If you insert the decoder the wrong way you will not damage it so if your first attempt doesn't work - simply flip the decoder around). Hold the shell in one hand and the chassis in the other. Place the front coupler (on the chassis) through the opening in the pilot (on the shell). Lower shell onto chassis. Continue lowering the shell until the four round tabs on the chassis (two on each side, just above the fuel tank) snap into the four circular indentations on the side of the shell.

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