Life Like Proto 2000 GP30

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-KAT-3

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

AS-MB2-NC

Speaker Kit
Keep Alive®

KA4



Installation

This installation is for a HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 GP30.

HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 GP30 shown prior to installation.
HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 GP30 shown prior to installation.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear coupler screws highlighted above and their housings. With the couplers removed, while gently pulling outwards at each end and along each side of the frame, lift the shell off of the frame. Take care to release the handrails as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear coupler screws highlighted above and their housings. With the couplers removed, while gently pulling outwards at each end and along each side of the frame, lift the shell off of the frame. Take care to release the handrails as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
The Life Like Proto 2000 GP30 shown with the shell off. Remove the two screws located on the front left and rear right of the original lighting board as highlighted above in red. Remove wires from the original lighting board and remove it from the chassis.
The Life Like Proto 2000 GP30 shown with the shell off. Remove the two screws located on the front left and rear right of the original lighting board as highlighted above in red. Remove wires from the original lighting board and remove it from the chassis.
To allow a space for the motherboard and speaker, the frame must also be milled square above the original brush bracket as highlighted above to keep all the components below the original top of the frame.
To allow a space for the motherboard and speaker, the frame must also be milled square above the original brush bracket as highlighted above to keep all the components below the original top of the frame.
Trim the front track pick up post as shown above in blue to allow space for the KA4 Keep Alive® installation. With this trimmed, resolder one side of the track connection wire to it. Remove and discard the original 1.5 V bulbs. For this installation, they will be replaced with a LEDs inserted into the original housing.
Trim the front track pick up post as shown above in blue to allow space for the KA4 Keep Alive® installation. With this trimmed, resolder one side of the track connection wire to it. Remove and discard the original 1.5 V bulbs. For this installation, they will be replaced with a LEDs inserted into the original housing.
With the original lighting board removed and above steps completed, trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary.
With the original lighting board removed and above steps completed, trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary.
To recreate the second side of the track pickup, tap a small hole and insert this connection at the rear of the frame as shown above.
To recreate the second side of the track pickup, tap a small hole and insert this connection at the rear of the frame as shown above.
Insert the new LEDs into the original locations, securing them with a small dab of hot melt glue and solder the wire leads to the motherboard 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. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use. Next, using hot melt glue or double sided foam tape, secure the KA4 Keep Alive® to the front of the frame as shown. Then using double sided foam tape, with the 35mm X 16mm WOWsound speaker inserted into the UNIV-SH1-C enclosure, mount this assembly to the frame in front of the screw. Lay the wires leading forward into the milled frame channel to secure them underneath the motherboard. 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.
Insert the new LEDs into the original locations, securing them with a small dab of hot melt glue and solder the wire leads to the motherboard 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. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use. Next, using hot melt glue or double sided foam tape, secure the KA4 Keep Alive® to the front of the frame as shown. Then using double sided foam tape, with the 35mm X 16mm WOWsound speaker inserted into the UNIV-SH1-C enclosure, mount this assembly to the frame in front of the screw. Lay the wires leading forward into the milled frame channel to secure them underneath the motherboard. 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.
Attach the AS-MB2 NC to the frame with double sided foam tape and solder the motor, track pickup, KA4 and speaker wires according to the included wiring diagram.
Attach the AS-MB2 NC to the frame with double sided foam tape and solder the motor, track pickup, KA4 and speaker wires according to the included wiring diagram.
NOTE: In this installation, the open fans on the roof have loose fan blades. In order to prevent vibration which could compromise the sound quality, we recommend that you add a small drop of model glue to the junction of the fan blades and spindle to prevent this movement. You can now plug in your WOW121 decoder. Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord. Now you can close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. 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 GP30 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
NOTE: In this installation, the open fans on the roof have loose fan blades. In order to prevent vibration which could compromise the sound quality, we recommend that you add a small drop of model glue to the junction of the fan blades and spindle to prevent this movement. You can now plug in your WOW121 decoder. Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord. Now you can close up the locomotive and reinstall the coupler assemblies. 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 GP30 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