Life Like Proto 2000 SD50

Scale:
HO Scale


This installation uses the following decoder:

LL8



NOTE: While this installation demonstrates the use of an T1P-C628 in this locomotive we have since added the LL8 to our decoder line. The LL8 is designed to fit the Life Like Proto 2000 series and would greatly simplify this installation.

This installation of TCS T1P-C628 Decoder is for HO Scale LifeLike Proto2000 SD50 and was performed by A.G.

The three upper pictures show the beautiful Lifelike Proto 2000 SD50 Special Edition with its shell on. Unscrew the front screw as well as the back one that holds the coupler pockets to the chassis and remove both coupler pockets.
The three upper pictures show the beautiful Lifelike Proto 2000 SD50 Special Edition with its shell on. Unscrew the front screw as well as the back one that holds the coupler pockets to the chassis and remove both coupler pockets.
Unscrew the two screws (circled in red). Grasping the shell by the solid area between the grills, lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis.
Unscrew the two screws (circled in red). Grasping the shell by the solid area between the grills, lift the shell straight up and off of the chassis.
Picture of the locomotive with its shell removed.
Picture of the locomotive with its shell removed.
Picture of the locomotive with its shell removed.
Picture of the locomotive with its shell removed.
Lift the DCC plug up to unplug it and unscrew two screws to remove the original light board. Turn the DCC Plug up-side-down and, using original screw, fasten it down to the locomotive chassis as shown in the picture above.
Lift the DCC plug up to unplug it and unscrew two screws to remove the original light board. Turn the DCC Plug up-side-down and, using original screw, fasten it down to the locomotive chassis as shown in the picture above.
This Proto 2000 locomotive uses 1.5V, 26mA bulb (pictured above) so 400 Ohm, 0.5 Watt resistor is needed. For the purpose of this installation we decided to use TCS Sunny White LEDs that are bright, have long life and are easy to work with. We use 680 Ohm resistor for each LED (one for the front and one for the reverse light) with 0.25 Watt rating.
This Proto 2000 locomotive uses 1.5V, 26mA bulb (pictured above) so 400 Ohm, 0.5 Watt resistor is needed. For the purpose of this installation we decided to use TCS Sunny White LEDs that are bright, have long life and are easy to work with. We use 680 Ohm resistor for each LED (one for the front and one for the reverse light) with 0.25 Watt rating.
Make sure to isolate any bare wires (as shown in the picture above) so that they will not cause a short. Electrical tape was used in this case but Kapton tape can be used as well.
Make sure to isolate any bare wires (as shown in the picture above) so that they will not cause a short. Electrical tape was used in this case but Kapton tape can be used as well.
This picture shows the installation of the voltage limiting resistor in the rear light circuit. It is important to remember that for every light (in this case two - the front headlight and the reverse light) 680 Ohm, voltage limiting resistor is needed.
This picture shows the installation of the voltage limiting resistor in the rear light circuit. It is important to remember that for every light (in this case two - the front headlight and the reverse light) 680 Ohm, voltage limiting resistor is needed.
This close-up picture shows the T1P-C620 Decoder placement on the chassis. Place the harness wires exactly the way you see them on the picture above and be very careful not to pinch any wires.
This close-up picture shows the T1P-C620 Decoder placement on the chassis. Place the harness wires exactly the way you see them on the picture above and be very careful not to pinch any wires.
Here is a picture of the completed T1P-C620 decoder installation. Black, electrical tape was used to fix the decoder to the locomotive chassis so that it stays in one place which makes shell placement easier. Hold the shell in one hand and the chassis in your other hand. Lining up the front of both pieces, lower the shell onto the chassis, keeping the lower edge of the shell parallel with the chassis. Reinstall two screws under the chassis and do not forget to attach both couplers back to the chassis. NOTE: Do not overtighten!
Here is a picture of the completed T1P-C620 decoder installation. Black, electrical tape was used to fix the decoder to the locomotive chassis so that it stays in one place which makes shell placement easier. Hold the shell in one hand and the chassis in your other hand. Lining up the front of both pieces, lower the shell onto the chassis, keeping the lower edge of the shell parallel with the chassis. Reinstall two screws under the chassis and do not forget to attach both couplers back to the chassis. NOTE: Do not overtighten!

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