Scaletrains EMD-SD40-2

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

Kit Coming Soon

Which includes the following items:



Installation

This installation is for a HO-Scale Scaletrains EMD-SD40-2 using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AK-MB1 V2 Motherboard with built in Keep Alive® and UNIV-SH1-C WOWSpeaker.

HO-Scale Scaletrains EMD-SD40-2 shown prior to installation.
HO-Scale Scaletrains EMD-SD40-2 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 Scaletrains EMD-SD40-2 shown with the shell off. Remove the two screws highlighted above in red as well as the wires from the original lighting board and remove it from the chassis.
The Scaletrains EMD-SD40-2 shown with the shell off. Remove the two screws highlighted above in red as well as the wires from the original lighting board and remove it from the chassis.
With the original lighting board removed, trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary.
With the original lighting board removed, trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary.
Remove the two screws highlighted above in red from the front right and left rear side of the frame. This will allow you to separate the top of the frame from the bottom and gain access to the speaker enclosure inside.
Remove the two screws highlighted above in red from the front right and left rear side of the frame. This will allow you to separate the top of the frame from the bottom and gain access to the speaker enclosure inside.
With the frame separated, you can see the accommodation for the speaker inside the top of the rear. Insert the 35mm x 16mm WOWSound speaker into the frame facing in and using M1.6 screws, attach the speaker to the frame. Feed the speaker wire leads up through the frame, following the path of the rear track pickup wires.
With the frame separated, you can see the accommodation for the speaker inside the top of the rear. Insert the 35mm x 16mm WOWSound speaker into the frame facing in and using M1.6 screws, attach the speaker to the frame. Feed the speaker wire leads up through the frame, following the path of the rear track pickup wires.
Reattach the two frame pieces with the speaker inside. Using double-sided foam tape, attach the AK-MB1 V2 to the frame as shown above.
Reattach the two frame pieces with the speaker inside. Using double-sided foam tape, attach the AK-MB1 V2 to the frame as shown above.
With the frame reassembled, solder the motor, track pickup, speaker and LED lighting leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram and the functions you desire for lighting operations. Using small lengths of TCS 3/32" and 3/64" shrink tubing, insulate these solder leads. TCS motherboards include onboard current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
With the frame reassembled, solder the motor, track pickup, speaker and LED lighting leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram and the functions you desire for lighting operations. Using small lengths of TCS 3/32" and 3/64" shrink tubing, insulate these solder leads. TCS motherboards include onboard current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
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 Scaletrains EMD-SD40-2 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
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 Scaletrains EMD-SD40-2 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