Stewart VO-660 Phase 2

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-ATL-7

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

AS-MB2-NC

Speaker Kit
Keep Alive®

KA4



Installation

This installation documentation is for the HO-Scale Stewart VO-660 Phase 2. This installation uses the WDK-ATL-7 kit which includes the WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AS-MB2-NC motherboard, KA4 with Keep Alive® and UNIV-SH4-C WOWSpeaker kit.

HO-Scale Stewart VO-660 Phase 2 prior to installation.
HO-Scale Stewart VO-660 Phase 2 prior to installation.
To start off this install, you must first remove the front and rear couplers. Do this by lifting off the tabs securing them highlighted in blue above and the couplers will come right out. Then remove the shell by gently squeezing on either side of the top shell section and lifting up.
To start off this install, you must first remove the front and rear couplers. Do this by lifting off the tabs securing them highlighted in blue above and the couplers will come right out. Then remove the shell by gently squeezing on either side of the top shell section and lifting up.
Shown with the shell off and the original lighting board in place. Remove this board and discard it.
Shown with the shell off and the original lighting board in place. Remove this board and discard it.
Trim and tin or lengthen the wires as necessary to prepare them for connecting to the new motherboard.
Trim and tin or lengthen the wires as necessary to prepare them for connecting to the new motherboard.
Using the same tabs, secure the AS-MB2-NC to the frame and solder the motor and track leads to it.
Using the same tabs, secure the AS-MB2-NC to the frame and solder the motor and track leads to it.
Next, insert the wired 25mm X 14mm speaker into the UNIV-SH4-C enclosure and using double-sided foam tape, mount this assembly to the front frame and solder the wire leads to the AS-MB2-NC. 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, insert the wired 25mm X 14mm speaker into the UNIV-SH4-C enclosure and using double-sided foam tape, mount this assembly to the front frame and solder the wire leads to the AS-MB2-NC. 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.
Using hot melt glue, secure the KA4 to the rear of the frame and solder these leads to the AS-MB2-NC.
Using hot melt glue, secure the KA4 to the rear of the frame and solder these leads to the AS-MB2-NC.
Solder and insulate wire leads to the front LED and using hot melt glue, secure this to the front light tube.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.
Solder and insulate wire leads to the front LED and using hot melt glue, secure this to the front light tube.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.
In the same way, add and insulate wire leads to the rear LED connectors and solder these to the AS-MB2-NC.In this installation, we utilized the original lights in place and simply added new wire leads to them, insulating the connection with shrink tubing. Solder these leads to the motherboard as indicated in your wiring instructions.
In the same way, add and insulate wire leads to the rear LED connectors and solder these to the AS-MB2-NC.In this installation, we utilized the original lights in place and simply added new wire leads to them, insulating the connection with shrink tubing. Solder these leads to the motherboard as indicated in your wiring instructions.
You can now plug in the WOW121 decoder. Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord.You can close up the locomotive. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. Your Stewart VO-660 Phase 2 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
You can now plug in the WOW121 decoder. Lastly, in order to keep the wires neat and prevent possible shorts, lace the wires into a bundle using lacing cord.You can close up the locomotive. Be sure to be mindful of wire routing and reassembly of the shell as to not damage or foul the installation. Your Stewart VO-660 Phase 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