Life Life Proto 2000 EMD GP7

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



!!!WARNING!!!
This installation requires modifications to the frame
and is not recommended for novice installers


Installation

This installation documentation is for the HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 EMD GP7. With milling of the frame, DXI has been able to utilize a WOW121-Diesel decoder, AS-MB2-NC with KA4 Keep Alive®, and UNIV-SH1-C WOWSpeaker as found in the WDK-KAT-3 WOWKit.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This installation requires milling/modification to the frame!

The Life Like Proto 2000 EMD GP7 shown prior to installation.
The Life Like Proto 2000 EMD GP7 shown prior to installation.
To start the installation, remove the screws highlighted above and pull out the couplers. Once the couplers are removed, squeeze along the sides of the shell and pull upward to lift it off.
To start the installation, remove the screws highlighted above and pull out the couplers. Once the couplers are removed, squeeze along the sides of the shell and pull upward to lift it off.
Shown with the shell off. Remove the screw highlighted above in red and remove the original lighting board and other components to prepare it for installation.
Shown with the shell off. Remove the screw highlighted above in red and remove the original lighting board and other components to prepare it for installation.
Shown with the original lighting board removed.
Shown with the original lighting board removed.
To allow a space for the motherboard and speaker, the frame must be milled square as highlighted above to keep all the components below the original top of the frame. This must be done to prevent the components from interfering with the shell during reassembly.
To allow a space for the motherboard and speaker, the frame must be milled square as highlighted above to keep all the components below the original top of the frame. This must be done to prevent the components from interfering with the shell during reassembly.
A side view of the properly milled frame. *This custom milling is included with DXI's installation flat rate service.
A side view of the properly milled frame. *This custom milling is included with DXI's installation flat rate service.
To create a track power pick-up from the frame, a new wire must be tapped into the frame as shown.
To create a track power pick-up from the frame, a new wire must be tapped into the frame as shown.
Using foam double-sided tape, mount the KA4 to the front as shown. Also, with the 35mm X 16mm WOWSound speaker inserted into the UNIV-SH1-C, mount this assembly using the same tape to the frame. If your speaker enclosure installation covers the portholes on the enclosure, we recommend adding new porthole(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 foam double-sided tape, mount the KA4 to the front as shown. Also, with the 35mm X 16mm WOWSound speaker inserted into the UNIV-SH1-C, mount this assembly using the same tape to the frame. If your speaker enclosure installation covers the portholes on the enclosure, we recommend adding new porthole(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 the same tape, mount the AS-MB2-NC to the frame as shown and solder the track, motor, speaker, KA4 and lighting wire leads to it in accordance with the wiring diagram.
Using the same tape, mount the AS-MB2-NC to the frame as shown and solder the track, motor, speaker, KA4 and lighting wire leads to it in accordance with the wiring diagram.
In this installation, new LED lighting was added. To mount the LED into the shell, a small divot was created into the light tube to accept the LED lens. This was secured in place with a small dab of hot melt glue. Solder these wire leads to the motherboard according to the wiring diagram.
In this installation, new LED lighting was added. To mount the LED into the shell, a small divot was created into the light tube to accept the LED lens. This was secured in place with a small dab of hot melt glue. Solder these wire leads to the motherboard according to the wiring diagram.
You can now plug in the WOW121 Diesel 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 EMD GP7 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
You can now plug in the WOW121 Diesel 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 EMD GP7 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