Atlas EMD GP38-2

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-ATL-3

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

AK-MB1

Speaker Kit


Installation

This installation is for HO-Scale Atlas GP38-2 using a WOW121 decoder, AK-MB1 motherboard with Keep Alive® and UNIV-SH1-C WOWSpeaker kit by TCS.

The Atlas GP38-2 prior to installation.
The Atlas GP38-2 prior to installation.
To begin this installation, first remove the screws as highlighted above in red at each end of the locomotive and remove the couple box.
To begin this installation, first remove the screws as highlighted above in red at each end of the locomotive and remove the couple box.
With the couple boxes removed, gently grasp the shell on the sides and while pulling outward on each end, carefully lift the shell from the chassis.
With the couple boxes removed, gently grasp the shell on the sides and while pulling outward on each end, carefully lift the shell from the chassis.
Remove the wires from the original lighting board and remove this board from the frame. Trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary. We reused the original LED's in this installation.
Remove the wires from the original lighting board and remove this board from the frame. Trim, tin or lengthen the wires as necessary. We reused the original LED's in this installation.
Attach the AK-MB1 motherboard to the frame, solder the motor, track and lighting leads to it. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
Attach the AK-MB1 motherboard to the frame, solder the motor, track and lighting leads to it. TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
After inserting the 35mm x 16mm speaker into the INT-SH1 enclosure, using double sided foam tape, mount this assembly into the top of the shell and solder the leads to the motherboard. Be sure to place the UNIV-SH1-C enclosure to fit between the weights to allow space for the shell to close. 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.
After inserting the 35mm x 16mm speaker into the INT-SH1 enclosure, using double sided foam tape, mount this assembly into the top of the shell and solder the leads to the motherboard. Be sure to place the UNIV-SH1-C enclosure to fit between the weights to allow space for the shell to close. 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.
You can now plug in your WOW121 decoder. Reassemble the shell onto the chassis and replace the coupler boxes and screws. Be care to avoid pinching and fouling wires. Your Atlas GP-38-2 is now WOWSound equipped and ready to roll!
You can now plug in your WOW121 decoder. Reassemble the shell onto the chassis and replace the coupler boxes and screws. Be care to avoid pinching and fouling wires. Your Atlas GP-38-2 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