Life Like Proto 2000 E8/9 Version 3 (With Mars Light)

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

Kit Coming Soon

Which includes the following items:





DXI Installation

This was performed by our friends from DCC Xpress installations. 
They offer high quality WOWSound installations for a flat rate complete with free return shipping! 
You can find them at: www.dxinstalls.com

*****NOTE: In some versions of these models, the interior varies slightly, changing the space available for an install. For this reason, there are three different versions
of installs listed on our website. Please review and select the most appropriate version for your particular model.*****

This installation is for a HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 E8/9 Locomotive using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AS-MB2 NC Motherboard,
KA3 Keep Alive® and UNIV-SH4-C WOWSpeaker kit.

HO-Scale Life Like Proto 2000 E8/9 shown with the shell on. To start off this install, we must first remove the shell from the chassis. 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 and ladders as you lift off the shell so they don't break.
Shown with the shell off. Remove the two screws highlighted above in red and remove the original lighting board all the wiring connected to it. Set aside these screws for future use. Carefully disconnect the front headlight assembly and remove and discard the original 1.5 V bulbs. For this installation, the will be replaced with a LED inserted into the original housing.
In this version, the front interior of the shell has two hidden fans, one which will conflict with the newly installed components.This tutorial shows how to correctly install a kit for this variation.
In this installation, the unit has a blue wire shown that connected the right track pickup to the motor and then back to the track. This connection 'loop' must be removed to isolate the motor. The outgoing motor lead and the original track pick up lead will be connected directly to the motherboard.
The locomotive shown with the wire leads trimmed and lighting board removed.
Using double sided foam tape, secure a platform similar to the one shown onto the rear of the frame to support the components, feeding the rear track pick up leads to ease the routing.
Next, using the same double sided foam tape, mount the AS-MB2 NC as shown onto the platform.
Insert the 25mm X 14mm WOWsound speaker into the UNIV-SH4-C enclosure and using double sided foam tape, mount this assembly onto the rear roof of the shell. 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.
Insert these front LEDs into the original light holders with a small dab of hot melt glue and solder these wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram.TCS motherboards include on board current limit resistors for LED use. There is no need to apply external resistors for LED use.
Using double sided foam tape, install the Ka3 behind the front cab as shown and solder the wire leads to the motherboard according to the included wiring diagram.
You can now plug in your WOW121 decoder. 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 E8/9 Locomotive 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