Atlas Trainman NRE Genset II

Scale:
HO Scale


WOWKit used in this installation

WDK-ATL-9

Which includes the following items:

Decoder
Motherboard

AS-MB2-NC

Speaker Kit
Keep Alive®

KA4

Accessories


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

This installation is for a HO Scale Trainman NRE Genset II using a TCS WOW121-Diesel Decoder, AS-MB2 NC Motherboard, KA4 Keep Alive®, Motor Mount Clip and WOWSpeaker.

HO-Scale Trainman NRE Genset II shown prior to installation.
To start off this install, we must first remove the front and rear coupler screws highlighted above in red 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 Trainman NRE Genset II shown with the shell off. Remove 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.
Remove the rear speaker housing screw highlighted above in red and the housing with it. Save these two pieces for later reinstallation.
Using double-sided foam tape, secure the motherboard motor mount on to the top of the motor. This should be positioned so the new motherboard front edge will meet up with the rear edge of the front frame to allow the right amount of space behind for the KA4.
Using the same tape, mount the AS-MB2 NC onto the motherboard motor mount, set against the front frame as shown above with the small blue arrow. Solder the motor and track leads to the AS-MB2 NC according to the included wiring diagram.
Insert the 35mm x 16mm WOWSound speaker into the original speaker enclosure and secure it with a small dab of hot melt glue. NOTE: You must be very careful to avoid getting glue on the speaker cone. Glue on the speaker will ultimately cause it to produce no sound and fail.
Reattach the speaker enclosure assembly to the frame using the original screw and solder the wire speaker leads to the AS-MB2 NC.
Using hot melt glue, secure the KA4 Keep Alive® between the AS-MB2 NC and the rear speaker platform. This should be a secure and snug fit. Be very careful to minimize the glue spread and be sure to maintain clearance between the KA4 and the motor spindle.
Solder the front and rear ditch light LED wire leads to the AS-MB2 NC according to the included wiring diagram. In this installation, the front and rear headlights were soldered to the LED pads on each end. The front ditch lights were soldered to pad #1 and the rear ditch lights to pad #2. 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 Atlas Trainman NRE Genset II 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