Alco Models Life Like Proto 2000 E8/9
TCS DP5 Decoder installed in a HO Scale Alco Models Proto 2000 E8/9 performed by TCS customer.
The original light board in the first run of these locomotives was not DCC compatible. We recommend removing the light board and hard-wiring in a T4X decoder for that older version. The newer version pictured below is DCC ready and we recommend the DP5 decoder for its easy plug n play installation. You could also use a T1 decoder and follow the instruction regarding the LifeLike Proto 2000 E7.
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