Installing a Lenz LE0511W
in an Atlas MP15DC switcher

MP15dccT.jpg (74958 bytes)
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MP15dcc11.jpg (19832 bytes)

January 2006

Over the years, N scale switch engines have improved with each new release and the recent entry by Atlas of the
MP15DC is the best N switcher yet.  The mechanism on this model is quite similar to the great running and reliable
road switchers.  Like most recent Atlas releases, the DCC version comes with a Lenz board decoder.  At this time
there is no after market board type decoder available so if you have a DC version and want to install a decoder, it's
going to have to be a standard wired decoder.  I selected the Lenz LE0511W as it is one of the smallest available. 
There is enough room to fit a small decoder like this one in the hood section without any milling of the frame.

After disassembling the engine, modify the LED board as shown above in photo 1.  Cut the board with a razor
saw.  On the small section of the board at the cab end,  remove diode D1 and capacitor C1, and drill a .050" hole
at the spot indicated in the photo.  Remove the LED from longer hood end of board and save it for later.
Cut decoder wires:

Red = 7/8 inch
Black = 7/8 inch
Orange = 1 inch
Gray = 1 inch
Blue = 1 inch
White = 1-1/4 inch
Yellow = 1-3/8 inch
Refer to photo 2 above:
Scrape off the green coating from the circuit traces near the frame contacts on the LED
board to expose bare copper and solder the red and black wires, observe polarity.


Refer to photo 3 below:
Reverse the polarity of the LED by removing it, flipping it over, and then re-soldering it. Feed
the yellow wire through the hole from the top side to the bottom side and solder as shown.
Refer to photo 4 above - Place a 1/4 inch long length of 3/32 inch heat shrink over the white wire and solder
the white wire to the LED lead on side where the rim is flattened.  Place a 3/8 inch long length of 1/8 inch
heat shrink over the blue wire and solder and 1000 ohm 1/8 watt resistor to the blue wire.  Then solder the
other end of the resistor to the other LED lead.   Then slide both heat shrinks down to cover the connections
and the resistor and apply heat.
Refer to the photo 5.

This motor design has a small
PC board with two contacts sticking
up. Cut these contacts to about
half their original length. 

Cut two lengths of 3/32 inch heat
shrink about 3/16 inch long and
place these over the gray and
orange decoder wires. 

Solder the orange and gray
wires to the shortened motor 
contacts.  Use a low heat setting
and be extra careful about the
heat being so close to the motor
housing.  Observe the correct
polarity of the wires.

Slide the heat shrink down over
the soldered connection and
apply heat from a heat shrink gun.
Again, be careful of damaging
the motor housing.
This is what the completed
decoder assembly should look
like with the PC board, motor,
and front LED connected.

Notice the small red band over
the wires near the decoder.  I've
found that is helps protect the
wires connections to the decoder
while handling.  This can be cut
with with small scissors and
removed after the decoder is in
place
When re-assembling the
engine it is very important
to get all 4 of the motor
saddle tabs properly into
the notches on the frame.
The Lenz decoder does
not have any insulation
over it the way a other
brands do so we need
to insulate the frame
where the decoder is
going to be.

Refer to photo 8

Place a piece of 1/2 inch
Kapton tape on the top
of the front section of
frame.  Trim any excess
from the sides.
Refer to the photo 9 above.  This is what the re-assembled mechanism should look like with the
decoder properly installed.  Lay out the wires in the channel at the top of the frame halves so they
don't overlap and are as flat as possible.  Lay the wires to the front LED out so that the bulge from
the resistor is where the gap in the frame is.  Put the decoder on top of the LED wires and tape with
scotch tape.  Angle the LED slightly upward.  If needed, secure wires in the channel with scotch tape.

Refer to photo 10 below.  Re-install the shell onto the mechanism.  The shell should rest on the
painted rails that are part of the frame.
If the shell will not go down all the
way, the LED on the board may not be
properly aligned.  There is a black
plastic light shroud inside the shell at the
hood end.  Fish it out and carve a notch
in it as shown in photo 11.  This should
allow the shell to go down all the way.
Put it back into the shell as it was before. 
Try installing the shell again.

END