LCRU Installation Manual
Digital Dynamics
3
Preparation and Circuit Board InstallationPreparation and Circuit Board Installation
Installation with Railsounds 2.5Installation with Railsounds 2.5
If you are installing the LCRU in conjunction with a Railsounds 2.5 board, please review the
mounting instructions included with the Railsounds kit. After you have completed the mechanical
installation of the two boards, return to the next section of this manual for instructions on
how to complete the electrical connections.
Diesel or Other Plastic Body LocomotivesDiesel or Other Plastic Body Locomotives
Remove the body from the locomotive and place it aside where it cannot be damaged. Remove all
headlamp bulbs from the chassis so they are not broken during the installation. Place the
chassis on a clean, level work surface.
In the following steps, all wires are to be removed by unsoldering them from their connections.
Do not cut any wires unless you are instructed to do so.
1. Remove the three wires that connect the E-unit to the motor(s) by unsoldering them at the
motor. Usually, these wires are colored blue, green, and yellow. Make a note of the
connections before you remove them. In dual motor units, there will be an additional set of
blue, green, and yellow wires that connect from the first to the second motor. In some
instances, the wires may all be black. Avoid removing these wires.
2. Disconnect the E-unit connections to the pickup rollers. Depending upon the model of
locomotive, there may be one or two of these wires. In either case, they are usually
colored red and come directly from the truck mounted pickup roller and are soldered to a
common point on the E-unit.
3. Unsolder the wire that leads to the headlamp socket from the E-unit. This wire is usually
black and may be soldered to the same point as the pickup roller wires.
4. If you are installing the LCRU into a modern locomotive, skip the next steps and go on to
the next section.
5. Remove the red wire connecting the E-unit to the horn relay.
6. Loosen the single screw on the side of the E-unit and remove it from the chassis.
7. At the horn relay, unsolder the black wire connected to the horn.
8. Remove the two screws located at the base of the Relay Bracket.
9. Lift the Relay Bracket from the chassis. Be sure to save the insulator, screws, and
shoulder washers should you ever desire to restore the engine to its original configuration.
The variety of engine types produced by Lionel over the years eliminate the possibility of
describing a single mounting procedure that will apply to every case. Examine the layout of
your engine carefully and read the following section before deciding on the best mounting method
for the circuit board.
Method A
This method works best when there is a sufficiently large, flat area on the chassis to which the
board can be easily attached with adhesive foam tape. This method should work with most engines
having a stamped sheet metal chassis. It is also the preferred method for mounting the board
within the fuel tank of a die cast chassis such as the F3.
1. Remove the backing from two of the foam tape strips, and attach them side by side to the
bottom of the LCRU circuit board as shown in the picture below.
2. Using a razor blade or Exacto knife, trim approximately 1/4" from the remaining piece of
tape, and apply it to the back of the board. Do not discard the small left over piece of
tape. Do not touch the face of the tape once the backing has been removed.
3. Make sure that the intended circuit board mounting area is clean and oil-free. Clean the
surface with alcohol before attaching the circuit board.
