Does anyone have experience with a TCS keep alive device installed in a Bachmann dcc engine? If so, any advice for a newby?
Look at the TCS site. All the instructions are there which are not difficult if you understand the basics of DCC.
Rich
Thanks, Rich. I guess what I was looking for is some feedback from a user to see if it works as well as claimed. It sure would be nice to not have a sound unit shut down and restart every time it hits a bad spot on the track.
This is very new here. Don't forget, this is a Bachmann discussion forum and too much discussion of other brands and the thread is deleted.
Bachmann favors SoundTraxx decoders.
A couple other DCC Groups are discussing it but realize this is quite a new device.
Grab the below link before someone deletes it.
http://tinyurl.com/d4fakzn
Most times a search of the Internet will provide you with much more info than you could ever get here with many links to store in Favorites.
Rich
For what it is worth, I am a long time supporter and purchaser of Bachmann products. For my money they are the best on the market. That is why I own in excess of 90 of them, and I intend to continue to purchase from Bachmann. I mean no disrespect. I am only asking for opinions on an addition that might help the operation of my locos on some of my less than perfect track work. Thanks for the links.
I have a keep alive on order. I intend to try it out in either Thomas or a usra 0-6-0. I will let you know how they work out. if it can keep me from having to install tender wheel pickups it will have been worth it.
Dear All,
There's nothing wrong with this discussion- feel free to continue.
What will be removed are "use this, not that" type comments.
Have fun!
the Bach-man
thanks bach-man for the clarification.
I"ve always believed that most of the non-Bachmann products discussed here are being used to enhance Bachmann's products. in this way we raise the bar, and maybe open the eyes of a few friends who still haven't gotten that Bachmann builds a good train at a reasonable price.
Quote from: jward on March 19, 2013, 08:54:39 AM
open the eyes of a few friends who still haven't gotten that Bachmann builds a good train at a reasonable price.
Jeff-
Absolutely! Bachmann offers an affordable product line which looks good and operates reliably. There are competitors who do an equally good job but
none of them offers the broad range of models and other goods that Bachmann has. And many manufacturers' merchandise is a whole lot more expensive, without the substantial increase in quality or detail which such price differences should buy.
I believe that Bachmann and a few of the smaller, similar companies are what keep this hobby alive. Many of us would be priced out of the market if we had to pay brass prices for every loco, build all of our structures from Bar Mills kits, and use complicated, expensive controls like some of the other DCC systems. I'm not knocking other manufacturers here -- it's great to have the options they offer -- but it would be hard for many of us to afford those "luxury lines" if we had to build our layouts without some good quality products at down-to-earth prices.
Thank you, Bachmann. We pick on you here about service or items we think you should make, but I think I speak for a number of posters in saying that we appreciate your commitment to our hobby and the quality of your products.
-- D
Donaldon:
Per your post above - I was thinking along those lines the other day. Well said and I agree 100%.
K487
Keep Alive is new to me...I reviewed one offering and it appears that the capacitor is almost double the price of the decoder. There are many variables to consider before purchasing, mainly your system reliability, etc. But even if you can afford it...is Keep Alive worth it?
if you like smooth operation and don't like cleaning your track, it is.
Quote from: trainman203 on July 29, 2024, 10:01:06 PMif you like smooth operation and don't like cleaning your track, it is.
If you like smooth operation and don't like cleaning your track then DeadRail solves all your problems. A capacitor can only do so much. Battery power is an uninterruptable power source.
Thanks guys for replys...Dearrail operation definitely should be considered if you are just starting out but converting over my layout...well let's just I won't live long enough to enjoy it...I have two new Spectrums to add to my fleet so I just might go with the Keep Alive install...I already have an axel gear changeout project on two 63" 4-6-0 to do this fall/winter so that will keep me busy...until I screw that up...
To answer your question. I have the Spectrum 2-10-0 with factor WOW and Keep Alive and it works great. Also the WOW sound is the best sounding decoders I have ever heard. It is true CD quality sound. And the Keep Alive works great over all my non-powered frogs. And does not freakout when it passes over the auto-reverse section or when my turn table switches poles. I now wish all my locos had them.
Now it does take a few seconds to charge the capacitors on power up. And it is not a replacement for skipping on how many power feeds you run to your track. It has to have good power after a discharge to recharge so if you have extremely dirty track or a lot of dead spots it will have a hard time keeping the loco moving.
How long does it run until discharge?
The "KeepAlive" and all of it's clones have one inherent fault...
When the capacitor takes over due to bad connection or dirty track...the problem is masked until it becomes a much larger problem
A dirty track issue becomes a much bigger dirty track issue
A poor connection's location is masked by the capacitor
A derailed loco can damage alot of scenery or rolling stock before the 2-4 seconds runs out...it plods right along even after Emergency Stop
The 2-10-0 goes for 3-4 seconds when I turn off track power. The keep Alive is part of the Motherboard in the tender.
I do not recommend using Keep Alives for dirty track or dead spots on the mainline for branch lines. I have power feeders every 2 to 3 feet and all sidings have power feeders. I also clean the rails regularly.
But I have found them use fully for...
Turntables (sounds does not start over or lights flicker when the turntable switch poles).
Unpowered frogs (does not stall on the frog or have a sound glitch).
Reversed track sections auto or manual (sound glitch or restart).
They are not cheap to add to an existing model and can be hard to install or finding room for one in the shell or tender.
And if you do not have a turntable or reversed track section and your frogs are powered. Then I you will not get any benefit from them.
The are pointless on my 8' x 16" switching layout. They are only useful on my BVR layout.
As always, I seem to enter the conversations late. Like others I own Bachmann locomotives, working on buying three more. Question? Does anyone know what Bachmann model locomotives (HO) that have the "stay alive" circuit? ...Cause instruction manuals and box labeling do not mention whether or not they have or have not this circuit or I'm I just missing something.
Hi Ralph,
All of our HO locomotives with TCS decoders have a "Keep Alive" capacitor. I believe this is the full list:
-2-10-0 Russian Decapod (item nos. 85401-05)
-4-6-4 New York Central J3a Hudson
-4-6-2 PRR K4 Pacific (item nos. 84405-08)
-Streamlined 4-6-2 PRR K4 Pacific
-Siemens ACS-64
-Siemens SC-44/ALC-42/SCV-42
-GE Dash 8-40CW (item nos. 68511-14)
-ALCO RS-3 (item nos. 68611-15)
-EMD GP35 (item nos. 68811-15)
-EMD FT (item nos. 68911-15)
I wish when reviews are doing reviews on Bachmann locos is TCS WOW decoders they would demonstrate more of the WOW features. Like the "keep alive" and I would love to see "Proto Notch" in action for Siemens ALC-42 and "true scale sound" for the steam locos. This one of the coolest features of my Bachmann 2-10-0.
I have a Bachmann GE 45 tonner with a Keep Alive/Current Keeper installed. Absolutely NO problems with running. I have been using this locomotive for several years. Oh, said locomotive still retains the Bachmann DCC circuit board.
I thank everyone for their response on this subject and to keep this subject thread alive. A month ago I didn't know what Keep Alive was. Sounded like the solution to all my performance issues. I believe right now I'll stick to cleaning the track, proper lubrication...you know the old way of doing things...However... I'm going buy one and keep on hand for those situations where I just can't understand what's going on...like a last measure troubleshooting resource...
Now a question which may or may not already be a thread...23 years ago when I started buying the Spectrum Locomotives (4-6-0 and 2-8-0) and took up this great hobby, the talk of the town was the Altas Forum. Everybody was removing the Factory Circuit Boards and hard wired. I did this on a few...can't recall the details...improvement or not...Anyhow, I recently bought 2 NEW (around 2003 Model) off of Ebay. Is removing the circuit board still the practice?
I try not to for a few reasons,
The circuit board has the needed LED resisters on the board. Without the board you will need to add resisters for each LED. (unless you replace it with WOW Motherboard or Decoder Buddy).
easier to replace the decoder if needed. When using the factor circuit board on the new Bachmann locos I have only had to solder the speaker wires for a sound decoder when using the NMRA 8 pin to JST 9 pin harness. This is 90% of may Bachmann steam installs.
Now on the older circuit boards you need to remove or disconnect one leg off the motor capacitor/s for some brands on decoders. I had to do this on all my older Spectrum also note most of these had incandescent bulbs which do not need resisters.
a great resource for install decoders in Bachamann locos is TCS's decoder install pages on there Website. Look at the HO-Scale installations. The WOW installations covers install WOW Motherboards.
Another note is space issues. I have not had this issue with most of newer Bachmann's but some of the old Spectrum are limited on space. This has to do with the older tenders having a plastic deck with flat weights in them. most of the newer Spectrums have metal tender decks or have the weights moved to make room for a speaker.
On the subject of "Keep Alive" All my Bachmann's have good pickups, So they real do not need Keep alives but I have a couple of non Bachmann locos that need them do to a poor pickups.
Thanks for the refresher Tenwheeler. I need to look thru my notes and get up to speed.