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Soundtraxx TSU GN1000 Question

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  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: The Napa Valley
  • 28 posts
Soundtraxx TSU GN1000 Question
Posted by nittyp on Saturday, January 30, 2016 12:03 PM

So it looks like the new Athearn Genesis w/DCC&Sound come with a Sountraxx TSU - GN1000 Decorder. SoundTraxx website says that the two capacitors on the underside of it are "Current Keepers" which they claim is "built in". My new Genesis runs well, but as usual with DCC in my garage, track is in constant need of cleaning. My question is this. I opened up the locomotive to install a Sound Traxx Current Keeper pack, with hopes that it would help the loco from loosing power in dirtier sections of my track. The two capacitors installed by the factory on the board don't seem to work at all as "Current Keepers". 

So can I install an additional "Current Keeper" pack to this GN1000? I'm thinking maybe with more capacitors (the Current Keeper pack from Sound Traxx has five capacitors in it, vs. the two that are factory insalled.

Anyone else have a newer Genesis loco from Athearn and have any opinion on whether or not the factory installed 'current keeper' capacitors help at all with power cutting out?

Thanks, Nick

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, January 30, 2016 1:13 PM

 The only "keep alive" the on-board caps do is for the sound, it does nothing for the motor like the full cirrent keeper does. Most all of the decoders have similar capacitors - for the sound only. You can install a current keeper for better keep alive for both the sound and motor.

 Hmm, after reading the current keeper instructions, it tells you to cut off the existing capacitor and effectively the current keep repalces this. That to me says it will do nothing for the motor keep alive. Hmm. Better not mess around with it. I don;t have any Tsunamis to investigate th circuit and see just where it would connect.

                       --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Sunday, January 31, 2016 10:43 AM

Leaving the board mounted capacitors in place won't hurt or affect anything. The capacitor mentioned in the manual is the one hanging free from the board on two wires (AT-1000). Again, you could also leave it in place if you wanted, but there isn't much point and you have to find some place for it to fit as well if you left it.

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: The Napa Valley
  • 28 posts
Posted by nittyp on Sunday, January 31, 2016 2:05 PM
Thanks for the replies. Anyone have an idea of where to wire in the current keeper wires on a TSU GN1000? Thanks!
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Sunday, January 31, 2016 2:57 PM

This site has your answers ....

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/mainnorth/alive.htm

Check the section specifically for the GN-1000, it connects slightly different than the AT-1000.

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Sunday, January 31, 2016 4:52 PM

 I find it extremely funny that this page, saved as HTML from Microsoft Word (look at the source HTML) will NOT open in IE - all I get is unformateed HTML code. But it opens fine in Chrome.

                          --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: The Napa Valley
  • 28 posts
Posted by nittyp on Sunday, January 31, 2016 5:19 PM
This is great, thank you for your help!
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Sunday, January 31, 2016 7:37 PM

rrinker

 I find it extremely funny that this page, saved as HTML from Microsoft Word (look at the source HTML) will NOT open in IE - all I get is unformateed HTML code. But it opens fine in Chrome.

                          --Randy

 

You still use Internet Exploder (not a spelling error) ? Smile, Wink & Grin

Just tried it myself and comes up just fine in IE. Maybe try clicking on Compatability View ?

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, February 1, 2016 6:26 AM

Promary browser. It's still th best. Works pretty much everywhere. Uses less resources than Chrome and especially Firefox which is a huge bloated mess (the Netscape people will NEVER EVER learn)

I never get viruses or spyware. Adblock hides the ads and popups.

It does work in compatibility view - that just further proves Word write HORRIBLE html. Compatibility view just allows all those bad things IE was always accused of supporting.

               --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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