Hello everyone I would like to install a keep live in my 2-8-0 but there seems to be alot to choose from. For example ones made my TCS seem to come with a 2 pin connector are these compatable with BLI? and what size?
thanks
I would be surprised if such a big engine with a power supplying tender would need a keep alive.
How is your trackwork? Are the track and engine wheels clean?
Keep alives are usually recommended for short locos like 0-6-0s or trolleys.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
It could help a 2-8-0 also. There are three wire versions also. Read below.
https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home/decoders/keep-alive-compatibility
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Exactly the way I feel about it. BLI locos pick up with both sides of the loco plus both sides of both tender trucks. There is no reason they should stall on dead frogs. Little tiny locos - yes, a keep alive can come in handy.
You might want to check to make sure it really IS picking up power from all points, my old PCM model had a loose wire on the plug in the tender which effectively disconnected power input from one side of the loco.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
You will need the info on how to hook up the keep alive wires to your BLI decoder. Sorry I don't know that detail. Perhaps someone can advise for those.
For my LokSound Select decoders, with the 2-wire keep alive (or current keeper) I use (by exception) I have to solder the 2 wires to solder pads on the decoder (per a diagram in the manual). Not particularly easy, but doable if done carefully.
As far as size goes, if you just have minor problems such as sound hiccups when your track is reasonably clean, whatever KA or Current Keeper that fits will probably be sufficient to help a more finicky loco do fine. At least that is my experience. I find that less than 10% of my locos warrant a KA.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
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I agree with Randy and Mr B it is an improvement that you don't need
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley