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DCC Keep Alive / Stay Alive in Walthers SW1200 ????

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  • Member since
    September 2011
  • 57 posts
DCC Keep Alive / Stay Alive in Walthers SW1200 ????
Posted by Industries1 on Monday, March 16, 2020 7:58 PM

This loco even though it is weighted is still light. It definitely needs Keep Alive / Stay Alive in it. QUESTION: has anyone successfully added the Keep Alive / Stay Alive component to this loco?

Walthers Proto 920-41437 EMD SW1200 w/LokSound Select & DCC
  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,775 posts
Posted by snjroy on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 11:56 AM

I haven't in that particular loco. It can't be that hard, i've added some in way smaller engines. But do you want to install a keep-alive because of stalls? I would check the pickup capabilities of the wheels before doing anything else. With 8 wheel pickup, you should not have power pickup issues with this loco. Some Protos had rubber tires on them... if that's the case for yours, you might want to replace them to ensure good power pickup. And are you sure you cannot add weight inside the loco?

Simon

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 12:26 PM

Yes, if you haven't tested it, I wouldn't assume it won't run well. I have one of the old LL Proto SW-1200s, and have never had any trouble with electrical pickup.

If you find yours is having troubles, ESU makes add-on "power packs" that are made to connect up to their Loksound decoders (such as the one in the engine in your link).

http://www.esu.eu/en/products/accessories/powerpacks/

 

Stix

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