I have two, small HO Scale steam engines (4-4-0 and 4-6-0 Bachman Spectrum models with TSU-750 Sound Decoders) which consistntly sputter and re-boot on my small, tight, switching layout - and that's after cleaning the track and the pick-up wheels
So I want to shoe-horn in a small "keep alive", such as a TCS KA3 or TCS KA1, in the tenders with the decoders and speakers. The decoders have a small capacitor attached which I assume (but am guessing without knowledge) is there to maintain the sound, not the motor. And, of course, the decoder is wrapped in its plastic rain-coat.
So can someone please tell me where and how to attach a new system KA (sound AND motor AND lights)? I have never tried this before, but I am aware that the KA may have to ride on top of the tender!
Thanks,
Lehigh Willie III
IIRC, you want to connect the keep-alive to the purple & the black/white striped wires. I would confer first with the manuals for both from the TCS & Soundtraxx websites. It is available for download from TCS and should be from Soundtraxx.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
You will be well-rewarded when you use keep-alive.
Here is a wiring diagram for adding a "keep alive" to a TSU-750:
https://soundtraxx.com/content/Reference/Documentation/Application-Notes/currentkeeper_tsu750.pdf
The TCS "keep alive" should drop right in: blue to blue, and black with white trace (of the Keep Alive) to green with yellow trace (of the decoder).
And, yes, the small capacitor on the board is for the sound, only.
You should also read this excellent article:
https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home/decoders/keep-alive-compatibility
Ed
Yikes, that would have made me give up DCC, but what I have mostly are Bachmann sound values which start up just where they left off if something happens. Don't know if your decoder can be programed that way.
Thanks, Ed. Your suggestions and info are very helpful
Lehigh Willie