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Keep Alive for HO Bachmann three truck Climax

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  • Member since
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  • 213 posts
Keep Alive for HO Bachmann three truck Climax
Posted by reasearchhound on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 12:20 AM

Have a buddy who would like to put a keep alive, or something similar, in his Bachmann Climax. We were looking at it today and seems there would be room in the coal box but wondering what specific keep alive would fit and work best, and where to wire it up. 
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

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  • From: Northeast OH
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Posted by tstage on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 9:35 AM

Will the keep alive be hooked up to a decoder?  Or, will this be DC operation?

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by jjdamnit on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 1:51 PM

Hello All,

Adding an Energy Storage Device (ESD) AKA "Keep-Alive" to a DCC decoder, it's the brand and model of the decoder that determines which unit is compatible.

Knowing which decoder you are dealing with is the first step in the process.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

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Posted by reasearchhound on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 9:47 PM

Will take another look when I see him on Monday. Thanks!

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Posted by jjdamnit on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 10:00 PM

Hello All,

reasearchhound
Will take another look when I see him on Monday. Thanks!

Thank you for updating the group and letting us know you're still in the game.

Keep the questions coming, and as always...

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

  • Member since
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  • From: Northern Colorado
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Posted by CharlieM on Thursday, August 24, 2023 2:06 PM

Look on the bottom of the Loco for a small black and white label. If it says DCC Sound on Board it's the original Soundtraxx Tsunami I. Check with Norman Carnaby at Soundtraxx for the connection points. Soundtraxx sells two Keep Alives, one of which may fit. It's going to be tight.

Charlie - Northern Colorado

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Posted by reasearchhound on Friday, August 25, 2023 9:47 AM

Update - my buddy ended up giving his loco to another club member who likes to do decoder upgrades and he made a "keep alive" to fit into the coal box space. Adds about 20 seconds to it's running after power is cut. My friend is a happy camper.

Thanks to all who responded - much appreciated!

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • From: 10,430’ (3,179 m)
  • 2,311 posts
Posted by jjdamnit on Friday, August 25, 2023 11:54 AM

Hello All,

Thank you for the update and the solution!

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

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