I have a two-truck locomotive that couldn't go an inch without stalling. I installed keep-alive, and now it never stalls.
I have two passenger cars where I've installed red tail lights. They're always on, at a constant brightness. No flicker. And if I press a function button, I can have an oscillating light instead.
Ed
LastspikemikeA keepalive likely isn't necessary in a two truck locomotive.
It can be if your wheel-base is short...your track isn't always pristine (clean)...the track pickup on your trucks is marginal...and/or your turnout frogs are not live. Even a small dead spot in your track can lead to interruptions in current. If your switcher is finicky and there is room for one, it is nice to have an option of adding a keep-alive module to your decoder - even just to cover intermittent interruptions and flicker-free lighting.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Guy,
I just installed the loksound micro into a locomotive using the Esu power pack. However, you can wire a capacitor directly to the same terminals the Power Pack uses. I'd consult the manual, but I know that there is a diagram that shows how to do this.
JJF
Prototypically modeling the Great Northern in Minnesota with just a hint of freelancing.
Yesterday is History.
Tomorrow is a Mystery.
But today is a Gift, that is why it is called the Present.
tstageIt required completely removing the molded cab interior to get it to fit but it's only moderately noticeable.
It does not look bad at all.
I'll bet a little bit of paint would make it even less noticeable.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I just did a size & price comparison of the ESU PowerPack Mini with a couple of TCS keep-alives:
One of those two TCS keep-alives should fit your SW9 - i.e. unless it doesn't fit your pocketbook. I have a KA2 in a brass boxcab and it works great. I picked it up from Litchfield Station for $21 and some change. Shipping cost from them is only $4, which is a real deal.
But you're in Quebec so the shipping tax & duties probably make shipping across the border pretty cost prohibitive for you. Maybe the TCS keep-alives will make it more tangible because of the lower cost.
HTH...
You'll also need to add a rectifier to the cap to make it work.
TCS makes keep-lives that are small-ish. You could try installing one of those in the cab. It's gotta be smaller than the 2200uF cap that I put in the cab of my Stewart VO-660:
It required completely removing the molded cab interior to get it to fit but it's only moderately noticeable.
I have bought a Loksound 5 Micro to install in a Proto 2000 EMD SW9. Du to lack of room in such a small switcher, I choose to not buy the Esu Power Pack. Price was a concern too. Is it possible to wire a regular capacitor to a Loksound 5 Micro like I would do with any other decoder?
Guy
Modeling CNR in the 50's