Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

TCs KA2 Keep Alive Installs

18452 views
42 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 6:29 PM

Marty C

Mark and all,

Thanks or the replies. Mark, I understand wat you re saying and it s true on the Factory installed decoders in the Genesis engines. But the TSU KT 1000 in y Kato's and the tsunami in the Proto's do not have the same configuration. I am awaiting an anwser from the Soundtraxx techs and will update when I get it.

 

 Marty C

 

There HAS to be a recitfier on the board, which is usually comprised of four diodes in an array. I've tried to find pics online, but none are large enough to identify the components .

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 6:29 PM

zstripe

I get it with Firefox and Chrome.

Great Pic's and info....RICH. Yes

Take Care!

Frank

 

Go to his Home page and look all around. He has a lot of good info.

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.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 6:27 PM

Marty C

Mark and all,

Thanks or the replies. Mark, I understand wat you re saying and it s true on the Factory installed decoders in the Genesis engines. But the TSU KT 1000 in y Kato's and the tsunami in the Proto's do not have the same configuration. I am awaiting an anwser from the Soundtraxx techs and will update when I get it.

 

 Marty C

 

Just look for the four diodes. Not a big deal. The main filter capacitor will be nearby.

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.

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: La Mesa,CA
  • 145 posts
Posted by Marty C on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 6:23 PM

Mark and all,

Thanks or the replies. Mark, I understand wat you re saying and it s true on the Factory installed decoders in the Genesis engines. But the TSU KT 1000 in y Kato's and the tsunami in the Proto's do not have the same configuration. I am awaiting an anwser from the Soundtraxx techs and will update when I get it.

 

 Marty C

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 4:38 PM

The negative wire (blue) from the KA2 goes to the same common blue wire as your lighting. The positive lead from the KA2 goes to the anode side of one of the two diodes on the end of the board that is inbound of track power - meaning track power comes into the diode and enters the circuitry on the non-banded side. Don't use the non-banded side of a diode connected straight to track pickup.

There are four square diodes that rectify the voltage into DC. The anode end (positive) is the side without the band marker.

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 4:29 PM

I get it with Firefox and Chrome.

Great Pic's and info....RICH. Yes

Take Care!

Frank

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:36 PM

woodone

All I get with this link is a bunch of code?? 

This is for richg1998 's link.

 

Strange. It works for me. I just tried it again.

He shows how to connect the KA1 and KA2 to different decoders. All kinds of diagrams.

Must be your browser. The link works with Firefox.

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.

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
  • 693 posts
Posted by woodone on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 2:26 PM

All I get with this link is a bunch of code?? 

This is for richg1998 's link.

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 1,519 posts
Posted by trainnut1250 on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 12:45 PM

Call soundtraxx service department - they are very helpful

 

Guy

see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 11:44 AM

Marty C

Frank and Ri,

Thanks for the replies. I had seen those videos and I understand in theory how the hook up works but I cannot find the connection points on the KT or Proto Tsunamis.

Marty C

 

Again, here is the link I recently posted. Please look at the link. This guy does a lot with DCC. He is very active in the Yahoo SoundTraxx DCC Group and a couple other DCC Groups.

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/mainnorth/alive.htm

You are looking for the output of the full wave bridge rectifier. All decoders have this rectifier which is usually four diodes.

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.

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: La Mesa,CA
  • 145 posts
Posted by Marty C on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 10:56 AM

Frank and Ri,

Thanks for the replies. I had seen those videos and I understand in theory how the hook up works but I cannot find the connection points on the KT or Proto Tsunamis.

Marty C

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
  • 8,571 posts
Posted by richg1998 on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 8:05 AM

One link from a Google search.

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/mainnorth/alive.htm

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.

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Wednesday, June 18, 2014 7:45 AM

Marty C,

I don't know if this will help You out at all...until maybe someone gives you a better answer. A you-tube video of a Atlas GP38 keep-alive install:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVZy32QpPTA

Frank

EDIT: There are also other video's on the right of that site...maybe one of those would help.

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: La Mesa,CA
  • 145 posts
TCs KA2 Keep Alive Installs
Posted by Marty C on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 10:59 PM

I need some advice on installing TCS KA 2 keep alives in my HO engines. I have successfully installed the keep alives in my Athearn GP38-2's and GP 60's with factory installed sound decoders.However, I cannot find any info on where to make the positive and negative connections on the TSU Kt 1000 decoders  in my Kato units or the factory installed boards in my Proto 2000 GP30's and GP 50's. Any help or a diagram would be appreciated from anyone who has made these installs.

Thanks

 

Marty C

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!