Keep alive device, worth it?

[ndbprr]

There is another option and that is to attach a car to the locomotive ,say a caboose, and stuff all the stuff in there and use a set of plugs to the engine

[know2go]

Keep alive are a good thing. Only the standard Soundtraxx one only gives about 2-3 sec on 13.5 V track voltage which at realistic speeds may not be enough. I had to use my own design and I jacked up the track voltage, too. Gives me 7 sec, which is good enough even for slow speeds. I also use keep alive for lighted cars, just a bit smaller capacitors. This prevents from flickering and provides a realistic feel.

[7j43k]

I wonder how you have such crappy track that your locos lose contact for "2-3 sec".

Ed

[snjroy]

7j43k

I wonder how you have such crappy track that your locos lose contact for "2-3 sec".

Ed

 

A four-wheel loco is prone to power hiccups in long switches. All you need is a bit of dirt on the track and/or wheels and you will get stalls. 

Simon

[7j43k]

snjroy

A four-wheel loco is prone to power hiccups in long switches. All you need is a bit of dirt on the track and/or wheels and you will get stalls. 

 

 

I think 2-3 seconds is plenty of time to get over "a bit of dirt", and resume contact.  I suppose if there's a lot of those bits, it could be a problem, because the capacitor may not have fully recharged from the first bit or two.

 

 

Ed