Keep alive in Bachmann engine

[trainman203]

How long does it run until discharge?

[JonJet]

The "KeepAlive" and all of it's clones have one inherent fault...

When the capacitor takes over due to bad connection or dirty track...the problem is masked until it becomes a much larger problem

A dirty track issue becomes a much bigger dirty track issue

A poor connection's location is masked by the capacitor

A derailed loco can damage alot of scenery or rolling stock before the 2-4 seconds runs out...it plods right along even after Emergency Stop

[Tenwheeler01]

The 2-10-0 goes for 3-4 seconds when I turn off track power.  The keep Alive is part of the Motherboard in the tender.   

I do not recommend using Keep Alives for dirty track or dead spots on the mainline for branch lines. I have power feeders every 2 to 3 feet and all sidings have power feeders. I also clean the rails regularly. 

But I have found them use fully for...

Turntables (sounds does not start over or lights flicker when the turntable switch poles).
Unpowered frogs (does not stall on the frog or have a sound glitch).
Reversed track sections auto or manual (sound glitch or restart).

They are not cheap to add to an existing model and can be hard to install or finding room for one in the shell or tender.
And if you do not have a turntable or reversed track section and your frogs are powered. Then I you will not get any benefit from them.

The are pointless on my 8' x 16" switching layout.  They are only useful on my BVR layout. 

 
 

     

[Ralph S]

As always, I seem to enter the conversations late.  Like others I own Bachmann locomotives, working on buying three more. Question?  Does anyone know what Bachmann model locomotives (HO) that have the "stay alive" circuit? ...Cause instruction manuals and box labeling do not mention whether or not they have or have not this circuit or I'm I just missing something.   

[Yard Master]

Hi Ralph,
All of our HO locomotives with TCS decoders have a "Keep Alive" capacitor. I believe this is the full list:

-2-10-0 Russian Decapod (item nos. 85401-05)
-4-6-4 New York Central J3a Hudson
-4-6-2 PRR K4 Pacific (item nos. 84405-08)
-Streamlined 4-6-2 PRR K4 Pacific
-Siemens ACS-64
-Siemens SC-44/ALC-42/SCV-42
-GE Dash 8-40CW (item nos. 68511-14)
-ALCO RS-3 (item nos. 68611-15)
-EMD GP35 (item nos. 68811-15)
-EMD FT (item nos. 68911-15)

[Tenwheeler01]

I wish when reviews are doing reviews on Bachmann locos is TCS WOW decoders they would demonstrate more of the WOW features.  Like the "keep alive" and I would love to see "Proto Notch" in action for Siemens ALC-42 and "true scale sound" for the steam locos.  This one of the coolest features of my Bachmann 2-10-0.         

[CNE Runner]

I have a Bachmann GE 45 tonner with a Keep Alive/Current Keeper installed. Absolutely NO problems with running. I have been using this locomotive for several years. Oh, said locomotive still retains the Bachmann DCC circuit board.

[russ daley]

I thank everyone for their response on this subject and to keep this subject thread alive. A month ago I didn't know what Keep Alive was. Sounded like the solution to all my performance issues. I believe right now I'll stick to cleaning the track, proper lubrication...you know the old way of doing things...However... I'm going buy one and keep on hand for those situations where I just can't understand what's going on...like a last measure troubleshooting resource...

Now a question which may or may not already be a thread...23 years ago when I started buying the Spectrum Locomotives (4-6-0 and 2-8-0) and took up this great hobby, the talk of the town was the Altas Forum. Everybody was removing the Factory Circuit Boards and hard wired. I did this on a few...can't recall the details...improvement or not...Anyhow, I recently bought 2 NEW (around 2003 Model) off of Ebay. Is removing the circuit board still the practice?           

[Tenwheeler01]

I try not to for a few reasons, 

The circuit board has the needed LED resisters on the board.  Without the board you will need to add resisters for each LED. (unless you replace it with WOW Motherboard or Decoder Buddy).

easier to replace the decoder if needed. When using the factor circuit board on the new Bachmann locos I have only had to solder the speaker wires for a sound decoder when using the NMRA 8 pin to JST 9 pin harness.  This is 90% of may Bachmann steam installs. 

Now on the older circuit boards you need to remove or disconnect one leg off the motor capacitor/s for some brands on decoders. I had to do this on all my older Spectrum also note most of these had incandescent bulbs which do not need resisters. 

a great resource for install decoders in Bachamann locos is TCS's decoder install pages on there Website. Look at the HO-Scale installations.  The WOW installations covers install WOW Motherboards.

Another note is space issues. I have not had this issue with most of newer Bachmann's but some of the old Spectrum are limited on space. This has to do with the older tenders having a plastic deck with flat weights in them.  most of the newer Spectrums have metal tender decks or have the weights moved to make room for a speaker.

On the subject of "Keep Alive" All my Bachmann's have good pickups, So they real do not need Keep alives but I have a couple of non Bachmann locos that need them do to a poor pickups.
   

[russ daley]

Thanks for the refresher Tenwheeler. I need to look thru my notes and get up to speed.