Keep Alive installation w/ Railpro

[TwinStar]

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[Alan]

Sounds like your attachment hit the top of the siding at 100MPH but didn't make the station stop. 

Resize your image down to around 600-800 pixels wide and try again.

[TwinStar]

I haven't had to resize in years. Let me find an app for that.

[nodcc4me]

Jacob, if you have MS Paint, you can resize with that.

[TwinStar]

Al:

I'm a Mac guy and don't use MS or Paint. However, I used to use Seashore back when you had to resize everything before posting. However, my security settings wouldn't open a program that wasn't blessed by Apple. So, I had to change those. !@#$%, this Mac is reminding me of DCC. Anyways, here they are. Finally.







[ Jacob, I inserted the images into your post so others could see them at full size without clicking on them. - Bill (admin) ]

[nodcc4me]

Thanks for the pictures Jacob. Sorry you had to go through so much trouble. Nice install. The KA-4 fits perfectly back there. Your Proto E7 is a bit different than mine. Looks like you removed some weights to make room for the module. This is one of my first RP locomotives so I have an LM-1 installed on top of the factory board, which is mounted behind the motor above the gear tower. No room for a KA-4 with or without the board without removing weight, which I hesitate to do. Thanks again.

[Alan]

Jacob, is that black electrical tape? If so, it tends to leave a gooey mess if you remove it after a period of time. Try Kapton tape next time like shown in Al's installation. Kapton is heat resistant and leaves behind no adhesive.

https://www.kaptontape.com/1_Mil_Kapton_Tapes.php

[Alan]

Alan, no, I don't think I'm going to be making a product here.

You (we?) should reconsider. Super caps in the value needed are 15 cents each in quantities of 1000 (7 cents 10,000 and up) on Alibaba. Drilled 100mm x 100mm boards (qnty 1000) are less than $1.00 ea from US. Overseas would be a fraction of $1.00. If we are willing to solder them ourselves (12 solders) I bet the total cost of a KA could be kept below $2.00 without having to invest in a huge inventory.

Don't these things sell for like $25.00 each? Not a bad return on a $2.00 investment.

[William Brillinger]

You (we?) should reconsider.

If you make 'em, I'll market 'em.   

[TwinStar]

Thanks for the pictures Jacob. Sorry you had to go through so much trouble. Nice install. The KA-4 fits perfectly back there. Your Proto E7 is a bit different than mine. Looks like you removed some weights to make room for the module. This is one of my first RP locomotives so I have an LM-1 installed on top of the factory board, which is mounted behind the motor above the gear tower. No room for a KA-4 with or without the board without removing weight, which I hesitate to do. Thanks again.

It's no biggie. I needed to learn how to resize again anyways.

I didn't remove any weight and only removed a few small mounting posts that the board was attached to. I have an older E8 and the frames/drives/shells are night and day different. I did remove the crappy P2K motor and replaced it with a Kato and NWSL drivelines.

Once these five E units are complete I'm moving to a six pack of GP-7's and will probably replace the motors and ad KA's as well. These KA4's might fit in the cab of the short hood but I haven't really looked yet. I don't imagine I'll ever be able to use a Ring solution if it comes about due to the bridge rectifiers we're using and the need to keep things the same voltage at the motor.

[TwinStar]

Jacob, is that black electrical tape? If so, it tends to leave a gooey mess if you remove it after a period of time. Try Kapton tape next time like shown in Al's installation. Kapton is heat resistant and leaves behind no adhesive.

https://www.kaptontape.com/1_Mil_Kapton_Tapes.php

It is and next week will be 'was'. Thanks for the link, I wasn't aware of that product. I found the same thing on ebay much cheaper with free shipping if anyone else is interested.

[William Brillinger]

I don't imagine I'll ever be able to use a Ring solution if it comes about due to the bridge rectifiers we're using and the need to keep things the same voltage at the motor.

Jacob, can you please explain what you are referring to here?

Why will the bridge rectifiers affect using a Ring solution?
What need to keep things the same voltage at the motor?

[TwinStar]

Alan had previously stated that there was an argument to be made that if one RP was KA'd then they all should be. I don't imagine Tim's solution would require installing a bridge rectifier between his 'KA' and an LM and as such a Ring KA-LM would have full track voltage whereas our version is losing 1.4V or so at the motor.

Based upon this I don't imagine the two would play so well together. Perhaps I'm wrong.

[TwinStar]

Sorry Rob. I was posting while you were. By sheer accident almost answered your question. Sure, RP will run fine on 12.5V. Top speed may suffer.

A case could be made that if one loco has keep alive capacitors then all your locomotives should also. It would be interesting to study the MUing function between KA'ed and non-KA'ed. I am sure it will still work but am curious if there is an observable deterioration in function.

Here is what I was referencing in my above post.

[William Brillinger]

hmm... some testing is needed.