RailPro > RailPro Specific Help & Discussion

Capacitors, keep-a-live etc.

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Alan:

--- Quote from: TwinStar on October 29, 2017, 12:27:38 PM ---I've got a BLI E8 with the LM-2S and KA leading a P2K E7 with an LM-2S and KA, followed by three head end cars, and then a P1K RDC with an LM-2S and no KA and they run together just fine.

--- End quote ---

Thanks to the magic of RP. Even with your RDC operating at 1.4V higher than the lead locos everything still works well. Isn't automated load sharing just the coolest thing ever? And it is voltage independent!!!

Lee Nicholas:
After a few frustrating operating sessions due to poor running engines (RP is definitely more susceptible to dirty track) I tried a couple of keep alive products from Bill. WOW!! what a difference. So I made the executive decision (I get to do that) to install them in the entire fleet. I have 24 install so far with another 20 on order and another 20 after that. The install has been straight forward I use a bridge (from Bill) in the few LM2 and LM2S modules I have with no affect on performance and the rest are LM3S using the blue common and yellow negative again no affect on performance. I did reset the motor load on the LM2's per Tim.

I have visited with Tim numerous times about this subject and he is full of promise but no action to date. I told him I wasn't getting any younger and wanted to run trains not clean track hence my decision to move forward.

If you're on the fence try a couple I think you'll be surprised. I'm sure Tim will have them incorporated into a new module release  or as a stand alone product someday but I'm not willing to wait on this one.

Lee Nicholas 

nodcc4me:
I can't blame you Lee. If you think dirty track is a problem on RailPro powered layouts, you should try it on DCC powered layouts. I was getting to the point where I almost didn't want to bring my locomotives to the club anymore because a good wheel cleaning was needed after each use. The problem is not nearly as bad though on my RP powered home layout. Still, I also have hopes that Tim will come up with a solution in the near future, though I'm not counting the days.

KPack:
Lee, glad to hear you went to keep alive's.  They certainly make running much more enjoyable!  The only struggle I've had is trying to find adequate space to fit them in some locomotives, but that is mostly because I'm using multiple speakers inside the shell (they take up a lot of space).

Tim's been talking about building his own keep alive for a while using mostly SMD components, but I imagine there is a lot that goes into designing and manufacturing something like this.  I'm sure most of his attention has been taken up with the recent update and sound editing.  Hopefully he gets some more prime mover recordings out soon.  I know he has several new ones to work with.

-Kevin

Alan:
The real space eaters are the super capacitors. At present there is no technology for smaller versions of such. Capacitance is all about surface area and distance between plates. Super caps (or more correct, ultra capacitors) are essentially double sided regular electrolytic capacitors with the plate spacing at the bare minimum. There are only two sides to a plate so nothing further to be gained there. And with spacing already down in the 3 to 5V range, there isn't much more to be gained from closer spacing - operating voltage drops as plates get closer. So, without some radical new technology super caps have probably reached their limit in miniaturization.

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