RailPro User Group
RailPro => RailPro Specific Help & Discussion => Topic started by: CPRail on January 24, 2026, 04:55:59 PM
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Hi Group,
Doing up my first Rapido loco with their Mo'Power "keep-alive" capacitors. I know you can hook up a PB-2 or a TCS Keep-Alive to Pin 16 (+) and Pin 20 (-), but seeing as this loco already has a "keep-alive" in it, I figured maybe I don't have to add one.
Got the module and speaker in, but the Mo'Power seems to be more like No'Power. :-\
Has anyone done a Rapido loco with the Mo'Power unit or am I blazing new territory here?
For reference, this is a GMD-1 and here is a so-so photo of the stock set-up, with the Mo'Power unit highlighted. I can get better photos, just tell me what you need to see!
Thoughts?
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No insight on Rapido, but I know that TCS keep-alives did not really work with RP. Much better to go with the PBs, as I learned.
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ON28:
Good to know. My fleet is all TCS Keep-Alives and I have no issues.
Alas, there is no way I can fit a PB into this loco, so a TCS will have to work.
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Looks like you will be dealing with a 21-pin install and if the Mo'Power is like the keepalive ScaleTrains uses (Whatever term ESU uses), it has the capability to be turned on or off. It also may not be on the same pins at where RailPro would like it to be.
I'm in the middle of trying to understand a ST motherboard to understand the lighting and the powerpack, and how to get it to work with Railpro.
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I saw a post from KPack when the LM-3S-21 was released where he installed it with a Rapdio GP38 with the Mo'Power and he said it worked fine. I'm hoping he'll see this and provide some further insight.
I'll see if I can figure out where Rapido has connected the Mo'Power - you might be onto something there.
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It appears Rapido has different configurations for different models, as based on this thread on MRH the 44-tonner Mo'Power was able to be used with non-ESU products, but for the D10 there is no fix (https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/rapido-h1644-decoder-question-13640397).
(MRH) NorthWoods Bill
On the Rapido 44tonner enabling FX6 allows a Tsunami to work with the Rapido Mo Power. Tried the same thing on the H16-44's with no love. On the Rapido D10's there is no fix.
In my ScaleTrains motherboard project, I have spent the bulk of my time trying to figure out the lighting situation, I haven't spent much time with the power pack to see if I can get it to work with the LM. Once I have time, I will be tearing apart a spare motherboard to create an accurate diagram and that should give us an idea on what is actually happening (With the lights and the powerpack).
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I installed a LM-21S into a Rapido GP-38 with their keep alive, and it worked great. 5 minute install, including removing and reinstalling the shell. Best install I've ever had.
The model runs perfectly and the keep alive works as expected.
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Hi KPack,
How long of a ime "off-power" did the Rapido Mo'Power provide juice in the GP38? I'm seeing just seconds, and that's just with lights and the idling prime mover, no motion. I'd be surprised if it was providing 5 seconds of juice, I'd say more like 2-3 seconds.
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Hi KPack,
How long of a time "off-power" did the Rapido Mo'Power provide juice in the GP38? I'm seeing just seconds, and that's just with lights and the idling prime mover, no motion. I'd be surprised if it was providing 5 seconds of juice, I'd say more like 2-3 seconds.