N Scale Keep Alive® | Installation Companion

[@tct855]

Dan, Another great tutorial class on installations. Excellent detailed instructions, keep up the great work! Thanx Thom...

[@ConductorSmith]

Thank you for posting this, the host sounds like a younger version of the comedian Joe Pera.

[@Josh-xn2uv]

Have you guys ever tested your n scale keep alives on h.o scale decoders ?

[@TCSDCC]

Hi Josh! The KA1 and KA2 ARE HO scale Keep Alive® devices, but they're small enough to work with N scale locomotives as well. They work with HO decoders and N decoders alike, so feel free to wire them up to any HO or N locomotive that needs Keep Alive®!

[@Josh-xn2uv]

TCSDCC thank you this will help me a lot

[@marksawyer5299]

Great job Dan. This could be a game changer. While I am not blessed with a milling machine it probably can be done with a Dremel. Some of us have several old units with your CN style decoders..Will this work on those? If so can you show us which pad to use? Thanks. Mark

[@TCSDCC]

Thanks for the feedback Mark! Yes, this method works with our CN style decoders. We plan on publishing more information to our website regarding the wiring of Keep Alive® devices to decoders in the coming weeks.

[@marksawyer5299]

Where did this series go?

[@rccosplay3249]

I just received the K4 for bachmann with soundtraxx economy decoder. Do I solder it on to any + and - (lights,speaker) or the ones coming up from the rails?

[@TheTelstar008]

Hi Dan, Good job with K1D4 install. At what temperature setting do you set your iron..? Thanks.

[@TCSDCC]

Typically we set our irons at 720°F to heat things quickly. We also use chisel tips on soldering irons as opposed to conical tips, which helps get more heat onto the pad faster. In this video, the chisel tip used is from Weller (Techni-Tool part # T0054443899)

[@TheTelstar008]

@@TCSDCC Thanks guys, while I have used conical tips in the past, I agree the chisel tips transfer the heat more quickly and evenly. Thanks for your recommended heat setting guide, and the Techni-Tool part number. Great job ''Thanks''..! Best regards from across the pond.

[@new_comment]

Do keep alive caps, cause delayed locomotive response?

[@AbelG8781]

Not in my experience

[@blakrootz]

Is it just as easy to install in steam engines? I've yet to see a "How To Install TCS Keep Alive in Steam Engines" example KZbin.

[@DinoMartino1251]

Is there space in the kato fuel tank to put the keep alive device?

[@TCSDCC]

The fuel tanks are full of weight, so no, there is not any room there. In order to install a Keep Alive device into the fuel tank, most or all of that weight would need to be removed. By following this method as shown, the minimum amount of weight needs to be sacrificed to fit the device. We had thought about this prior to the installation, and determined that the best location was the area underneath the cooling fans as documented in the video.