Train Control Systems Announces New Keep Alives

TCS has announced three new Keep Alive products for HO scale models. First is the KA5 shown in figure 1.

Fig. 1 The KA5 Keep Alive

This has the addition of one more super-capacitor for added electrical capacity. It is in a linear configuration and those of you who may have used the KA3 in the past will immediately realize this takes room to install. Their MSRP for this Keep Alive is $31.95.

Second, the KA5-P has an attached polarized plug which can be plugged into TCS and Soundtraxx decoders with the corresponding socket shown in figure 2.

Fig 2 The plug-in version of the KA5

As you can see the image shows a KA4. Their website has an image of the KA5-P. MSRP for this Keep-Alive is also $31.95. Notice this was designed to also plug into the Soundtraxx decoders that have a Keep-Alive plug.

Lastly, there is the WAUX-KA5 shown in figure 3. This is for the 9-pin connector designed for the WOW101 decoder.

Fig 3 The WAUX-KA5

MSRP for the WAUX-KA5 is $37.95.

The author wishes to emphasize, as was said above, these will take room to install. To quote TCS on these

“The KA5 is the perfect match for heavier locomotives, such as brass engines, or locomotives with many lighting outputs, such as modern diesel.”

Author’s Afterthought

The KA-3 (4 capacitors linear configuration) was difficult enough to fit into HO engines. The KA-4 (4 capacitors square configuration) made it a little easier. Soundtraxx’s Current-Keeper II has 5 capacitors but arranged as close as possible to a square design (see this post)

The author believes TCS may have slipped a little in this design (linear vs. square) but it all depends on what you are trying to fit it into.

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ESU - Prevent Engine Movement Before Sound On-Revised 2023-10-16

Some LokSound equipped locomotives will allow movement without the engine sound being on. There's nothing more unrealistic than that! If you want to prevent this "feature" it can be easily accomplished on Full Throttle equipped locomotives.

Here's how. Load the appropriate sound file into the LokProgrammer and go to the Function Mapping sheet. In one of the blank lines add the functionality shown in figure 1.

Fig. 1

The functionality here is that when the locomotive is stopped and there is no engine sound (not F8), Drive Hold is automatically engaged and the locomotive cannot move. In order to remove the Drive Hold, F8 has to be pressed which will start the prime mover.

Remember that if you have your prime mover mapped to a different function than F8 then the Condition shown in figure 1 will also have to be changed.

Another Method (Revised 2023-10-16)

An additional way to accomplish the same thing, and possibly better with v5 decoders, is to set CV124 bit 2 (bit value 4). This takes effect only if speed is zero and prime mover is off. It's a startup delay that prevents the user from activating prime mover sound and then moving off while the prime mover is still cranking over. Where it is not possible to do that with the first method. It’s not a fixed time value but depends on how long the start-up sequence takes (much more realistic).

Now those operations buddies you have over every now and then can't move their engines without the sound on (as they sometimes do)!

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