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Here is an Atlas O dual-motor GP60 DCC installation, which encompasses a Protocraft-modified (3.5 Amp) Soundtraxx Tsunami Sound Decoder PC-827103 - the correct sound for this loco versus stock QSI decoder).  The motors are wired in series and the two Protocraft decoder boards are mounted to the die cast metal frame for good heat dissipation (drilled and tapped frame for 2-56 machine screws).  I added two Train Control Systems (TCS) KA2 Keep Alive capacitors (block-like things wrapped in black electrical tape) wired in parallel to the decoder bridge rectifier board.  The resistors in the photo below the Keep Alive caps are for the stock LED lights (470 Ohm 1/2 watt each).  The two Keep Alive caps give this dual-motored locomotive a "power-interrupted" run time of about one engine length when running light engine at speed step 20 out of 128 - lights never flicker and sound never cuts out after about 2-minutes of initial charge time; even on dirty track.  Using a Soundtraxx PTB100 programming track booster allows reading and writing values to the decoder with no problems; even with the Keep Alives installed.

AtlasGP60_DCC

 

Scott K.

Austin, TX

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  • AtlasGP60_DCC: Atlas O GP60 DCC w/Keep Alive Capacitors
Last edited by Scott Kay
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Love Keep Alives. I use them in every DCC engine. They make converting older locos with fewer pickups easy as pie. You don't have to worry about all wheel pickup if you don't want to now. After the initial charge you won't likely notice unless you park on a dead spot for a while.

 

You can use a board like the BPS from NWSL that allows you to plug in a much larger battery that will be recharged on the fly if you like too. Works great.

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