Has anyone fit a Keep Alive in a BLI N scale T1?

[robertjohndavis]

Had anyone fit a Keep Alive or similar capacitor in a BLI PRR T1? I am considering it and would value any real world learnings. Thanks! Rob

[nickelplate759]

ooh - I' like to know that too!

[Ike the BN Freak]

There was a guy in one of the Facebook groups who asked BLI, and BLI's response was basically there is no need for it and no where to mount it. So he just replaced their decoder with an ESU unit

[jdcolombo]

Yes, but I did it in conjunction with replacing the decoder with an ESU Loksound micro and a custom speaker.  Used a TCS KA-1.  I don't think there is room for a commercial keep alive with the Paragon decoder mounted in the tender with the 25mm oval speaker.  You might be able to fit a couple of 220uf tantalum polymer caps in there, but that isn't likely to be of much help with respect to actual running characteristics.

John C.

[jargonlet]

Just out of curiosity does anyone know what causes the issues with bli to need a keep alive? Is it that they have to draw so much current or is it a decoder problem. Case in point I have stalling and decoder resetting issues with several of my bli. If I have the sound off it does it little or none. …or in the case of my pa’s, does the traction tire cause the issues?

[dem34]

Not convinced that its the decoders, in the case of the Centipede I think it was having the weight so distributed over the many floating axles without any tensioning so the thing would just teeter on a short wheelbase. Think a bit before some noticed a few of the T1s also had a driver set that lifts about a mil over the track and probably suffers from a similar issue.

[robertjohndavis]

Thank you for the all the replies. Very helpful!

[badlandnp]

I did. However, I eliminated the BLI decoder and replaced it with a Tsunami2. It fits nicely and sounds pretty good. Am not sure the two are super compatible as it gives me issues now, as in going unresponsive. It was a pretty simple swap. Here's a few pics,


And a couple vids, first runs when it was good,

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And when it went goofy,

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[peteski]

Stalling and going unresponsive both sound like intermittent electrical pickup problems.

[badlandnp]

The T1 is Not known to have great pickup. I have fiddled with it some, cleaned and fussed with the bearings, drivers and tender wheels. All of which helped me get that one good run in. Apparently, it only picks up on one side of the tender on each truck, and opposite sides each. As in old Riv or C-C. I have a plan to correct that when winter has arrived and more time is available to fuss with it. Will let you know how that works out. It is a beautiful locomotive model, but I didn't want a roundhouse queen!

[cbroughton67]

I did. However, I eliminated the BLI decoder and replaced it with a Tsunami2.

@badlandnp You wouldn't happen to have a wiring diagram for that swap, would you? I'd like to swap the BLI decoder in my T1 with a Tsunami2 as well. I just haven't taken the time to dismantle the boiler and trace the wires, yet.

Chris