Hi Pete,
The reason for my use of three KA2 Keep Alives is due to a test that I ran. Basically, it had to do with what it would take to not have to clean track. I had a test loop and I started out an cleaned the track thoroughly by hand wiping with alcohol and a paper towel. I then used the wiped finger test where no black residue was left on my finger so I knew the rail was clean. I then ran about a 10-car train around several laps and no flickering lights and then let it set, came back and ran the train again a month later, did the wiped finger test and noticed the black residue had returned. This was good though and actually what I wanted to see. I also noticed that the lights started flickering a bit, especially at slow speeds. I then installed a single Keep Alive and performance improved, no more flickering lights. I then let it set for another month, ran the train a bit, and then noticed the flickering lights had started again. So I added a second KA2 Keep Alive and the flickering lights went away again. It finally took three Keep Alives to get it to the point where I no longer had flicking lights or sound hiccups while still not cleaning track on these particular Atlas Dual Drive locos.
Now, I was nosing around the ESU Loksound and various ESU Loksound DCC retailer web sites (always a dangerous proposition) and I noticed that the Loksound XL 4.0 has a built in Power Pack (Keep Alive) that looks like it uses the exact same capacitors as those used on their upcoming Power Pack Maxi device so I’m thinking that it might end up being a wash to go with the Loksound XL 4.0 vs. Loksound Select L decoder with a Power Pack Maxi even though in some respects the XL 4.0 is a bit of overkill for O Scale. However… even with a street price just north of $200 for the XL 4.0 and a slightly larger size, you get more speaker handling capability with two independently balanceable channels, nice screw terminals (not the small solder pads), built-in keep alive that might be equivalent to the Power Pack Maxi (just guessing at this point), and all in a single package. Has anyone installed a Loksound Select XL 4.0 and does it truly have a noticeable extended keep alive capability for the larger scale?
Thanks.
Scott K.
Austin, TX
