perfectionist Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Okay experts here's a question. Can I add stay alive to my growing fleet of tts engines. Dcc concepts do stay alive modules to retro fit to dcc decoders. Question is how similar to standard decoder is the tts chip and has anyone soldered a stay alive module to one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 No I haven't installed a stay alive yet, but its on the to-do list. In the meantime have a look at this:http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=21076 - scroll down a bit for a close up of the solder-to places. Basically there is a diode bridge that feeds power to the processor part of the decoder..The stay alive components are nothing more than a capacitor/resistor arrangement after the bridge to provide a reservoir of power. Using a Mk1 eyeball and a loupe the TTS decoder looks to me as if it is based around the R8249 basic decoder so it should be possible to mod this is as well, although the sound part is piggy-backed on. You will need a very fine soldering iron tip. I have one of Lidl's hi-lighter marker pen sized battery operated irons and its great for soldering wires back onto decoders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelrow Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Far be it for me to pour cold water on any idea, but should this process occur then, your warranty, will go with it. I have been very loathe to tinker with this newer TTS, stuff, even though i am sure diesels are a tad light, at present, as there have been several returns, me included. It begs my next question, what difference will it make to the running. I have been very happy with my locos, and have a Bachmann with stay alive, and cant really see a difference. No doudt 25 people, will immediately put me right. john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_A Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Far be it for me to pour cold water on any idea, but should this process occur then, your warranty, will go with it. I have been very loathe to tinker with this newer TTS, stuff, even though i am sure diesels are a tad light, at present, as there have been several returns, me included. It begs my next question, what difference will it make to the running. I have been very happy with my locos, and have a Bachmann with stay alive, and cant really see a difference. No doudt 25 people, will immediately put me right. john What size capacitor are you using with your stay alive? If it still stalls then it sugegsts you need a larger one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Anyone contemplating doing this should be aware of the effect on their warranty and should throughly read the information linked to on the other forum as there are several conditions to be met according to your decoder, including stopping DC running, some people have and some haven't had problems with subsequent programming to the point of needing a switch in the stay alive circuit. Also various decoders have various pass through methods and therefore points of connection, so a good read of the material linked to is essential in my view before inspecting your particular decoder and determining where to attach your connections. At best you will have a smooth running loco and at worst you will have smoke and a dead decoder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yelrow Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 And no warranty. john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 TCS or Train Control Systems do "keep alives" too. If you go to www.members.optusnet.com.au/mainnorth/alive.htm you'll find some good info on installation with pictures of what you need to look for to get the right installation points on various decoders, not TTS unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMC Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 Strathpeffer does a video on not only fitting a stay alive to the TTS but also on making it. He also advocates a switch, as advised by moderator, for dc running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 Dragging up a five year old topic here JMC but in any case here is a link to Stratherpeffer, although the subject has been covered in detail on other topics in the forum more recently.https://www.strathpefferjunction.com/adding-a-stay-alive-capacitor-to-a-hornby-tts-sound-decoder/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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