Model Railroading > Tsunami keep alive connector ID

Des anyone know the size of the name/size of the ate for the connector Sountraxx uses for the keep alive connection on this Tsunami decoder? 
Decoder Model is 885013.

I can't find it on their ste and they have not answered my email question. 

Thanks
B

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Although a bit tricky; I was able to hardwire a TCS 'Keep ALive' to the Tsunami board. It works great! I cut away the top part of the plastic housing to access the two pins.

Brian N.

Try to reach Josh Levine with Soundtraxx.  He has tech supported with me and was very prompt.

Russ
Golden East Railroad Modelers

You do not need to call them. Soundtraxx sells them on their website.  Bruce

https://soundtraxx.com/accessories/installation-accessories/wiring-aids/currentkeeper-2-pin-harness/

 

I may try cutting the top away as Brian N suggested.
There is no way I would pay $8 for a connector like that. 

Late in this game I have had a change of values.
If I pay $8.00 and save 30 minutes of work (or more if the first effort fails) that means my time is worth $16/hour.  I think it should be worth more than that.
But the question is how many more hours do I have left in a day, days in a month, etc.
So I bought some of those connecting cables and used them for other brands of KA on a Soundtraxx board.
By the way the plug from a Digitrax KA is a bit larger than the Soundtraxx and it is a tight fit if the decoder is inside a road switcher body (but you can sort of force it in.)
It is like building my own Keep Alives.  Yes, I can do it but now days I'll part with $20-30 and have time for.....(a nap?).
Have fun, do your own thing.

If you need allot of these, you can buy these for cheap in bulk on Ebay FYI. Bruce

Not sure the age of your board, but if u cut away that connector, u will void the warranty. 

M-420 Wrote:
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> I may try cutting the top away as Brian N
> suggested.
> There is no way I would pay $8 for a connector
> like that. 

The Soundtraxx harness is double ended. There are two plugs on each of those. You only need one to do the job. Cut the harness in half and you now can have another plug to do another instal for free.

The keep alive has a + and minus terminal.

The + goes to the + blue wire in the lighting circuits.
The - goes to a - common connection on the decoder board. You might need to look around until you find it.

How long have Tsunami's circuit boards been made with sockets for keep alive?

railstiesballast Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Late in this game I have had a change of values.
> If I pay $8.00 and save 30 minutes of work (or
> more if the first effort fails) that means my time
> is worth $16/hour.  I think it should be worth
> more than that.
> But the question is how many more hours do I have
> left in a day, days in a month, etc.

That's often a consideration.  I mean, some people wouldn't be up to finishing a basement as framing, drywall taping/mudding, flooring/ceiling.  Somethings we either don't feel comfortable doing or are afraid of messing it up.  I saved a good $15,000 or more by doing the basement DIYf, yet I am concerned I might fry a decoder by messing with the wiring that is beyond the basic stuff.  Well, as alluded to by the basement, the house rehab work my wife and I are doing leaves little time for trains for the past 2 years anyway and what time I do get is going into layout construction.  To many things to do in the hobby, and not enough time.

Cheers, Jim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/20 05:55 by SPDRGWfan.

Can get simlar cable from Digikey
https://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=455-3001-ND%20
thou both wires are black.  Other lengths are available as well.
 

Michael Mosher
Millville, NJ

SPDRGWfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How long have Tsunami's circuit boards been made
> with sockets for keep 
>
> Cheers, Jim

When the Tsunami2 and Econami came out.

ChrisCampi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> SPDRGWfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > How long have Tsunami's circuit boards been
> made
> > with sockets for keep 
> >
> > Cheers, Jim
>
> When the Tsunami2 and Econami came out.

Thanks, most of the Tsunami I have are one of those, maybe one or two Tsu1.