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Power pickup sensitivity?

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  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: QLD, Australia
  • 1,111 posts
Power pickup sensitivity?
Posted by tbdanny on Sunday, November 8, 2009 9:14 PM

Hi,

Just wondering, are some decoders more sensitive to dead spots/dirty track then others?  I've got two identical locos (Kato N scale Mikados), one with a Soundtraxx DSD-090LC in the tender, the other one with a Lenz Silver Mini Wired in the boiler.  I've noticed that the one with the Lenz in it seems to run better (i.e. less interruptions) with the tracks/wheels slightly dirty.

Thanks in advance,

tbdanny

The Location: Forests of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon
The Year: 1948
The Scale: On30
The Blog: http://bvlcorr.tumblr.com

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Sunday, November 8, 2009 9:25 PM

The DSD decoders have no keep alive, and the sound decoder draws more power than a plain motor decoder, so the slightest interruption will kill it and make it restart. If there is still room, it is possible to add a keep-alive to the DSD decoders. The capacitor that's already there (or should be) is for the speaker only.

                            --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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