Potrail2378 Posted August 28, 2020 Share Posted August 28, 2020 Hi guys, I have modified my cleaning coach by putting a blinking red LED light at the rear, those strip {on a roll} LEDs in the ceiling, and pickups to get the current from the DCC track. All well and good... until it gets to a crossover or a set of points! I read something about a 'stay alive' cap on here somewhere. Would fitting a capacitor help? And what value cap should it be, if indeed, it is possible. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jane1707819582 Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 Try a 470 uf 25volt.capacitor . it will need to be in the DC side of the circuit . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissaf Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 Jane2's reply assumes that you have included a diode or bridge rectification circuit to convert the raw DCC track voltage to DC..If you have not included any rectification and you are powering your LEDs directly from the DCC track voltage via resistors (highly recommended that you do not exclude the recitification from the circuit), then you cannot add a 'stay alive' capacitor. Stay Alive capacitors are typically Electrolytic capacitors which are polarity sensitive. Electrolytic capacitors will potentially swell up and burst if applied directly across raw unrectified DCC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted August 29, 2020 Share Posted August 29, 2020 I would post a picture of the business end of a Hornby coach lighting bar to point out the various components Chris is speaking about, but can’t do that at present due to the forum trusted user bug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potrail2378 Posted August 30, 2020 Author Share Posted August 30, 2020 Er, well, actually I am just using the raw DCC from the track to the LEDs. What should I do to make it 12vdc from the power coming from the track? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 Have a read of this RM Web forum discussion on the subject...https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/109219-leds-on-dcc/ If you want to go the full hog and fit regulated power to your leds then see herehttps://images.app.goo.gl/z6VegunPHTtpBSfs8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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