Will Hay Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 @Chris-K I *think* CV11 is decoder specific, I can't really comment on that as I don't know enough but research suggests it should be set to "0".As for CV29, you may find the following of use...http://www.2mm.org.uk/articles/cv29 calculator.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted February 22, 2022 Share Posted February 22, 2022 Rob, with the partial charge programming limitation, you can clearly get round it with a switch off when programming, but what about pre-charge before programming?Chris K, turning off DC Running may well avoid DC Runaway if a large stay-alive capacitor is almost discharged as that will pull the decoder rail volts down when DCC power is restored. It will depend on the decoder and its sensitivity to this. Then it’s no different to initial switch-on. Will, I can only remember positive discussion on here on stay-alives with comprehensive coverage of various types incl with super and standard capacitors, various terminologies describing them and tips on fitting to decoders not specifically adapted for their use (connection points and fine soldering skills needed on decoder PCBs). But then I may have remembered the positive and discarded the negative? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Hay Posted February 23, 2022 Share Posted February 23, 2022 @Fishmanoz.Will, I can only remember positive discussion on here on stay-alives with comprehensive coverage of various types incl with super and standard capacitors ............ But then I may have remembered the positive and discarded the negative? I've looked through my comments and can't see a reference to negative comments re. stay alive, although I've definitely seen mention of the fact that 'if your system is running as it should why would you need them?'.Are you referring to my observation on the LAISDCC brand, whereupon I did say I'd experienced negative comments, despite my trouble-free experiences?Maybe you assumed I'm referring to comments on this forum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishmanoz Posted February 23, 2022 Share Posted February 23, 2022 Hi Will, yes, I was referring only to this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Hay Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Hi Will, yes, I was referring only to this forum. I think, with everything, there's always some degree of snobbery and as I said, the LAISDCC decoders are much easier to damage if not handled carefully.The quality of the soldering of wires is not a patch on the alternatives I use but at half the price, it's the same as the £12.00 Asda and £65.00 Levi jeans I have, both an absolute bargain for what they offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 In my experience "stay alive" is only really needed with locos that don't have enough pickups or a long enough wheelbase. So if you take a modern Hornby loco with pickups on loco and tender wheels then you don't really need "stay alive". If you take a Bachmann with no tender pickups, an old Hornby ringfield motor loco or an 0-6-0 then you probably do, especially if they have traction tyres. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brew Man Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 On the other hand, there probably aren't many short wheel base locos, 0-4-0s, 0-6-0s etc. with enough space inside to accommodate stay alive capacitors.If your points are all electrofrog with auto frog switching I'd have thought the need for stay alive would be minimal anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinB Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 I suppose it depends on the loco my 0-4-0 Hornby Caledonian after I had wired it to a 6 pin socket had enough room for a YouChoos stay alive circuit board and capacitor. I use electrofrog points and sometimes 0-6-0s get stuck, unfortunately as the points age they distort a bit, so not making them absolutely flat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brew Man Posted February 24, 2022 Share Posted February 24, 2022 I think we all distort a bit as we age, Colin joy. But you're right, some locos still stick a bit even on Electrofrog points. I've just fitted Gaugemaster auto-frog switches to all but one of my existing points and they work flawlessly. Very pleased with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now