UPS for decoder

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MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
Oct 31, 2002
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I have a brass Mack Railbus that only picks up on the two rear drive wheels. Suffice to say it does not like insulated turnouts.

I have explored the idea of an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) for a decoder. The only commercial version appears to be from Lenz, and they want about $60 for a Gold-series decoder, and another $60 for the UPS capacitor unit. :eek: I am a complete electrical newbie, but it seems to me that there has got to be a cheaper way to do this?

Any thoughts? Diagrams? Shopping lists? Illustrated how-to's? ;)

Thanks!

Andrew
 
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billwv

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Jan 13, 2005
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Hi,

I, also, know very little about electronics. But, I think it is much more complicated than just adding a capacitor. There has to be a charging system to avoid current inrush. I also understand the Lenz system will not stop the loco on a spot if there is no contact there, i.e. try to find good contact before stopping the loco. etc.

I have Lenz Gold decoders and they are excellent in terms of BEMF control and smooth slow speed. For me that makes them worth the extra cost.

I have not tried the USP module. I have heard that slodering the module to the decoder pads is very difficult and should only be attempted by experienced techs.

Bill
 
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MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
Oct 31, 2002
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Bill,

Thanks for the feedback on the Lenz decoders... I will enlist the help of an experienced solderer when the time comes...!

Radar,

I think that your proposal may be the easiest solution, but I would like to try the capacitor/UPS in part just so I can say I have done it... ;) Actually, it does look like the best solution to the problem, with the extra pick-ups being a close second.

Andrew
 
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baldwinjl

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Apr 30, 2005
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The capacitor/UPS solution really needs to be on the motor side of the decoder, not the track side, since putting it on the track side will corrupt the DCC signal itself. I don't know how the decoder output is going to react to the capacitor, but I think it should work, at least to a degree. I'll have to give that some thought. I'll write more later, if I learn anything.
 
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MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
Oct 31, 2002
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Thanks for that link. Looks like I will either have to give up on the idea, or vastly improve my soldering skills and equipment...! But at least I know where to find the explanation if I care to attempt it. :)


Andrew
 
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