the 1N4001 diode is just fine. Frequently I order 1N4001
diodes and actually get 1N4005 or some such. Don’t worry.
The 1N4001 is rated at 100 volts. As the last number gets
larger, so does the voltage rating. Overkill here doesn’t cost
either in money or size.
If you need more than 10,000 µF, I recommend the Keep-
Alive™ from TCS instead of larger electrolytic capacitors.
Keep-Alive™ from TCS
Train Control Systems recently introduced two Keep-Alive™
modules that store way more energy than the simple circuit
from figure 4.
They claim that the KA1 (about $25) will keep an HO-scale
locomotive at speed step 10 (out of 128) running for 2 to 5
seconds with the headlight lit. Under the same conditions,
DCC Impulses Column - 5
5
5: KA1 Keep-Alive™ Module, about the size of typi-
cal HO-scale decoders. Photo courtesy Train Control
Systems.
MRH-Mar 2013
