DCC Impulses Column - 7
to experiment, try values in the range from 1000 to 10,000 uF.
The higher the value, the longer the lights stay on.
The advantage of using capacitors over rechargeable batteries
is that there is no need for a switch to keep the batteries from
fully discharging, which is hard on the batteries.
A decoder
Putting a lighting decoder into a car is not much different
from doing a DCC installation into a locomotive. Only you
don’t have the motor connection to deal with. Some “function
only” decoders have special things that need to be done to
facilitate programming them. Be sure to read the instructions
before you begin the installation. This way, you will reduce the
repetitive rework.
Decoders require the same sort of energy storage whether
they are for LEDs only or for motor, sound and lights: modules
or external capacitors. The only advantage with LEDs is that
you needn’t have such large capacity units. A stayin’ alive
module that would power a motor for seconds will hold up
LEDs for minutes!
So there you have a few of my views on car lighting.
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Until next month, I wish you green boards.
MRH-Sep 2013
