0-4-2 Porter

[canpac]

Has anyone noticed any difference between a regular DCC Porter and a DCC Porter with sound passing through an insulated frog turnout ? I have found the regular DCC version to sail through the turnout while the version with sound will hesitate and then proceed . Running in very slow speeds the sound version will stop on the turnout. Coincidence or a fluke or what. Your thoughts.

[NarrowMinded]

Hi,

How many dcc sound porters & how many dcc porters have you tried this with?
if it's just a one and one test you can't really see a trend, either way it is likely just a power pick up issue not related to the type of decoder, I have several non dcc porters and I had one that did not do well on insul-frogs.

With that said I do not have a new factory dcc porter, only one's I have added the decoder to.

If I was to guess at a reason dcc vs dcc sound would make a difference, It may have to do with a capacitor that may keep the non-sound unit running while the sound unit eats up the power faster so it doesn't "Coast" across the frog as far,  have you tried it with the sound off to see if there is any change?

Try this test... on a straight section of track place some scotch tape over one rail the same length as your frog, then run your loco's over it and see if they react the same as going over the frog, if they don't that would show you it's a mechanical issue with the way the problem loco handles the frog.

The problem might really be the wheels are out of gauge and causes the problem loco to lift off the rail a little.

NM-Jeff

[canpac]

Tried the tape Jeff. I would have to say it is a power issue with the sound locomotives. I have tried three others and the result is the same. The sound units will not go through the frog unless you have applied a lot of power to them. Not a realistic scenario for sure. The regular DCC units work fine through the frog  of power Sound units do draw more power than the regular DCC units for sure. Thanks for your tip and input.

[NarrowMinded]

I just recalled that a while back there was a thread about adding another capacitor to a dcc loco for just this problem... I can't recall much more then that, maybe someone else can help I think they refered to them as "Keep Alive" capacitors

try here
http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/board/index.php/topic,18117.0.html
NM-Jeff

[richg]

The Tsunami is prone to interruptions with the slightest track power interruption.
Please, everyone, download and look at the below link. Please do not tell people to just throw a capacitor at a DCC install. It is not that simple.

http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/mainnorth/alive.htm

Stay Alive, sometimes called Keep Alive is evolving. Lenz has a device and I believe TCS has come up with a solution.

http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/lenz-gold-review.htm

http://www.tcsdcc.com/public_html/Customer_Content/Products/Keep-Alive/Keep-Alive.php

Download and study the links.

You want more info, do a Google search for dcc stay alive or keep alive, lenz dcc ups.

Rich

[NarrowMinded]

I don't read anything that says just throw a capacitor on in this thread...
And I also posted the link?

Is there something wrong with doing whats in that link?

I have not tried it yet.

NM-Jeff