Model Railroading > Sound decoder

Just got a Soundtraxx decoder.It has a capisitor attached.Why? Is it needed?
Having it is making it hard to do sound in an early Proto E unit.But with a
lttle work,I have done it,but would rather not.


Uncle Joe,Seffner,Fl.

The capacitor helps prevent sound dropouts when you run over small sections of dirty track or non-powered frogs.  The original soundtraxx DSD decoders did not have this and would do a pop/click/hiccup sound over even the slightest amount of dirt or frog.  You "can" remove it, but I'm fairly certain you'll not like the results.

One option that comes to mind: MU your E units together electrically then you can probably get away without it.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/15 09:48 by KA7008.

The capacitor doen't need to be mounted on the circuit board. You can extend the leads with wire and mount it where there is room.

Sort of a semi-keep alive?

 

SPDRGWfan Wrote:
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> Sort of a semi-keep alive?
>

Yes, it is a keep alive but for SOUND only.  Not for motor or lighting.

PHall Wrote:
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> The capacitor doen't need to be mounted on the
> circuit board. You can extend the leads with wire
> and mount it where there is room.

Very true.  I've extended mine in some applications and "remote-mounted" it in the cab, etc.