QUOTE (zmil @ 8 Oct 2008, 09:43)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi All
I just wonder if the capacitors interfere with the Decoder's BEMF
A few of my older conversions I ended up switching the BEMF off and utilized the Dither (TCS decoders only)
as the lumpy running of the 3 pole motors , with BEMF on , caused the loco to move forward in little surges at slow speed
But with the Dither adjusted properly they really crawl along nicely and smoothly
Dither is like a "super pulse power" it really did the trick for the older loco's
I'm not knocking the BEMF because in most off the newer loco's it works fantastic.
Just that there are other things that can help with better running -some times it pays to experiment a bit
Regards Zmil
***Capacitors always interfere in some way between loco motor and decoder, the issue is simply that some motor + capacitor combinations have markedly less impact than others.
The difference in effct loco to loco is related to both the tpe of parts AND the layout of those parts between where the wires join to the PCB of the decoder and the motor brushes.
In all analog RF related circuitry the actual component parts are only part of the answer... component layout has also always had a marked effect on performance and this sort of application is no different.... physical layout configuration of the parts and wiring has an effect here in the same way that combinations of inductor and capacitor value do to the degree of suppression.
Removing them is therefore always wise but pragmatically of course, it is a matter of choice as loco/decoder combination will never run better with them in place ....however in some cases the effect may be insignificant to the loco owner.
As a professional I'll always take them out when I install a decoder: Whether an individual does so is his own decision.
To me I suppose the sensible question is, as modellers rarely enjoy the act of disassembling a loco + installing a decoder and always taking them out results in never having to do that job twice, why would you ever leave them in.
Richard