The power storage module - Power 1 from Lenz - is
finally coming. Here is their news release:
Lenz is pleased to announce the release of our
Power 1 module, which is the first in our series of power storage
devices for our USP technology.
USP stands for Uninterruptable Signal Processing.
This patented technology allows the decoder to receive the DCC
signal even on dirty track or when the locomotive is operating
over plastic frogs. This continuous reception of the DCC signal
significantly increases the overall performance of the locomotive
especially for locomotives with poor pickup or on layouts that
are not operated frequently. The DCC signal will continue to be
received for as long as the decoder receives power. To provide
power to both the decoder and to the locomotive while it is on
dirty track we have developed a module which attaches to the decoder
for this purpose.
Providing on board power can have unintended consequences
such as a high inrush current on power up that trips the short
protection in some power stations or too high a current for low
current programming tracks. We avoid these problems by having
a built-in power management scheme which manages both the charging
and discharging of energy stored in the module.
The Power 1 storage module measures approximately
0.9" x 0.55" x 0.39" (22 x 13.3 x 9.4 mm).
The power storage in Power 1 equates to the following
run times with no track power for various locomotives. This is
significant because dirty track or poor pickup while frequent
is intermittent.
|
Current (mA)
|
Running Time (s)
|
|
250
|
1
|
|
500
|
0.4
|
|
750
|
0.1
|
|
1000
|
< 0.05
|
The MSRP for the Power 1 Module is $49.95. We will
be shipping this to our North American dealers the first week
of August.
Power 1 is compatible with all our Gold Series
decoders. Installation requires careful soldering three small
wires which go between the storage module and the Gold Series
decoders.
