#39 Part 1: How to make a Stay Alive Capacitor Unit (Hornby TTS Sound Decoder and Others)

This is Part 1 of an in-depth two-part series looking at home-made stay alive devices. In this video, we look at making a stay alive/keep alive capacitor unit for use alongside a Hornby TTS sound decoder. The principles and steps outlined in this video are, however, applicable for most other stay alive scenarios, including coach lighting, end of train (EOT) lamps and so on. The stay alive unit made could therefore be used in multiple situations, not just with a Hornby decoder. As well as showing you how to make the stay alive unit itself and assemble all of the components, there's a brief explanation of the background to stay alive devices generally and the role that each of the components plays in the overall circuit. Video Contents + 00:00 - Video introduction 01:08 - Intro to making a stay alive unit 02:18 - Overview of the components required 04:11 - Using resistors to manage in-rush 05:00 - The components in detail 06:26 - Circuit diagrams 08:40 - A quick word of capacitor sizes 10:58 - Putting it all together: soldering 15:40 - Adding hookup wires & heat shrink 17:22 - The finished article Components + You can buy items used in this video tutorial using the affiliate links below. Using these links helps to support the channel and is very much appreciated. Hornby TTS decoders (Amazon): https://amzn.to/2PbRM9x Hornby TTS sound decoders (eBay): https://ebay.to/2S1P4Ca Capacitors (15,000 uF 25v): https://ebay.to/2AljFnF Resistors (100 ohm 1/4w): https://amzn.to/2yzLtDx Decoder wire (red & black): https://ebay.to/2NR9fj1 Decoder wire (Multipack): https://ebay.to/2PGEYoK Diodes (1N4001 50v 1A): https://ebay.to/2CXBifB Diodes (1N4001 50v 1A):: https://amzn.to/2ODFqYo Heat Shrink (multipack): https://amzn.to/2PdO0N5 Heat Shrink (various sizes): https://ebay.to/2EvWI54 Kapton tape (10mm x 30m): https://amzn.to/2OBEpjB Kapton tape (various sizes): https://ebay.to/2R2H2aU Liquid Flux Topnik No Clean (Amazon): https://amzn.to/2Al6HpP Liquid Flux Topnik No Clean (eBay): https://ebay.to/2CXy7EO 0.3mm Lead/Tin solder: https://amzn.to/2NT7pOy 0.3mm Lead/Tin solder: https://ebay.to/2S6Jpe0 Hakko Soldering Station: https://amzn.to/2CVLzca Blue silicone electronics mat: https://amzn.to/2Pbv7ug A2 green cutting mat: https://amzn.to/2P8aKy3 A1 green cutting matt: https://amzn.to/2P8aKy3 #StrathpefferJunction #HornbyTTS #StayAlive #KeepAlive Thank you very much for watching. Please comment, like, share and subscribe! Visit us at: http://www.strathpefferjunction.com Disclaimer + This project does require a steady hand and competence with a soldering iron. Working with DCC decoders and tiny surface-mount components leaves little margin for error and it is very easy to permanently damage sensitive electronics if you are not very careful. If you choose to follow any of the steps or suggestions outlined in the video, you do so at your own risk and any damage or injury to yourself, your models, your equipment or others is your own responsibility.