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ESU LokSound 5

"Keep-Alive"
 
Last Updated 220127
 

There has been a lot of discussion on the internet about adding "Keep-Alive" capacitors to sound decoders to improve performance on dirty rails or area with poor continuity like frogs and dead rail sections.


ESU LokSound decoders tend to be less sensitive to these problems but can be affected by poor continuity none the less.


All LokSound 5 models of ESU LokPilot and LokSound decoders can have a "Keep-Alive" capacitor installed to improve performance.
 
ESU LokPilot & LokSound Connection Diagrams
 

The manuals for ESU decoders include a wealth of information about installing the decoders and adding ancillary components like external chuff sensors, headlights, speakers as well as capacitors.

These illustrations are taken from the respective manuals and show the appropriate pads on the decoder where the capacitors are connected.
 


You may notice they specify a 2200uF capacitor.  Is that too much or not enough?  It just depends...


A good rule of thumb is to add as much as you can fit in the model.  Anything more than zero is better than nothing and currently the TCS KA-series Keep-Alives are the most powerful units available.


The bottom line here is the more capacitance you add, the better the unit will perform as continuity degrades.


You may also notice that ESU recommends including a resistor-diode pair in the positive leg of the capacitor.


This design is also referred to as an Inrush Current Protection circuit.  It is included to prevent false short-circuit detection by DCC circuit breakers and command stations.


Is it required?  It just depends on your application.


Do you or will you ever use a DCC circuit breaker?  If yes, you should probably include it.


Do you have one or one hundred units equipped with "Keep-Alives"?  


How much total capacitance do you have installed in all of your locos and rolling stock?  If you have big caps in every loco and lighted passenger car on your layout, you should probably include it.


It is not required for all applications however.  The TCS KA's and ESU Power-Packs include Inrush Current Protection on-board the device.
 
ESU LokSound 5 "Keep-Alive"
 

These photos show the actual connections described in the wiring diagram on the decoder.
ESU LokSound V4.0 Micro and Select Micro "Keep-Alive" Solder Pad Connections

 
ESU LokSound V4.0 and Select "Keep-Alive" Solder Pad Connections
 
Application Notes and Programming Tips
 

 
You will notice I installed a Soundtraxx 810058 Mini Micro Connector on one leg of the Keep-Alive Device connection.  

I have had some installations where the addition of the Keep-Alive Device made it difficult to read and write to the decoder.  A connector or switch is a convenient was to remove the Keep-Alive Device from the circuit for programming.

The switch or connector only needs to be added to one leg of the Keep-Alive Device connection and it doesn't matter which side.

Another trick I found is to allow the Keep-Alive Device to fully charge on full track power before reading or writing CV's.  The programming signal gets sucked up as charging power if the capacitors are not charged and makes programming nearly impossible.

The PowerPack only operates in digital mode. It automatically turns off on Analog layouts.


It may take up to two minutes to fully charge the capacitor. Therefore, the time bridged with the energy buffer depends on the current draw of your locomotive and the chargeup time.
 
 
The ESU 58821 LokSound 5 Direct 
 


The ESU 58821 LokSound 5 Direct is really just the ESU 58828 LokSound 5 Micro NMRA DCC Sound Decoder - NEM662 Next18 Integral Connector with a Next18 connector and adapter board.  The small decoder unplugs from the main board to reveal additional solder pads on the bottom side. 


To add a Keep-Alive Device, simply use the board layout in the manual for the LokSound Micro.  

U+ is rectified 12VDC same as the blue wire.  GND is the ground pad and is typically the black or black with white stripe wire.
 
The 73700 Select Direct is really just a 73800 Select Micro with a 
> Next18 connector and adapter board.  The small decoder unplugs from 
> the main board to reveal additional solder pads on the bottom side.  
> To add a keep alive, use the board layout in the manual for the Select Micro

The 73700 Select Direct is really just a 73800 Select Micro with a 
> Next18 connector and adapter board.  The small decoder unplugs from 
> the main board to reveal additional solder pads on the bottom side.  
> To add a keep alive, use the board layout in the manual for the Select Micro
 
 
 
 
The ESU 58923 LokSound 5 Nano 
 


The ESU 58923 LokSound 5 Nano - Hardwire is really just the ESU 58928 LokSound 5 Nano NMRA DCC Sound Decoder - NEMxxx E24 Integral Connector with the new E24 connector and adapter board.  The small decoder unplugs from the main board to reveal additional solder pads on the bottom side. 


The white charge wire on the 54671 PowerPack goes to Aux 3 on the new 58923 Nano.

U+ is rectified 12VDC same as the blue wire.  GND is the ground pad and is typically the black or black with white stripe wire.  

To add any other Keep-Alive Device, simply use the board layout for connecting a 2200uF capacitor for the LokSound Nano.  
 
Also... yes you must remove the shrink wrap to access the solder pads.  I use a piece of Kapton tape to rewrap the decoder once the hot work is complete.
 
Version 2 Connection Diagrams
 
  
 
 
 

Setting CVs - Enable Power Pack Control
 
 
When you connect an external capacitor or PowerPack, you are able to make the decoder switch off after a certain time. CV291/323/339 is responsible for that, since you are able to determine at what time the decoder is to switch off (as a multiple of 0.0328 seconds). You should set a time between 0.3 and 1.0 seconds to prevent your locos from driving too far during an emergency.

For the PowerPack to work, the function output responsible for the charge (typically AUX9 for LokSound, AUX7 for LokSound micro, AUX3 for nano) must be configured to the »PowerPackControl« function.

Set CV 31 = 16, CV 32 = 0 first, as required to address extended range CVs.

For LokSound 5, set CV339 = 31 (AUX9) Power Pack Control.

For LokSound 5 Micro, set CV323 = 31 (AUX7).

For LokSound 5 Nano, set CV291 = 31 (AUX3) and set CV353 = 0 to un-map AUX3 from F5.
 

Setting CVs 291, 323 or 339 to 31 is the proper way to set the LS5 for PowerPack Control.  They are greyed out on the LokProgrammer because they are not function mapped.  That is okay because they do not get function mapped to use them for PowerPack control so they will always be grey.  

Just like the old V4, CV113 (found in the Driving Characteristics tab) controls the amount of time the PowerPack is active after the engine loses power.  

Use that instead of CV325.
 
It is necessary to enable Power Pack Control in LokSound 5 model decoders in order to use the Keep-Alive function.

If Power Pack Control is not enabled, the keep-alive will be effectively turned off.

In LokProgrammer, LokSound 5 projects display a warning and link that when clicked, automatically sets CV315 = 0, thereby disabling Aux6.

Select projects do not display the warning or link but the CV value and results are the same.

For the PowerPack to work, the function output responsible for the charge (typically AUX9 for LokSound 5, AUX7 for LokSound 5 Micro) must be configured to the »PowerPackControl« function.

Set CV339 = 31 for LokSound 5 (AUX9).

Set CV323 = 31 for LokSound 5 Micro (AUX7). 


Setting CV113 - The Keep-Alive Timer

All ESU LokSound 5 models incorporate a timer to determine the maximum amount of time a Keep-Alive Device can supply power to the circuit.

Essentially, the timer limits the amount of time a Keep-Alive Device can supply power to the circuit without receiving a packet of data from the command station.

I won't pretend to know every reason for needing the timer but the most obvious to me is so that the locomotive won't continue endlessly in a true power outage event.

The default setting in most files is about .25 seconds.  The available range is 0 to 4 seconds.

CV113 = (0 - 255) where 0 is no keep-alive power and 255 is about 4 seconds of keep-alive power (as a multiple of 0.0328 seconds).

Be sure to test this to determine the value that works best for your application.

Here is a brief video demonstration of how CV113 works.

The ESU 58821 LokSound 5 Direct Aux 3-4
 
Just a quick note about this product.

The ESU 58821 LokSound 5 Direct uses a LokSound Micro decoder that is manufactured as a four function decoder plus two additional logic level functions.  

The standard functions are F0F, F0R, AUX1, AUX2.  

AUX3 and AUX4 are logic level outputs that require transistors to amplify the output current in order for them to be used to power LEDs.

The adapter board for the ESU 58821 LokSound 5 Direct includes the necessary components to amplify the AUX3 and AUX4 outputs and not the decoder.  

Products like my AUX 3-4 Function Board should not be used with the 73700 decoder.  

Additionally, the 51955 Adapter Board should be used with other decoders with caution since AUX3 and AUX4 are amplified.
 

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