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... For the decoder, I'm starting with a LokPilot 5 Micro DCC 59820 which has an NEM connector on it, but any style of connector will do, since I cut it off and direct wire to the board. (ESU does not sell a LokPilot Micro without some form of connector.) ...-gfh
Regarding the resistor, I'm going to stick with it. I believe these LEDs are rated up to 20 mA and the LokPilot blue lead is only 11 V, so (11-3)/560 gives only 14 mA. In fact, I wish they were a bit brighter! ESU recommends 470 Ohms for LEDs.. . .Alas, the LokPilot ground pad does not have a lead soldered to it, and I have been singularly unsuccessful soldering a wire to it, no matter what I try! I suspect the decoder has a coating (Kryptonite?) on it to protect the other leads and that this is interfering with soldering to the ground pad. Has anyone successfully connected anything to this ground pad? (It's the pad below the violet wire in the shot below.)-gfh
Thanks for the clarification about the capacitor @peteski, that makes more sense. Regarding the resistor, I'm going to stick with it. I believe these LEDs are rated up to 20 mA and the LokPilot blue lead is only 11 V, so (11-3)/560 gives only 14 mA. In fact, I wish they were a bit brighter! ESU recommends 470 Ohms for LEDs.Here is another wiring example, using a fried decoder (the one alluded to above) and a scrap board with those awful amber LEDs. I turned the decoder over and taped it to the rear LED leads, snipped off the pink and teal leads, and routed only the central red, black, white, and yellow wires between the LED leads. This gives a slightly neater package. (Still not sure if I'm going to keep the green and violet wires, going forward.)In theory there is plenty of room for a TCS keep alive (KA-N1) in front of the decoder. I've ordered a few to test. If I understand correctly, these can be hooked up to the blue lead and the ground pad. Alas, the LokPilot ground pad does not have a lead soldered to it, and I have been singularly unsuccessful soldering a wire to it, no matter what I try! I suspect the decoder has a coating (Kryptonite?) on it to protect the other leads and that this is interfering with soldering to the ground pad. Has anyone successfully connected anything to this ground pad?-gfh
What do the other components on the KA-N1 do?