Powerpack or Stayalive Energy buffer

A Powerpack or Stayalive is the solution for DCC to avoid running and sound interruption while driving your model. Once the power on the track is switched on, the supercapacitors of the powerpack/stayalive start charging. When the locomotive experiences power loss, because of dirt on the track or on a frog of a point (switch), the stayalive kicks in and assures the loco will continue for a few seconds. Let’s look at the difference of the two, as they are often seen as similar. It doesn’t help that Train-O-Matic made their stayalive part of their Smart Power Pack series. Here are the differences:

Powerpack

- Train-O-Matic SPP and SPP-N are Powerpacks, as well as ESU Powerpack and Lenz Gold/USP.  They fully charge in a few seconds.

- Are only compatible with Powerpack suitable decoders. Like all Train-O-Matic and ESU v4/v5 decoders and Lenz Gold.

- Has 3 cables. One is a data cable, through which the powerpack is switched off when CVs are being programmed.

- The length of the extra power can be programmed

- Extra power is about 10 seconds*

- One large supercapacitor

Stayalive

- The Nano and Zimo STACO take about 30 seconds (2x0.3F supercaps) to fully charge. The 2x1F supercaps take 80 seconds to charge.

- Compatible with practically all decoders.

- Extra power is between 3 and 6 seconds (2x0.3F supercaps) and up to 35 seconds (2x1F supercaps). *

- Much smaller than a Powerpack

- Two or three small supercaps in series

Which one to choose?

It all depends on the space. If you got space for it (and the compatible decoder, like any Train-O-Matic decoder), always choose the Powerpack because of its fast charging and superior back up power. For TT, 009, H0e, N and Z gauge, it will often be a Stayalive, because of the lack of space. The 3-6 seconds of extra power will be enough to get the loco over problem areas.

*The effective time depends on the power used by the locomotive, like motor, lights, sound.

The Train-O-Matic very affordable Smart Power Packs come with a supercapacitor, giving you several seconds of extra power to keep on running on dirty tracks. These only work for DCC, not analog.

There are three version:

SPP - Supercapacitor is fitted on top of board

SPP-N - A smaller supercapacitor is fitted behind the board.

SPP Nano - The tiniest powerpack, great for N and Z gauge models.

The SPP and SPP N connect to all Train-O-Matic decoders, ESU decoders with connection for a PowerPack, Lenz Gold with USP connection and any decoder supporting the three wire connection for an energy buffer.

The SPP Nano connects to practically all DCC decoders. With two wires connected to the plus and minus of the decoder.

For instructions, follow the manual of your decoder.

SPP

Size: ca 21 x 10 x 13.5 mm

Size Supercapacitor: 8.2 x 12 mm

SPP-N

Size (inc. supercaps): ca 33 x 9.4 x 6.5 mm

Size Supercapacitor: 6.5 x 11.8 mm

SPP Nano Stayalive

Size (inc. 2 supercaps): 12.7 x 6 x 2.55 mm

Size each Supercapacitor: 4 x 12 mm (0.3F) or

6.5 x 9.5 mm (1F)

Estimate power with sound equipped model:

2x 0.3 mF: 5-7 seconds

2x 1 F: 35 seconds

Smart Power Pack (SPP)

Info sheet Powerpack for 3rd party decoders (English)

Download manual SPP Powerpack

(English)

This one is straightforward to use and works with practically any decoder. Just connect the red wire to the plus and the black wire to minus (GND) of the decoder. With Train-O-Matic decoder, change CV 123 (Time out) to 255. For the Hornby HM7000, just plug it in. And solder the capacitors to the SPP Nano board, with the wires supplied. 

How to use with Train-O-Matic decoder:

Smallest stayalive

More power

For Hornby HM7000

New stock arrives mid January 2025

Zimo STACO stayalive

Zimo’s tiny Stayalive controllers will give your N, H0e or 009 scale model an addition power of about 4 seconds with no sound. When he sound is active, you’ll get about 1 to 2 seconds extra. That’s enough to enjoy uninterrupted joy of your model train.