Dropping DCC track voltage using diodes

[PhilP]

Hi all,
I know I can use a diode-tree to drop the voltage 0.6-0.7V per (reverse-connected in parallel) diode-pair in each leg..
Perceived wisdom is that you need high-speed diodes for this.. The 1N400* series may not cope well with the high-speed DCC signal.

Has anyone actually done this, to a reasonable current capacity, and which diodes did you use?
TIA,
PhilP.

 

[Dtsteam]

I'm at work at the moment but I'm pretty sure I've used 1N5401's 100v/3A. I reckoned 3A was Ok as theres only usually one loco in the slow down section at a time. I use the section to slow trains as they pass through the station, and I was considering one on a push button so I could run a few trams on DCC at roughly the same speed then have a simple way of keeping them spaced apart.
If you overdo it then the chip loses its way, I look at it as a means of shaving a bit off the top speed.

 

[PhilP]

Thanks David,
That confirms my thoughts on 1N5400x series diodes for this..
PhilP.