Talking T Gauge

zomer · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:05 pm Post subject:

Any pics of the melted hole?!?!?! Smile

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Mark Pelham · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Crawley, UK

Photos as requested:

Mark

pray59 · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 88 Location: Fremont, CA

This picture proves what I suspect about using conventional throttles on T Gauge.

I noticed when I run my Marklin Mikado using the Marklin pack for 15 minutes at a scale 50MPH, the loco gets mildly warm, but when I ran the same loco at the same speed with my MRC power pack (MRC 2800), it got so hot I could not hold it in my hand!

After it cooled i cleaned the brushes and lubricated it, finding nothing looking abnormal, and ran it again with my Marklin supply, and it was running mildly warm again. I tried one more time with the MRC pack, and after 10 minutes the loco was very hot again.

My friend measured both power supplies at the same speed setting with his o-scope, and the Marklin was putting out 2.4V pure DC, with a slight ripple. He said it is a very smooth power supply.

The MRC was putting out 2.2V but had 16V spikes ever few milliseconds. At lower voltages, the MRC assumes we are using a 12V or greater rated locomotive, and pulses these high voltage spikes to make slow speed operation very smooth without stalling.

It does work, the locos do run smoother over dirty track, but at a price, of extra heating of components in the loco.

I suspect your throttle has high voltage pulses at low voltage levels to make larger scale locos run smooth at slow speeds, and when you set it low enough for your T Gauge loco, those spring wipers turn into heating coils.

-Robert
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-Robert Ray