you lsers run Multiple diesels how many in a train on your railway.

[Anonymous]

At full stall on 18v I think you will still be within the rating of your decoders. At 24v, I think you can pull 5 amps at full stall with both motors in the F units.

Now, I don't know anyone who runs full stall current. I would really recommend the RampMeter, I think it was from tonys toys. I leave it connected all the time.

I'm thinking of getting to 24v, so if I get there first, I'll report the current draw. I now have 5 of the F units, 3 waiting for decoders with back emf and sound, so we'll see soon.

Regards, Greg

[Anonymous]

Greg...thanks for the F3 info. This not as bad as I was expecting. I had heard about the high amp draw for the GP7/9 and assumed that USA was using the same motor set up in the F3. I am running Locolinc RC and will be using a 5 amp receiver in each loco so it sound like I will be OK on that point. However, the Locolinc I am using is limited to 18V so I may find my speed a bit slower than I want for streamline passenger. If that is the case, I can switch to a different Locolinc receiver which will let me go up to around 24V.
Either way, it still looks like I will need some high amp hr batteries to get much running time from a multi unit consist.
Thanks for the info.
Paul D

[Anonymous]

Well, the current draw on the USA F units is less than the famous GP9... The current readings you see are full stall at 24 to 27 volts typically.

My DCC system is NCE, and right now, I put out 20.1 volts RMS, so right off the bat the current draw is less. 2 locos running NCE 8 amp decoders each, under heavy load is pulling about 3.7 amps at worst case.

The downside is that my top speed is about 58 scale miles per hour, ok for freight, but slower than prototype.

The upside is that nothing burns out, the booster, decoders, etc.

Hope this information is useful, Greg

[Anonymous]

Greg,
You said you are running a F3AABBA set on a single 10 Amp power supply. I understand the USA F3 units can take a lot of amp's to run and your info suggest that can operate OK on 2 amps each.
Do you load them up very heavy with passenger cars/etc? I have a F3ABA (SF Red warbonnet) and a F3AB (SF freight) that I purchased but have not had a chance to run yet. I need to convert them to battery and was looking at converting the B units into dummies to hold batteries to conserve power.
In general, what has been your experience with power use by thes units?
Paul D

[Anonymous]

hay folks some pics please!

[jebouck]

Three or four on the point, two mid train helpers and one or two pushing on a 150+ car freight at club members Jens Bang's layout. All track powered with two Bridgwerks 15 Amp supplies.[:)][:)][:)][^][^]
jb

[Anonymous]

5 USA Trains F units AABBA via DCC - but will cut on a Mikado helper for the Raton grade!

10 amp power supplies

Greg

[Curmudgeon]

The only place for a diesel is on a Submarine....and then, it better be a Fairbanks-Morse.

[majnnj]

Hello
I run 1 SD-40-2 BN, waiting for more, controlled with TMCC
has all the bells and sounds, and turbo smoke unit
can't wait to buy more to lash up
mike

[John Busby]

Hi train me
How dare you sir this is a respectable railway we only run steam[swg]
Well thats the dream, now the bubbles burst when I double head don't need anything bigger than double headed 4wh diesels or steam outline
The live steam is one loco and a lot more cars than I have [:D]
regards John

[CandCRR]

Train-me,

I run only two. I have a real light weight power supply and after two nothing moves very fast or they stop altogether.

[Anonymous]

ben
if you have a tank car,covered hopper, flat car, or a real light car it will pull of in the center of curves [:(] put them light cars on the end .[;)]

[Anonymous]

train me
i run two RS-3 OR 1RS-3 AND A U25B TOGETHER AND A MIX OF UP TO 15 to 18 CARS, I HAVE ONE TURN that with to many cars they jump the track.. ben

[Anonymous]

i run any were from 1 to 4 i just like multiple mued diesels i think i have mentioned i like diesels! and freights. let me hear from you diesel people.