I've got a question for you experts:
I have a Key Imports locomotive from 1997 with a Maxon A motor. I operate in DC and have an MRC transformer that goes upto 24v. What would you say the maximum continuous voltage the motor could take? I believe it is nominally a 12v unit.
Thanks in advance
I would think that an HO locomotive would be ready to fly at 12 volts, why would you want to run it higher than 12 volts?I operate dual mode, DC or DCC and any or all of my locomotives would leave the tracks at full throttle on either DC or DCC.
If the MRC Power Pack you have doesn't work well at 0 to 12 volts then don't use it.
Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
SOme of the higher current MRC packs have an option for 12 volts for HO and smaller or 24 volts for G. Switch it to the HO setting, HO trains were not designed nor is it standard to use 24 volts with them. The NMRA standard is 12 volts.
If the power pack ONLY can do 0-24 volts, do not use it for small scale trains, it's not meant for them. The loco in question is far from the only one that would have issues with 24 volts.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Be advised that some of these motors may be intolerant of even comparatively slight overvoltage; I had a nominal 13.6V motor that inmediately smoked and suffered catastrophic shorting when connected to a 16V source, perhaps due to thin insulation spots.
Even motors rated to take the higher voltage will suffer higher currents, which means much more tendency to overheat, when run that way. Not quite a parallel example: we had one of the earliest Collins FM multiplex (stereo radio) broadcast transmitters, made circa 1963. One day the overheat orotection on the final stage tripped without advance warning, and we found the cooling fan motor had died. Much to our astonishment, this was because it was a 120V motor being operated on 220V ... we complained about the construction error to Collins only to find it was intentional -- they needed a smaller motor to fit the whole shebang in the duct, but it would "be OK" as all the cooling air flowed, as in many vacuum cleaners, through the motor at all times.
Until, that is, something impeded the cooling air flow. At which point, regardless of the time of day, it became lunchtime.
Now, getting back to modeling, it is possible that you have access to small 24V-insulated motors that can fit where 'regular' can motors won't. And that you have no need to worry about nominal 12v equipment being used anywhere on your layout you'd even accidentally connect to the 24v cab. In that case you could certainly use higher voltage, and I suspect some pickup or track-cleaning issues might be less of a concern if so. But i sure wouldn't experiment with running motors, particularly those installed in expensive locomotives, to figure out just how much of the voltage over 12 they can "handle" before a transient or overheating starts to let the magic smoke out.
Thanks for the responses as ever. What made me curious was that I remember 25 years ago or so I was talking to a dealer who was waxing on about the voltage the canon motors could take above their rated voltage and this was compounded by a youtube video I was watching the other night where a guy was testing an H&M 12v transformer which was giving 13.4v and he remarked that it was old and going off the boil. Add to that that any engineering installation has a fair margin above its specified performance. Indeed their certification demands this.
One of the Canon motors often used for replacements is a 24V motor (or maybe it's 18V).
Most DC power packs do put out 13-14 volts - with no load. Under a significant load - some modern locos with good motors aren't much of a load, milliamps if running light - the voltage will sag some.