DC locos on DCC system

[richg1998]

  Since there have been some questions about running DC only locos with a DCC controller capable of running DC only locos, Yes, it is kind of technical. I had no way to measure the mechanical vibrations which will eventually affect a motor.

I did some temperature measurements as an experiment. The applied DCC signal is 30 volt pulses at a frequency of about 6khz.

Remember, the motor signal is the same as the track signal.

I recently used a MRC 2000 DCC controller that can run DC only locos to look at motor temperatures. The first was using a small can motor used in my HO scale 4-4-0 locos. The motor temp was 68F at the start. With zero throttle, the temp went up to 92 F after ten minutes.

At one third throttle, the temp went to 105F after five minutes.

Back to zero throttle, the temp dropped to about 96 F after five minutes.

I then did the experiment with a open frame motor from a older MDC box cab.

At zero throttle, the temp went to 85F after five minutes.

At one third throttle after five minutes, the temp went to 104F.

After five minutes at zero throttle, the temp was 95F.

In both cases, the motor is in open air with only a flywheel for a load. You could say these are ideal conditions.

With the motor enclosed and sometimes run near max throttle and pulling a load, a lot more heat can develop.

I had no desire to do life testing or take measurements at higher speeds. The few results speak for themselves.

I used a Raytek Mini Temp infra red thermometer with laser pointer for temp measurements.

Rich

[loathar]

I've run my Bachs and Athearn DC locos for hours at mid speed pulling loads up and down 2.5% grades with no ill effects at all with my Bach EZ command. I think the damage occurs when you let a DC loco sit idle on a powered siding for long periods of time while running your DCC locos.
It is interesting how the temp dropped off as you got to higher throttle settings.

[cudaken]

 Hummmmmm, may I had a few to many beers but what I read was temps went up at 1/3 thottel?

 Rich, could you test the temps when they are ran on DC, and temps of a DCC engine on DCC?

 I as well have not seen any ill effect from running my DC engines with my E-Z command.

              Cuda Ken

[rrinker]

 Well, the temps should go up as the voltag to the motor increases, but the bad effects of DCC heating should be less at full throttle, and worse at stop. Run the engine on DC, the temp should go up at 1/3 throttle on DC as well. It will take longer to reach the higher temeprature, because starting from 0 volts DC the motor should be at room temperature rather, than being 'preheated' by the DCC signal. However, at full throttle, the difference between how hot it gets on DC and how hot it gets on DCC should be less.

                                    --Randy