I'm trying to mentally recal an exact number, but I can for sure say, 2 ABA sets (that's six), 1 each with a 10-15 car train, around each of my double track mains, and at least one, probably 2 switchers, 1 in each yard.
That makes 7 or 8, all either BLI sound or ESU sound, and all on a single PA with two throttles, no booster and only 1 set of feeder wires, and, with about a dozen other BLI and/or ESU equipped engines elsewhere on the powered rails.
I frequently let two trains run unattended in opposite directions for long periods of time, while I run a switcher in a yard. I haven't noticed either train (the one still selected on the throttle I'm not using, or the one on the throttle on which I have the switcher selected) slow down or stop.
All my decoders have BEMF turned on, if so equipped.
I did set my PA, to "only" 3 throttles max (which increases throttle response [default is 32,I think]), but I don't think it has anything to do with load at the track (just the cab bus).
I can definately say amp draw on multiple engines isn't an issue for me.
Allegheny2-6-6-6 Before I switched the MRC Prodigy Advanced over to my son's N scale layout I ran as many as 5 engines at the same time. The only issues that ever came up was when you pulled really long trains there was a lot of draw on the system and you noticed a very slight slow down that problem went away when I installed the boosters in each zone. Sounds like you may not be calling up the engines again or if it's the same engine continuously I would do an amp draw test. if it is the same engine all the time try running the problem engine alone for a long time and see what happens.
Before I switched the MRC Prodigy Advanced over to my son's N scale layout I ran as many as 5 engines at the same time. The only issues that ever came up was when you pulled really long trains there was a lot of draw on the system and you noticed a very slight slow down that problem went away when I installed the boosters in each zone.
Sounds like you may not be calling up the engines again or if it's the same engine continuously I would do an amp draw test. if it is the same engine all the time try running the problem engine alone for a long time and see what happens.
I think you just might have solved the puzzle, I will follow your suggestions, thanks.
CSX RobertAre you using one cab, selecting an engine and getting it going and then selecting the other and never going back to the first engine?
Yes, I believe so. Thats usually what I do.
Make sure Back emf is turned off as well. Try running the engines only with one a foot behind the other. Slower one behind of course. See if they act any differently.
Springfield PA
You said with ever engine, does the same one stop or any of the combo you run? Paragon, is any of them the Paragon II? Reason I ask is they can be program to stop, start, speed up and slow down.
You would think it is due to lack of power, but why would it take a while. I have ran 3 BLI steamers with sound with my old Bachmann E-Z command that only had one amp. When I ran 4, that over taxed the power, but they all just ran real slow.
I would add some feeders and see what happens.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
locoi1sa Could your booster be over heating? After a cool down does it run normally? Can you run 1 loco for a longer period of time before it slows also? Can you run 3 locos and see if they slow also? Can you feel the feed wires to see how hot they get? What size buss wires are there? Are the wheels and track clean? Are you running plastic wheels on your freight cars behind the locos? Pete
Could your booster be over heating? After a cool down does it run normally? Can you run 1 loco for a longer period of time before it slows also? Can you run 3 locos and see if they slow also? Can you feel the feed wires to see how hot they get? What size buss wires are there? Are the wheels and track clean? Are you running plastic wheels on your freight cars behind the locos?
Pete
1 loco runs for eternity by itself, no problems ever, I haven't tried 3 yet.
On the Kato track, it just comes with the standard wire, so I don't think its a wire or feeder issue. It has done this both on the floor using Kato with only 1 feeder, and on the table with 2 (at least), however the buss wire could be the problem, I honestly don't know what size my brother uses, I'll ask him.
Wheels and track are very clean, rolling stock is all metal wheels as far as I know.
As to your question about the booster, I'm not sure. However this raises another point I want to bring up. Is it possible to run several Broadway steamers off of simply an old DC power pack, is it safe I mean?
I like DC because its cheaper, problems are easier to isolate, but I'm nervous about frying my locos off of a DC power pack, are there any precautions I should take when operating in DC mode?
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
No, its on a table.
However, I have tried running on the carpet with Kato Unitrack, only used one feeder, same problem exactly.
Its on my brothers layout, I'm not sure about all the details unfortunately, but we use Prodigy Advanced, all locos are broadway limited steam locos, most are paragons, but the blue lines use train control system decoders M1 I think.
2 feeder drops are used.
More info is needed. What DCC system do you have? What size power buss? How many feeder drops? What make loco's and what decoders are being used?
It seems that whenever I run both together on DCC, they only make it around the 5x10 loop for 10 minutes, then you begin to notice that one engine is going slower than the other, getting sluggish, eventually coming to a complete stop and powering down while the other keeps on running. This has happened with every model I have tried, but only when running with another simultaneously.
Whats the problem?