I recently purchased a Bowser DS 4-4-1000 with ESU 5.0 decoder. After tweaking the CV's, it runs fine but it draws much more current than my other two Bowser engines (a VO 1000 and an S-8). According to my RampMeter, my Frog Juicers draw .065 amps without engines on the track. The other two Bowsers draw .08-.10 amps as do my other engines (2 Atlas [S-4, HH600], one Walthers H 10-44 with new motor and decoder). All the engines have Loksound 5.0 decoders. The only factory 5.0 installation was in the Bower engine in question. It draws a maximum of .5 amps with an average when running "at speed" around .35 amp (minus the .07 amp of the FRog Juicers?). The motor and decoder get a tiny bit warmer than the other engines but nothing excessive and the CV settings are very similar to those in the other Bowser engines.
Is there a reason for concern and what may be the issue? Any help appreciated.
Is the new one significantly louder at the same volume setting than the older ones? I wonder if maybe they used a 4 ohm speaker in the factory one, which would make the amplifier draw more current.
Have you had a peak under the hood? Are they still using the same Conon motor that the older ones (all of mine have Canon motors, all but one of mine go back to Stewart-labeled boxes)? A differnet motor would explain a different current draw.
ANd are the gears dry? Maybe shipped with no lubrication, making the motor work harder. It's still a very low number, well within what the decoder can manage without hurting anything.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hey Randy!
I don't know about the volume although it seemed very high initially, when I did the "auto" BEMF setting. I always set the CV's on the Lokprogrammer right after that (tweaking the BEMF a bit more for low speed performance). Bowser did tell me that a different motor was used. It is well-lubed and there is nothing binding in the drive train. The motor does seem a bit tight. With sound off, the engine runs as quietly as the others. Your observation re: speaker might explain it as I replaced all the other 100 ohm speakers with sugar cubes from Loksound when I upgraded from Loksound 3.5 decoders. They are around 6-8 ohms, according to my meter. The volume settings I set for this engine are quite close to those of the older Bowsers, with canon motors. BTW, I did replace the "yellow" LED's in the two older engines with brighter ones, after bending them to fit and make contact. The new one has wires from the board to the lights. Thank you for your input. Your replies are always helpful.
John in Carolina
Yeah, I replaced the orange LEDs with nice golden-white ones. I bent the leads to math the original LED so I could use the same clips to hold them back in place, though for sound, that board with the bigger contacts will have to go.
If they are using a different motor, that most certainly is the reason for the difference. Kind of disappointing, because the ones I already have, all with the Canon motor, are without a doubt the smoothest running locos I have. The P2K Alco switchers are close, but they have noisier gears.
Note if the new guy is swimming in lube, it could be too much - too much can actually cause binding as it tries to compress between the gear teeth. Even if it's not so bad that it's dripping out. I only mention this because more often than not, when someone says "well lubed" it means there is a lot of grease in there, not well lubed as in it's got a nice thin coat on the gears and not piles of goo built up.
Properly lubed would be more accurate. I agree about the smooth, quiet drive. This newest engine was a little more difficult to get a good slow start but with CV 55 at 100 (my other Bowsers are at 32), it is very smooth even at 1 SMPH. I have noticed that after a few minutes of running the current draw decreases a bit so it may be the matter of breaking the engine in. So sad if I have to run it more!
John
Yes, that is also true. If it's brand new with little run time, it will need some time to break in. Might end up having to readjust your CVs too, after it has some run time.
Oh the horrors, being forced to run trains!