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isolate Tenshodo open frame motor or brushes for DCC

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  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 197 posts
isolate Tenshodo open frame motor or brushes for DCC
Posted by ChrisVA on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 12:16 PM

I have this Tenshodo 0-8-0 and I'm considering using the existing motor with new magnets for DCC conversion.

What is a good way to isolate electrically the motor or brushes from the frame? One brush is isolated already but the other makes contact with the frame.

The area under the magnet makes contact with the frame where it is screwed to the frame. Also, the bottom front part of the motor probably touches the frame also.

Thanks!

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  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 1:24 PM

ChrisVA
What is a good way to isolate electrically the motor or brushes from the frame? One brush is isolated already but the other makes contact with the frame.

The area under the magnet makes contact with the frame where it is screwed to the frame. Also, the bottom front part of the motor probably touches the frame also.

So you've confirmed the above with a multimeter???  The bottom brush contact is usually the electrical path for one side of the drivers.  A nylon screw and fiber washer would do the trick for isolating that.  It would also be a good idea to place Kapton tape on the area right below the motor mount in the event it does contact the chassis in more than one place.

Chris, any chance of posting a close up of the bottom portion of the motor?  Same view; just more close up to see more details.

Thanks,

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 197 posts
Posted by ChrisVA on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 1:39 PM

Your comment helped me figure it out. I took a closer look at the non-isolated brush. It had a tab that was bent to be in contact with the motor frame. The rest of it is insulated with a non-metal washer. I just bent the tab to not touch the frame and instant isolation.

Thanks!

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  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 3:03 PM

Excellent!  Glad you were able to get that done, Chris.  If you do have some Kapton tape, it does make for some added insurance on that portion of the chassis.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,775 posts
Posted by snjroy on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 4:41 PM

Hi there. If you can find a can motor with a Shaft of the same diameter, it's really easy to do a swap. Just build a plastic support and attach the motor with caulk. The performance will improve drasticly.

Simon

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