Trains.com

What is the voltage ?

791 views
6 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
TH&B
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • 964 posts
What is the voltage ?
Posted by TH&B on Tuesday, August 3, 2004 8:01 AM
Does anyone know what the DC voltage is at the traction motors of say an SD40 ? What is it on a newer AC ?
Report Abuse Back to Top
Randy Stahl
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: roundhouse
  • 2,747 posts
Posted by Randy Stahl on Tuesday, August 3, 2004 9:29 AM
about 1250 volts on DC locomotives.
Randy
Report Abuse Back to Top
mvlandsw
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 1,190 posts
Posted by mvlandsw on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 5:06 AM
The DC engines that I've been on have signs warning of 600 volts. The AC's warn of 3000 volts.
Report Abuse Back to Top
Anonymous
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 9:52 AM
Yeah. I thought the DC TM's have a 600VDC rating???
Report Abuse Back to Top
Randy Stahl
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: roundhouse
  • 2,747 posts
Posted by Randy Stahl on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 10:04 AM
With a limitation of 600 volts, raising locomotive horsepower would not be possible. 600 volts is nominal. Believe me , I've been loadboxing engines for many years.
Randy
Report Abuse Back to Top
oltmannd
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Atlanta
  • 11,971 posts
Posted by oltmannd on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 10:16 AM
As diodes have improved, the voltage has gone up. Having higher voltage available means you don't have to do field shunting to maintain HP at the high end of the speed range. The GP35, with it's DC main gen had a nightmare of transition and field shunting steps in order to keep 2500 HP going to the motors at max speed. A GP40-2 can keep full HP at full speed without any transition or field shunting because it can get higher voltage out of the traction alternator (rectified to DC by diodes)

-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/) 

Report Abuse Back to Top
Randy Stahl
  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: roundhouse
  • 2,747 posts
Posted by Randy Stahl on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 10:49 AM
You think the GP 35 was bad try the SD24 or the SD35 LOL!!!!
Randy
Report Abuse Back to Top

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
THE magazine of railroading
MAGAZINE
NEWS
RAILROADS
BLOGS & FORUMS
PHOTOS & VIDEOS
LOCOMOTIVES
SHOP
CONNECT WITH US Find us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter
More great sites from Kalmbach Media
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy