The Locomotive's Traction alternator only produces power when the field is energized. There is a switch right at the engineer;s control stand for this feature. in addition, without the reverser thrown (or the locomotive in self load)in one direction or the other the power contactors do not pick up and the power cannot complete a circut. Hope this helps.
wabash1 and besides that there is 2 differant generator switches to cut out the power also
and besides that there is 2 differant generator switches to cut out the power also
I'm sorry. I don't know mutch on this topic. Could someone point me in the right direction...
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Oh that makes sence so when it's ideling the coil isn't energised when it is the motors are runnig.
bubbajustin When a locomotive ideles, what keeps the electricity from going to the traction motors and making the wheeles turn? Is it a clutch. Does it differ fom AC current to DC current?
When a locomotive ideles, what keeps the electricity from going to the traction motors and making the wheeles turn? Is it a clutch. Does it differ fom AC current to DC current?
If you've ever run a model railroad, it's basically the same idea, except instead the power coming from a plug in the wall to your power pack, it's a diesel generator located right behind you. The throttle controls how much electricity goes to the electical motors. When it's at zero or idle, no power goes to the motors, so you don't move.
bubbajustin thanks, but what is a relay? How does it work in this case?
thanks, but what is a relay? How does it work in this case?
Justin, I hope this is a simple explanation of the working of a relay.
A relay is an electrical device which is used to control the flow of electricity remotely. It consists of a wire coiled around an iron core, and movable contacts. When current flows through the coil, it becomes an electromagnet, which pulls a steel or iron bar towards itself. The bar has one or more contacts on it (they are insulated from the bar, so the bar does not carry current), which make contact with other contacts when the bar is moved. Instead of having a switch that is heavy enough to carry the high current for the motor at the engineer’s desk, you have a low current circuit to the relay which controls the high current circuit for the motor’s electrical supply. When the relay is not energized, no electricity reaches the motor; when the relay is energized (current is flowing through its coil), electricity does reach the motor.
Johnny
A big switch - actually contactors (another name for a big relay).
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