BigDaddyMaybe, maybe not. Jim Cramer said UP took 600 locos out of storage recently and people on Youtube webcams have seen big power moves lately.
Back in the 1990's the UP ran regular 25 unit power moves from LA to Chicago once a week because of a power/tonnage imbalance in the flows of engines.
I have seen 25-50 engine dead engine moves of engines going to be scrapped. The real problem moving a bunch of dead engines is getting all the brakes to work.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Take a video and show us how they run, especially if you consist them!
Thanks Randy. I have 18 so I’ll give it a go.
Gary
Even with sound, the biggest draw in the loco is still the mootor, sooo ones sitting there not moving only draw a small amount of current. Sound a bit more than non-sound, unless yoou have the sounds muted.
But 10 would be a small number for a 5 amp system. I ran 10 locos at a time, 5 with and 5 without sound, on my Digitrax Zephyr, which is rated for 2.5 amps. You should have no problem with 10 locos with twice the available power.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks Greg
gdelmoroCan I harm the decoder or command station in any way? What happens when you put too many on?
each decoder will draw only a much power as it needs and is unaffected by all other decoders
the PowerPro command station will only provide as much current as it can and will shutdown automatically if the current exceeds 5A for more than 1/2 sec
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
gdelmoroI know this is not prototypical in any way
Maybe, maybe not. Jim Cramer said UP took 600 locos out of storage recently and people on Youtube webcams have seen big power moves lately.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Ok so it sounds like I can put all 18 of my sound decoder locos on and give it a go.
Can I harm the decoder or command station in any way?
What happens when you put too many on?
EDIT: I mean 10
So, in rough terms, based on Rich's numbers, 10 to 20 locomotives. It would also depend on whether or not your layout has enough track and that it is configured in such a way as to preclude any collisions.
And if you decide to go through with it, I suggest you sit there next to a switch which will shut down the entire layout in the event of an impending collision.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
For laughs, I did that once. As bearman indicates, "a lot". A non-sound decoder only draws around 0.25 amps and a sound decoder around 0.50 amps.
Rich
Alton Junction
I believe it depends on the current draw for each locomotive as well as the current draw for any other accessories you have on the layout that draw from the power station. At 5 amps, the general answer probably is...a lot.
I know this is not prototypical in any way but someone asked me the other day of I could put all my locos on the railroad and run them arround. Other than the ability to do it the only reason to put a group of locos on and run them is to run pieces you have not run in a long time. You could put them all on and let them run for an hour or so.
Well here in lies the question. How many locos cam my NCE PH Pro system support ?