I was wondering if a Dynamis system output the correct voltage for 2 rail O scale operation and if it had sufficient Amps to run 1 or 2 O scale (2-rail) engines or would I need to hook up my Dynamis to my 5 Amp booster?
I wanted to look into programming a friend's 2 rail O scale locomotive for him since it has DCC and sound.
The Dynamis puts out 15.5V +/_5% at 2.3Amps.
The Dynamis should be okay if all you're doing is programing the decoders. I would add the booster if you want to actually operate 'O' locos though. Jus the weight of the trains they pull is going to bring the amps pulled up near it's max limit without the booster. And you don't want to operate in that region very long, or damage could result.
Len
Quote from: AGSB on January 31, 2015, 09:27:44 AM
The Dynamis puts out 15.5V +/_5% at 2.3Amps.
I knew this already. I just didn't know how many Amps a typical 2 rail O scale locomotive with DCC and sound draws and what Voltage it should be operated at.
Quote from: ACY on January 31, 2015, 11:07:01 AM
Quote from: AGSB on January 31, 2015, 09:27:44 AM
The Dynamis puts out 15.5V +/_5% at 2.3Amps.
I knew this already. I just didn't know how many Amps a typical 2 rail O scale locomotive with DCC and sound draws and what Voltage it should be operated at.
That has nothing to do with the Dynamis. Check the specs for whatever engines you are planing to operate. Add them together and see if they fall within the Dynamis output.
Quote from: AGSB on January 31, 2015, 11:31:29 AM
That has nothing to do with the Dynamis. Check the specs for whatever engines you are planing to operate. Add them together and see if they fall within the Dynamis output.
There are no specifications for this engine since it was originally DC but was converted to DCC and sound. I know how many amps it drew before it was converted to DCC and sound but I have no idea what it will draw post conversion and I have no way to find out first. And there is no mention anywhere in the documentation included with the locomotive of how many volts the locomotive should be operated at. The decoder in this locomotive is not dual mode, thus will not run and cannot be tested with an analog controller.
I know what the Dynamis specifications are, if you don't have experience with newer 2-rail O scale engines with DCC then there was no need to reply really since you couldn't tell me anything I didn't know already.
Don't get snotty with me.
How do expect an answer when you don't give all the information in the first place?
Those young whipper-snappers!
Don't know what current this loco will draw?
Neither do we until you tell us what the make and model is but then if you know that you can just Google it. Adding DCC doesn't change its power draw, unless you've changed the motor and if you have, just Google the motor and that will give you all the info you need.
Really a no brainer.
Cheers
Roger T.
DCC systems generally put somewhere around a constant 12 volts on the track, sometimes a bit more on systems designed specifically for larger scale use. The locos speed is controlled by the voltage passed to it by the decoder, not the track voltage.
If these are die-cast steam locos, the current draw is probably in the 0.5 - 0.75 amp range with no train behind the loco. Add a train and it goes up. That's why I suggested using the booster when actually running trains.
Len
Quote from: rogertra on January 31, 2015, 12:54:34 PM
Don't know what current this loco will draw?
Neither do we until you tell us what the make and model is but then if you know that you can just Google it. Adding DCC doesn't change its power draw, unless you've changed the motor and if you have, just Google the motor and that will give you all the info you need.
Quote from: AGSB on January 31, 2015, 12:42:37 PM
How do expect an answer when you don't give all the information in the first place?
I gave you all the information I have, my friend received a 2-rail O locomotive that had the motor replaced and had DCC and sound added. I don't know any details about the motor and only know the decoder is not dual mode. The locomotive was a gift for my friend and apparently the person who gave it to him didn't know anything more when he asked him, as he had another friend work on the locomotive.
I can give you the information on the box but that does not do any good since the locomotive is no longer what is indicated on the box. I just wanted to know typical values for 2-rail O scale locomotives with DCC and sound. And I have no intentions to attempt to check what motor or decoder is in the locomotive since it is brass and was worth over a thousand dollars before it was custom painted and detailed, not to mention the new motor and DCC/sound. And as far as looking up other similar locomotives with factory DCC and sound, there aren't any, I checked. There isn't much info on 2 rail O scale DCC operation specifically, when you look up O scale you get info mainly on Analog, DCS, or TMCC/Legacy.
Len has given me most of the information I need. Thank you very much for your assistance.
You mean the manufacturer's name is nowhere on the locomotive?
Cheers
Roger T.
Quote from: rogertra on January 31, 2015, 01:40:46 PM
You mean the manufacturer's name is nowhere on the locomotive?
The box had no writing other than a label on one side of the box that reads "EM-1 2-8-8-4", the documentation included was one sheet of paper that is no longer legible except for a few small excerpts. The bottom of the locomotive has no visible identification markings. All I know is that it is brass and is probably from the 1950's or thereabouts. I am pretty sure the locomotive also has 2 motors.
That was easy to find, it's amazing what you can find if you type into Google "brass EM-1 2-8-8-4"
Give it a try.
Cheers
Roger T.
Quote from: rogertra on January 31, 2015, 05:28:28 PM
That was easy to find, it's amazing what you can find if you type into Google "brass EM-1 2-8-8-4"
I googled it too but could not figure out the manufacturer of the locomotive nor any of the other information I was seeking since all relevant components are not original. Does this make sense to you Roger? I could not even find hardly anything on older 2 rail O brass EM-1's probably because they were not very common similar to how my club owns several Lionel 2 rail O locomotives that are one or two of a kind that were special made for the club.
If the motors were replaced with some more modern motors which the manufacturer of which is unknown, then what good does it do me to know who made it or what type of locomotive it is anyways?
Okay, knowing it's brass is helpful. For an O-scale 2-rail EM-1, more than likely it's either a Westside Models, Akane, or Alleghany Scale Models locomotive. They all made, or imported, EM-1's.
Originally it would have had an open frame motor, but it sounds like it's been upgraded to a can motor. Odds are the upgrade motor is a Pittman. Sometimes the drive train is upgraded at the same time as the motor, but not always. You can tell by whether the gears are open and visible, or enclosed within a gear box. Upgraded drive trains have the gear box.
The running gear on these things creates a lot of drag, so I would expect the loco by itself to pull about 0.75 amp when running with a can motor upgrade and original drive train. It should drop closer to 0.5 amp when running if the motor and drive train were both upgraded. And like I mentioned earlier, with either drive train the current draw is going to go up as you start putting cars behind it. Especially if they're not very free rolling.
So, while the Dynamis by itself should be fine for loco programing, I would definately add the booster for running trains.
Len
Quote from: Len on January 31, 2015, 06:58:55 PM
Okay, knowing it's brass is helpful. For an O-scale 2-rail EM-1, more than likely it's either a Westside Models, Akane, or Alleghany Scale Models locomotive. They all made, or imported, EM-1's.
Were all 3 of those available back in the 1950's?
I am almost certain the locomotive has 2 motors so would that affect the draw very much?
I'm not sure if all three were produced at the same time, but all were available at some point between roughly 1955 and 1962.
And the two motors is why the loco only amps would be in the 0.5 to 0.75 range, rather than 0.25 to 0.50 for a single motor. Although all of them have some discrepancies in the "piping", the Arkane model is considered the most accurate detail wise.
Len
Quote from: Len on January 31, 2015, 11:19:28 PM
the Arkane model is considered the most accurate detail wise.
I have seen a few Akane EM-1's in HO scale and they are very nicely detailed as well. The detail is pretty good on the O scale model so it may be an Akane.
I believe that Westside brought in the brass O scale EM-1. That's probably been close to 20 years ago now. Heavy duty O scale brass locos could draw around 2 amps with a big train. I would strongly consider using the booster to be safe.
Thanks for the advice Bob.