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To expand on what cjack said above about the PSX-AC's being about 5 times more than the thermal breakers, the cost of replacing the electronics in just one engine is roughly about 5 times the cost of a one PSX-AC. Possibly more if you don't do your own repairs?

rtr, if you really want to protect the electronics in the loco, install a TVS in each loco.  All the breaker does is end the sparking sooner.  Unless there's a short in the loco (in which you are already up the proverbial estuary without proper means of locomotion), the high amperage is not flowing through the electronics itself. 

The flip side of all this is that if you use a slower-acting breaker, you can use a smaller-rated breaker because it will be more forgiving of a brief overload.  Maybe the solution is a low-rated thermal (say 5 amps) and a fast acting electronic (say 10 amps), so you get the best of both worlds

RJR, I already have the PSX-AC's in operation, they are pretty impressive devices. I have PH-180's as well, which also have very impressive breakers themselves. I think they may also be electronic breakers? I know the spikes at the engine are bad, and I plan to follow GRJ's lead and advice of trying to put a TVS in my engines as I get into them (got a good supply of TVS'). That is what he said he does. So far however, I have only opened up one engine and got so wrapped up in it's problems I forgot to install the TVS...   But, I'll do better next time, and get the TVS out first thing before starting.  

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