Last year I bought an electronic E unit and converted my james Gang set engine to AC. I was under the impression that these DC engines couldn't be run on AC.
Tonight at my club as we were leaving, a younger member showed me the James Gang set he had with him (given to him by his Dad, I feel so old
) and he told he's always run it with his other trains. With AC I asked and he said yes, no problems. Huh?
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I've acquired several of these engines over the years, mostly to repaint or use for parts. They have always been DC. I would think the Dad either put a diode in to allow it to run on AC or also did an e-unit conversion. Were you able to examine the engine?
KC
I looked at the can motor in the cab and saw no e-unit. I'll give it a real good look next time I go to the club.
Could be his dad put a smaller e-unit in the boiler space. When I got my electronic E-unit from Lionel the smaller one was no longer available.
Bill,
I've removed a few small e units from Potter locos. They are new, if you need one let me know.
There were several version in the Modern era: Pulmore, DC can with Electronic E unit, and DC Can. G
Dave and GGG Thanks for offer and info. I installed a 4 prong tether from the motor to the tender, where I had ample room for the electronic E-unit.
The BIG question will AC damage a DC can motor, fact or fiction?
I verified with my fellow club member this morning, that he and his Dad did run the James Gang engine on the same track as his Lionel diecast steamer, (which we ran on the club layout last night).
They only run on "49" volts!
Prior to perfecting the bridge rectifier, MPC made a number of DC only engines,
including the 8001 and 8007 remakes of the PW K-4. .
Running these engines on AC power will burn out the engines, and I have several
"shelf queen" examples of these engines as proof. Including one that I ruined when the Lionel AC to DC adapter failed to work.
Unless altered by a former owner, the James Gang engine is one of the DC only class.
Ken
The James Gang wasn't the only 4-4-0 American Standard / General from the MPC era, perhaps somebody changed shells for whatever reason (damage, etc.).
If you run a DC can motor on AC, it simply won't run. It could damage it if you leave it on too long or crank up the voltage too high. The back-EMF from the motor running limits the current using DC, but since it won't spin with AC, it will just get hot. If he's running a straight can motor locomotive on AC, there's a rectifier in the picture somewhere.
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