I'm doing some testing here. Does anyone happen to know the approximate maximum amps drawn by a late model Lionel engine like the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express?
I'm trying to figure out if that would ever exceed 2 amps.
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I think mine, with its three lighted passengers cars, and smoke unit in, draws just over 2 amps.
Originally Posted by Flash:
I think mine, with its three lighted passengers cars, and smoke unit in, draws just over 2 amps.
That about right. I have one of the locos, not the passenger cars, but what I see works out to about that if you would add in three lighted cars.
I think you will find that if you run the loco with the smoke unit switched off, it will only draw about 200mA. A smoke unit draws considerable power.
The original poster was asking about the loco, not the entire set.
If you do not use the smoke unit (*wise move, IMHO*) you will find that your draw will be about one little bitty unit.
(*Just think about how much money you will save not having to fork out the change for smoke juice. Another plus, If you don't smoke you will save the lungs of those you love and hold dear*)
Thanks you guys. That's exactly what I needed to know. That's interesting about the smoke unit.
Originally Posted by gigasaurus:
I'm doing some testing here. Does anyone happen to know the approximate maximum amps drawn by a late model Lionel engine like the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express?
I'm trying to figure out if that would ever exceed 2 amps.
To answer the last question it rather depends on your layout and the number of cars
I pull up to 12 cars (only 4 lighted) and I do have inclines on my layout
on the flat 8-10V at 1.8 amps but once you hit the inclines 15V at 3.2 amps
both of these figures with smoke ON
If your question relates to the power requirements of your transformer then my advice is buy the largest that you can afford
Thanks very much Mason. What I'm actually doing is working on a small circuit board that you can stick into any existing conventional train and have it behave like a TMCC-style loco operated from your iphone. The project is going well, but I need to have an expectation as to maximum current draws from the locomotives as well as power outputs from the transformers so the chips on the board can be designed with that in mind. It sounds like these are well within spec. One of our test engines is a hogwarts.
Another quirk I ran into is I opened a couple of 70's engines (a Santa Fe 8755 and a DT&I Yardmaster switcher) and I found that these use a completely different motor than the other trains. So I'm having to examine these and make sure my board can accommodate them as well. I'm wondering if I am going to find more anomalies out there.
Thanks for the information. The more I learn about this stuff the more I realize I don't know.
You better think about surge current at start up and stall. Usually the e-units have 3 amp rated motor transistors for the small DC can motors. If you are running larger or dual motors then 6 and 8 amp units are used. G
