Getting the maximum performance from your trains
The
following ideas have been discussed to address high current capacity
considerations so that multiple powered locos can pull very long
passenger trains effortlessly.
Titans
The Titans have 6 Amp continuous motor current capability for the most demanding motors and loads.
The Titan opens up the prospect of using several locos to adequately pull really long trains.
No, the Titan does not have a slave counterpart.
One complete unit per loco is it.
Besides, there would be no separate effective RTC.
Having the QSI Titan in all ones locos provides complete RTC
(Regulated Throttle Control) equalization, balancing the load among all
locos.
Titans will compensate for any non-Titan equipped locos in the consist.
Long passenger trains result in a lot of lights, which are capable of adding a significant secondary load to the Power Supply.
See Dallee LIGHTING
to reduce the load from typically up to 2 Amps per car to 0.1
Amps (100 mA) per car, and get adjustable brightness and constant
voltage regulation too.
AC & AC/TMCC
When operating in AC or AC/TMCC there are no components that limit the track current beyond that of the transformer(s).
DC & DC/QARC
When operating in DC or DC/QARC there are no components that limit the Power Controller current.
DC is directly from the Power Controller straight to the track.
With QARC, the Power Controller current in excess of 3 Amps must go thru the Quantum Engineer Booster to the track, to prevent Quantum Engineer burnout.
The Quantum Engineer has a track current limit of 3 Amps. Any current significantly more will fry the relay contacts.
The
required Quantum Engineer Booster has 50 Amp relay contacts, so one can safely
employ the Quantum Engineer (which feeds the Quantum Engineer Booster)
for all 18 of the effects, at any operating speed, without limitation.
While it may never be desirable, it is possible to operate up to 30 Boosters from 1 Quantum Engineer.
The DC/QARC system is for 1 (Loco or Loco Consist) train at a time.
One could have several different tracks, each powered by it's own Controller and QSI QARC accessories.
DCC: Wired Tether to Cab
However, when one wants to operate 2 or more trains on the same track, DCC becomes the control of choice.
Due
to available product limitations with power distribution to the track
with the necessary DCC signals imposed, some special arrangements must
be made.
For track power with the DCC signals imposed, there may
have to be blocks which are short enough that an entire passenger train
cannot be on one block, actually no more than 5-6 cars. It all depends
upon the power available.
Each block requires a separate Booster. The Power Controller is connected to all of the Booster's' power inputs, up to the current limit of the Controller. Then more Power Controller(s) may be required.
The DCC Signal is Daisy Chained to all of the Boosters. The Cab is plugged into one of the Boosters.
DCC Wireless Cab
For the wireless Cab, the Cab's Receiver is plugged into one of the Boosters.
The maximum current that can be handled by the Boosters is 10 Amps each.
No, they cannot have their outputs wired in parallel.
Booster Comparisons List
So, 10 Amp Power Supply Controllers each connected to a 10 Amp Booster and limit
passenger trains to pulling no more than 10 Amps (to be determined by
the operator - as not all lighting circuits are the same) would allow
any lengthy blocks. I.E. shorter or longer than the train(s) running thru
them.
Example: Use 3 locos drawing 2 Amps each pulling 20 Passenger cars.
ASSUME
Total motor current of 6 Amps
Total Loco operating current of 1.5 A
Passenger car current with LED Constant voltage lighting drawing a total of 2 Amps
GET
Total train operating current is 9.5 Amps
Just under the maximum Booster capabilities of 10 Amps.
GWire
While blocks are "nice" there is a simpler and more elegant solution:
It is called GWire.
At present there is only one manufacture of a GWire Cab.
NCE makes a GWire Pro Cab. It provides all 18 functions for up to 15 locomotive consists.
With GWire receivers in each loco, the problem associated with Boosters is eliminated.
Track power is handled by having blocks for each Power Controller, of which there would be fewer than with the Booster approach.
Note
that there is no requirement or need for the QSI QARC accessories when
running DCC. In fact, while operating under DCC, any QARC signals will
be ignored.
Without Boosters, (GWire only) one could use even more powerful Power Supply Controllers, and less of them.
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Comments , corrections, questions, improvements are welcomed for the STR AC/DCC presentation
Click on the Blue link to email STR
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Updated 5 Decemberber 2011
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