number of multible engines
how many locomotives can I run on DC power? I also have 6 lights and 4 switches connected to the acc. on the transformer. I think I am underpowered? I can run two locos for about 15 minutes and the transformer begins to get warm, not hot. Do I need a second power pack/transformer? Is there an alternative way to power accessories?
thanks
The answer to your question would actually be two different answers. First, it largely depends on the transformer you use. With a large enough transformer, you could run up to 4 or 5 engines at a time for however long you wanted, without having to worry about the transformer burning out. Second, it also depends on what brand of engines you're running, as some pull quite a bit more power than others.
I run Atlas engines together. The power packs I use are two MRC 9500 power command transformers. These put out an enormous amount of power and were designed to run multible engines. Each has two gauges, telling me how much power the engines are actually pulling, aqainst what the existing track power is while doing so. Plus, if there's ever anything wrong anywhere either with the track or with my engines, my gauges will tell me immediately. With each of these transformers I can run 4 or 5 engines together. However, because of my layout being only a 4 x 8, I normally just run two engines with each freight as I don't really have the room to run any more than that while still making the entire scene look real.
Atlas, and Athearn Genesis engines are the easiest to run with multible engines, as these use the least amount of power. They can also be mixed together and run with one other with no problem at all. Some Katos don't draw much power either, but then a few do. Some of the new Athearns can also be run with either each other or with either Atlas or some Katos or some Athearn Genesis without any problem as well. However, all of the older Athearn engines pulled a large amount of power and the results with them varied. The same with some of the Protos because some of them draw a lot of power as well.
Like some of the others here have correctly pointed out, the engines that draw a lot of power will put a drag on those that hardly draw any power at all. And if this is done for a long enough period of time, some of these engines could be damaged because of it.
So in the final analysis, I would have to say if you want to run multible engines for however much time that you want without damaging either the transformers or the engines, start with the purchase of a transformer that was built to do just that, running multible engines. Then experiment with your engines. Then depending on the brand or brands you run together, this will be the final deciding factor of how many of them you'll be able to run together at one time.
Be advised though, there are some models of different brands that just cannot be run in multibles, not because of what transformer you're using, but because some engines will just simply fight against one another when being run together. This is particularly the case with some of the lower end models. Unfortunate, but true.
~Routerman
