Trofimow

Before my time. Obviously I missed out on some fun...

A featured gimmick perhaps....

That is standard practice in analogue applications such as brushes for automotive alternators or high power electric tools. The currents involved may be higher, but the principle is similar.

Which is similar to my experience, but gives pause for thought. My points, of which there are lots, all use autofrogs, which need an instantaneous short to work. I wonder if running over a succession of these on a points ladder could have an effect on the springs. The pickups didn't last very long on my layout.

Respect to anybody who takes on the task of doing this mod to make the loco run properly. It's a real shame that what is otherwise such an excellent model requires such input. One has to wonder why it was felt necessary to use a pick up design so far removed from proven practice, and how extensively it was tested to prove the reliability of the implementation.

Provided it was mounted above the lighting gallows and end plates, it would not be a problem to the Industrial branch operator, but it would be more to transport, set up and break down, and there's plenty of that already.

They are 3D printed and the material can be a bit brittle. Fine in normal use, but probably not best suited to repeated plugging and unplugging.

At the time I was having repeated failures of the pickups, my Lenz DCC system was only delivering 12.4V at the rail, and the layout instrumentation was not showing any greater than normal current draw, so I don't think DCC vs DC is an issue.

I've also had this happen. I use malware bytes and not McAfee. A scan came up clean.

I concluded that the only way to make mine behave satisfactorily would be to retro fit wiper pickups. Something I was not prepared to faff about doing to an expensive new model, so it went back for a refund. IMHO those plunger pickups as fitted will never be satisfactory. I just hope that Rapido will not use the design on any future models.

What a fascinating and informative thread - which goes a long way to explaining the performance issues I have been seeing with some locos and why my sole stay alive fitted loco behaves strangely. RM Web at its best. I run Lenz with 10 amps available power, normal load is around 7.5 amps. The system is fed from Lenz TR 150 transformers which provide 15 volts into the command station and booster. I am seeing 13.8 volts out of the command station, even after maxing out the voltage adjustment CVs. By the time it has gone through the PSX breakers and LDT occupancy detectors, there is only 12.4 volts at the rail. The loco recoder will reduce the voltage available at the motor even further. Measurement is done with a RRAmmeter, Alpha meter and my digital multimeter, which all agree. Looks like I need to replace the Lenz transformers with something providing a minimum of 18 volts. Must check what the spec is for the maximum input voltage to the command station and booster.

I understand that The Wolsztyn depot have not applied to renew the PolRegio contract when the current period expires. The PT47 is now below 1000 Kms left on the tyres and no new blanks are available.

I guess I may be a little unusual in that I have a large layout designed for intensive operation and I DO require my locos to work reliably for their keep . It does very quickly reveal any shortcomings.

Quite so. The pt47 is the only remaining loco in ticket, and only has around 1200 k remaining tyre wear and various other mechanical issues. There's a small shunting loco, but nothing else in the pipeline to take over the regular services as far as I am aware.

PM sent.