I just saw an interesting thread on the Bachman forum. Talking about putting a Tsunami in their Bowser Lite Mike 2-8-2 Loco w/stock DC-71 motor. Most replies stated the motor would draw far more than the 1 amp the Tsunami is rated for. Ironically this is exactly what I was going to do. I have the Loco kit and Tsunami on order. I emailed Bowser last week asking about the need to upgrade to the Helix Humper and the reply stated the DC-71 motor is the most powerful HO Loco motor on the market today. More power typically means more current so this may not work. So my question is “Does anyone know the stall current on the new upgraded version of the DC-71?” and Has anyone ever compared or have experience with the DC-71 and the Helix Humper? I can always go with a DSX and the DC-71 but after looking over the soundtraxx website I can not find the current rating of the DSX. They list the discontinued DSD=150 as 1.5 amps but nowhere do I find the DSX? I really don’t want to go with the Helix Humper if I am going to give up pulling power. This loco and tender weigh almost two pounds. Any help in sorting this out would be appreciated. I will email Bowser tomorrow but was hoping for some info today.
Terry[8D]
Terry:
The DC-71 motor definitely pulls more current, probably 1.5a with 2.5a stall, and maybe too much for a decoder.
Contact SOUNDTRAXX for answers. You may have to retrofit a can motor like many of us with brass engines.
Tks Don. Glad I ran acrossed this before I installed the decoder.
Terry[8D]
Hi, Terry!
I have a Bowser Light Pacific with the new DC71. It doesn’t pull that much current. While I haven’t put a meter on it, I have a current limiter that lights when the current gets over about 1 amp. The Pacific doesn’t light the limiter even with the drivers slipping. The Mike shouldn’t either, since they both weigh about the same. The current at a full stall, shouldn’t apply, since about the only way that would occur on these locomotives is to press down on them with your hand hard enough to prevent the drivers from turning. Not possible to do it accidentally. And yes, it might draw a couple of amps then, but unless you’re trying to burn out the windings it just ain’t gonna happen.
If you do go to the Helix Humper, you won’t lose any power that you could measure. Personally, though, I wouldn’t bother, since the Bowser gearing and motor setup is quiet and powerful as it stands… If the Tsunami will handle up to 1 amp, and you’re really paranoid about it, then wire both filaments of a #1157 automotive bulb in series with the motor and stuff it into the tender somewhere. That way, if the motor draws more than 1 amp, it’ll light the bulb instead of frying your decoder…
Gary - Thanks for the info. I emailed Bowser so hopefully I will get a response back during the week and decide then. I really don’t want to pay another forty bucks for a motor I don’t need. Your light bulb idea is worth noting. Do you have a sound decoder in your Pacific? Just curious. Again thanks I was wondering If I had made a mistake getting a Bowser loco. Hopefully if all goes well with this one I have my eye on the Bowser Challenger kit next.
Terry[8D]
accuratelighting…goodle them, they do direct replacement motors…
David
David - I will goodle them. [:D]
Tks
Terry[8D]
Your 2-8-2 shouldn’t draw any more than 0.3 amps running free with the DC-71. As long as you keep it from stalling, it shouldn’t blow the decoder. The stall current is 2 amps. My Bowser Challenger with the new DC-71 draws an average of 0.4 amps running free, but that’s because it has two drives in it, plus a piece of flexible drive tubing. So the Tsunami shouldn’t have a problem with the Bowser motor.[:D]