Just wondering. This is been bugging me. I have just bought an MTH Z-1000 transformer and when I press the whistle button, the whistle sounds like it’s supposed to, but my MTH engine speeds up to a certain degree. I am running this engine in conventional mode. Is this normal? It didn’t do it when I ran it with a Lionel CW-80 transformer in conventional mode. I guess I’m being too particular though.
Thanks guys and gals.[bow]
Your question is rather interesting and deserves to be delved into a bit. Yes it is normal for certain model transformers to give a boost in voltage when the horn/whistle or bell buttons are pressed. That boost circuitry is built into your MTH Z-1000 and my MTH Z-4000, as well. The voltage LED’s on the Z4k show very clearly the increased voltage–about one volt–when a button is pressed.
Some locos are very efficient, running at a good clip with as little as seven or eight volts input. The boost circuitry may jolt those rockets to higher speed when one of the sound effects buttons is pressed. Other engines may require a higher voltage to run at similar speeds, i.e. sixteen or more volts to show some zip; this less efficient engine may drop its running speed greatly when one of the sound buttons is pressed, so the boost circuitry can help to minimize or eliminate a decrease in speed when you toot the horn, for example.
The Lionel CW-80 transformer (I have one) does include boost circuitry–it just isn’t as apparent as it is with the MTH units (probably less of a boost).
I formerly owned an MRC Pure Power Dual transformer, which does not employ boost circuitry, and pressing the whistle button would cut speeds dramatically–some engines slowed to nearly a crawl.
Hope this answered your question.
I have not noticed that as yet with my Z1000 with my MTH 4-8-4 steam loco, I am running it with DCS in command mode. Maybe the DCS unit controls voltage better than just a transformer.
If you can afford it try running it with a DCS TIU & the handheld remote.
Lee F.
Donna, I agree with your explanation except for a quibble with your mention of efficiency. While different locomotives do run at different speeds and voltages, this does not reflect on their efficiency, which is units mechanical power out per unit of electrical power in. I have modified some of my locomotives by putting their motors in series. This doubles the voltage required for any particular speed and halves the current drawn at that speed. But the electrical power remains the same, and so therefore does the efficiency.
Your point is well taken, Bob. I should have placed quotation marks around the word “efficiency” to indicate that the term was not being used in it most literal meaning.