Does anyone know what the DC voltage is at the traction motors of say an SD40 ? What is it on a newer AC ?
about 1250 volts on DC locomotives.
Randy
The DC engines that I’ve been on have signs warning of 600 volts. The AC’s warn of 3000 volts.
Yeah. I thought the DC TM’s have a 600VDC rating???
With a limitation of 600 volts, raising locomotive horsepower would not be possible. 600 volts is nominal. Believe me , I’ve been loadboxing engines for many years.
Randy
As diodes have improved, the voltage has gone up. Having higher voltage available means you don’t have to do field shunting to maintain HP at the high end of the speed range. The GP35, with it’s DC main gen had a nightmare of transition and field shunting steps in order to keep 2500 HP going to the motors at max speed. A GP40-2 can keep full HP at full speed without any transition or field shunting because it can get higher voltage out of the traction alternator (rectified to DC by diodes)
You think the GP 35 was bad try the SD24 or the SD35 LOL!!!
Randy