I HAVE A 789 CLASS SANTA FE 2-8-0 SAMHONGAS ENGINE ( HO ) I BROUGH IN THE MID 70 ND . PAID $116.00 FOR IT. I HAVE USED IT FOR ALL THESE YEARS, A LITTLE MAINTANCE OVER THE YEARS BUT HAS SERVERED ME WELL. THEN CAME " DCC ". I WANT TO CONVERT IT TO RUN ON " DCC ". WANT TO PUT SOUND INTO IT, "WOW ". I KNOW THE PRICE FOR THE COVERSION. NO PROBLEM! BUT IS IT NESSARY TO CHANGE THE MOTOR. IT STILL RUNS FINE ( DID CHANGE THE BRUSHERS A COUPLE OF TIMES. NO PROBLEMS ). I LOOKED INTO NWSL AND BELIEVE A CAN MOTOR WILL FIT, ( NO PROBLEM ). I WOULD GUESS THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN HASHED OVER AND OVER BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANY BLUB ON IT.
I HOPE I CAN GET SOME HELP, THANKS EDDIE ( MS COAST ).
The issue is current draw. You need to find out your stall current then use that number to find a suitable decoder. If you swap out the Motor with a NWSL, then you will have no issues.
David B
As long as you can isolate both brushes from the motor frame, an open frame motor can be used with DCC. The only other consideration is to make sure that the decoder you install can handle the motor current - which is typically much higher than that of an equivalent can motor.
If your present motor has been giving satisfactory service, it should continue to do so. As the old mechanics’ saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with open frame motored locomotives)