Pulse power for any motor

[Chris333]

http://www.malcolmsminiatures.co.uk/PICHH+-+hand+held+PICtroller

We use Pictrollers on Copenhagen Fields, these are a development of the Pentroller designed by Stuart Hine  some 30 years ago. Both of these send a pulse which tests the motor characteristics and then sets itself to provide a PWM that the motor can handle. I remember having long discussions with Stuart about how this could be done, I know look-up tables were talked about. With all the various converted and scratch built locos we have there must be over twenty different motors running. In all the years I cannot remember much overheating or burnt out motors, worn out yes as they may run over 2 or 3 actual miles a day at exhibition.

[Simon D.]

'Note the PICtroller is not suitable for use with some DCC fitted locomotives.'

[peteski]

*ALL* DCC decoders already use PWM for driving the motor (and for lighting effects for the function outputs), with some brands of the decoders having more adjustability of the PMW characteristics  than others.  Its been like that since pretty much the beginnings of DCC.

There are also some PWM-based DC throttles. Again, some have adjustable PMW parameters, some don't.  What Chris is referring to is a PWM-based DC throttle which has some "smarts" built-in that adjust the PWM parameters based on a measurement (of the motor's characteristics) it performs before it is cranked up.

That might work well for running single locos (as often is the case on European layouts), but it will not make much difference when running multi-unit lash-ups (of units with different motors) as it is often done on Amurican layouts.

Most DCC decoders do not have the ability to auto-magically match the PWM characteristics to the motor they drive, except for ESU with its auto-tune routine.