Trix Ontario Northlander set

[Paradise275]

Hi.
I have the Trix Ontarion Northlander passenger train and have installed DCC in it.
Using a Digitrax 100 power supply it runs slowly on the "N" setting. It runs better on the "HO" setting but that's too much for other locos running on the same layout. I've been told that mos European locos run better on the thigher setting.
Question. Should I re-motor the loco with a North American motor that uses less power?

Rick

[peteski]

I'm not sure if the motor is your problem.  If you run that model without a decoder (on DC) does it run noticeable slower than other DC locomotives you own?  Maybe it is just geared slower.

All N scale models (from all manufacturers) are designed for max speed at 12 VDC.  But there is also a wide range of what the manufacturer considers a maximum speed. Again, that depends on several factors.

The motor could be the culprit, but it is not because of its current draw.  The decoder should be able to provide all the current the motor needs at whatever voltage you have the DCC booster set to.  That is why you should compare the speed of that model to others you have using straight DC and no decoder.   You will most likely see the difference in speed, even in DC.

Even motors from different manufacturers all run at different rpms at some given voltage. However I have never seen anybody post analysis of various manufacturers motors (stating specs such as current consumption or rpms at various voltages).  Actually, that would come in very handy for re-motoring.

I suppose that if you find a motor which will run at higher rpms than the original motor, you could re-motor your model and it will run faster.  Re-motoring will be easier than re-gearing.  Using a Kato motor might do the trick - Kato models seem to be speed-demons. But I don't know if that is due to gearing or to the higher rpms of the motor.

[Paradise275]

Thanks Peteski.
The decoder is a 6 pin one and it kept bouncing loose so I had to solder it in.

Maube that's my problem. However, some of the club members also run European locos and they say they run better on the HO setting as well.

Rick

[spookshow]

If you have a decoder installed and are running it on a DCC layout, can't you just use the decoder settings to get the desired speed range? Or maybe I'm missing something...?

Cheers,
-Mark

[peteski]

If you have a decoder installed and are running it on a DCC layout, can't you just use the decoder settings to get the desired speed range? Or maybe I'm missing something...?

Cheers,
-Mark

The way I understood the question was that even ad the absolute maximum speed step in DCC mode the model was still not going fast enough for his liking.  Can't make it go faster.  By increasing the DCC voltage at the booster, that will result in the absolute maximum speed of the motor driven by the decoder to also get an extra boost.  Kind of like taking a DC loco and running it off a throttle which goes up to 14V (instead of the standard 12v).