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The normal power rating of the decoder must be more than the normal power consumption of the loco. You can test the power consumption of the loco by adding an ammeter in series with a DC controller and powering up the loco.
Testing the loco in various conditions gives you an idea as to it's power consupmtion.
- Start-up
- Normal running and at full speed
- Holding the loco but the buffers with slipping wheels - as if it has too many carriages attached
(whatever is the highest of the previous 3 values is the normal consumption)
- Blocking the wheels (for a very short period) with power applied (this will be the maximum consumption)
The newer decoders have protection for a short burst of power consumption over the normal level and some decoders have a cut-out that protects the decoder before it fries.
Normal ammeters will not measure the correct amperage on a DCC track as the signal is not quite AC or DC. There do exist special ammeters for DCC, here is one.
Testing the loco in various conditions gives you an idea as to it's power consupmtion.
- Start-up
- Normal running and at full speed
- Holding the loco but the buffers with slipping wheels - as if it has too many carriages attached
(whatever is the highest of the previous 3 values is the normal consumption)
- Blocking the wheels (for a very short period) with power applied (this will be the maximum consumption)
The newer decoders have protection for a short burst of power consumption over the normal level and some decoders have a cut-out that protects the decoder before it fries.
Normal ammeters will not measure the correct amperage on a DCC track as the signal is not quite AC or DC. There do exist special ammeters for DCC, here is one.
