Kato Centram & Portram LRV operating voltages

[LoganSr]

I have two Kato Centram/Portram LRV's & was wondering what the maximum operating voltage is that these cars can take & if a standard DC power pack is safe to use or could it damage them, so should I use a Kato power pack only ?

 

Logan

[KenS]

Kato's power pack puts out about 14V (it says 12V on the side, but that's not correct, at least not with their standard U.S. wall-wart).  So they'll work at least with 14V, and they're probably safe with any 16V U.S. HO pack (I don't think I'd use one of the 20V MRCs though).

 

The same isn't necessarily true of other Japanese trams, as some of those are designed for ~9-10V packs, and it's unclear what a larger one would do.

 

That said, on DC if you don't turn the throttle up too far, it's only putting out 5-7 volts anyway, so anything is safe.

[LoganSr]

Thanks for the info Ken.

 

Logan

[Guest Closed Account 1]

I remember from a failed DCC install that each motor is not 6v but, 3-4v.

 

I use the Kato basic controller at half throttle. That's close to 20mph prototypical speed.

[cteno4]

they are 3v motors but have a voltage drop down circuit on them so they max out around 8-10v of track power, if memory serves me right. 

 

you are fine as long as you just run them at reasonable speeds.