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  • Discussion relating to the NS operations. Official web site can be found here: NSCORP.COM.
Discussion relating to the NS operations. Official web site can be found here: NSCORP.COM.
 #721538  by Kaback9
 
Will see how it works before I make any judgment on it, the paint scheme is not bad but that does not matter lets see if it runs.
 #721577  by diburning
 
hmm... runs on 1000 12volt batteries... Sounds like they thought "hmm... will 12,000 volts power 4 traction motors?" and went to Home Depot, bought 1000 lantern batteries. :wink:

Since it has 1000 batteries in it, (assuming they are rechargable), what would they do if one of the batteries fails? Take them out one by one and test them? :-D
 #723000  by bingdude
 
diburning wrote:hmm... runs on 1000 12volt batteries... Sounds like they thought "hmm... will 12,000 volts power 4 traction motors?" and went to Home Depot, bought 1000 lantern batteries. :wink:

Since it has 1000 batteries in it, (assuming they are rechargable), what would they do if one of the batteries fails? Take them out one by one and test them? :-D
Well the batteries aren't in series. Probably a series/parallel combination that comes close to 600V (if they're using the DC traction motors). It's pretty easy to lash up enough batteries to do that in the space of a GP-38. They're not regular car batteries; they have to be deep-cycle batteries.

Battery charge/discharge monitoring has improved a lot in the past 10 years. They probably have a system that keeps track of what each battery does and it might be smart enough to cut the bad battery out while still leaving the rest in and able to run.

NScorp web site doesn't say much. I wonder where they will use it? And how well does it work in cold weather?
 #724318  by Ken W2KB
 
bingdude wrote:Battery charge/discharge monitoring has improved a lot in the past 10 years. They probably have a system that keeps track of what each battery does and it might be smart enough to cut the bad battery out while still leaving the rest in and able to run.
From a news article: "The batteries in the prototype locomotive are monitored and controlled through an elaborate battery-management system to ensure safety and maximum battery life, Norfolk Southern said."