High Current Consumption on Aristo GP-40

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electricity_bill

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Hello again
I have just unpacked my brand new Aristo GP-40 (Art-23500-01) which I bought on EBay recently. I put it on my DCC controlled track which uses the Masooth system and set it to run in analogue mode. I switched off the smoke unit and switched the motor on via track power and the lights to on. It was making the high pitched hum that you normally get when running an analogue loco on DCC.
I was surprised to see that it was pulling about 0.7amp at standstill and 2.3amp running alone. I thought that the current consumption was too high so I switched off fearing a fault and headed for my PC.
Any ideas?
Bill
 
hmmm... 2.3 running light does sound rather high. I think my larger Aristo SD45 and class 66 took a little over 1.5 amps when first fired up on rollers, then settled back down a bit after running in.

If you've read posts of mine before you'll probably have gathered I'm really not a fan of running unchipped locos on DCC "pseudo analogue" mode. 0.7 amps at standstill on a DCC track doesn't surprise me at all, you'll have some current going through the motors all the time plus the lights of course.

Can you stick it on a proper DC supply with an ammeter? The more modern locos like the 66 have a microcontroller running some of the lighting, it may be your GP40 has one of those and it may not like the DCC power. Also, with a new loco it's better to turn up the wick gently at first (in case there is a fault/short or whatever) rather than subject it to full voltage straight off (as plonking it on DCC does).
 
I concur with Nick.
What's more Nick's examples, the SD45 and Class 66, are four motor locos whereas your GP 40 is only a twin motor job so I'd be surprised if your loco in good condition would take much more than 1 amp running light with the smoke switched off.
 
Hi Bill
If you have copies of the Garden Railways mag they did a review of the GP40 in there loco reviews they always state the Amps drawn running light and starting off if i find my copy will check the amps .
I have a USA Trains PA that only has two motors but are very heavy on the amps drawing up to 5 amps .
 
I have a GP 40 from new and it will draw up to 2 amps running with motor and lights while on DC depending on the gradients etc, obviously even more if hauling a load. Its stall amp draw can be 5 to 6 amps! USA Trains double motor locos draw even more...up to 11amps .
On DCC it will draw more due to the fact, as Neli and Nick have already said, that the motors are using power as are the lights and their circuit resistance even at rest.
 
Bill,
the GP40 was made at the time that Sanda Kan was being liquidated, prior Kader (Bachmann) purchasing the company. The GP40 drive blocks are not known for being quality drives. They apparently are inferior to other Aristo drive blocks and tend to be noisy, draw high current and are unreliable. The block cannot be compared favourably with the excellent twin motor blocks from Aristo. They were a purpose designed block for the GP40.

I seem to recall a swap arrangement is available on defective blocks from Aristo. You could post this topic on the Aristo forum and see what options are available. It is common knowledge that GP40 drive blocks made at the time of the Sanda Kan collapse were prone to be problematic.
 
Richie said:
Hi Bill
If you have copies of the Garden Railways mag they did a review of the GP40 in there loco reviews they always state the Amps drawn running light and starting off if i find my copy will check the amps .
I have a USA Trains PA that only has two motors but are very heavy on the amps drawing up to 5 amps .
Click to expand...


Hi Bill
Have just found the write up in Garden Railways the current draw at 24v is 2.5 amps .
 
Result
Replacement trucks arrived from Aristo this morning and are fitted and runnnig normally with a light engine draw of only 1Amp with the lights on. Great service from Aristocraft.
Thanks for your help.
Bill
 
A truly great result. Would we have even know that the trucks were dodgy and a replacement available FOC if not for Tims post - Nice one.
 
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