[darwins]

Line voltage, particularly on lower voltage direct current systems, is not constant.

When a train draws a heavy starting current, the line voltage may drop considerably.

(Of course power drawn, or regenerated, by other trains in the same electrical section may also cause voltage to fluctuate.)

So to fake fluctuations in a voltmeter due to the train drawing current we could do something like this:

For a nominal 600/660v dc supply.

Set voltmeter in cab display as a Type ( AMMETER GAUGE ) with the scale such that say 1000 A traction current = 430v and 0 A traction current = 630v.

All well and good, the voltmeter will now fall when the train draws a large current.

There is a problem though, we have a circuit breaker (or pantograph) and when the power is OFF we need the voltmeter to read 0v and not 630v!

This could be done using an overlay activated by Type ( PANTOGRAPH TWO_STATE ).

Is there any other solution that will give the features needed:

( a ) When pantograph is down and/or main circuit breaker is off, VOLTS = 0.

( b ) When pantograph is up and/or main circuit breaker is on, AND traction current = 0, VOLTS = line voltage.

( b ) When pantograph is up and/or main circuit breaker is on, AND traction current > 0, VOLTS < line voltage.

[Laci1959]

Hello.

Why should it be faked? Wouldn't it be better to create it?
I think it would give a more real experience than a fake.

Laci 1959

[darwins]

Laci1959, on 30 October 2022 - 11:48 PM, said:

Hello.

Why should it be faked? Wouldn't it be better to create it?
I think it would give a more real experience than a fake.

Laci 1959

I agree. That is best solution. I am just looking for something that will work until a developer can make the real thing.

[darwins]

Weter, on 31 October 2022 - 07:20 AM, said:

What if tie overlays with multistate displays, rather twostates?
Some cabs have warning lamp, which lits when undervoltage or electricity complete disappearance occurs, by the way.

Yes. True. I was thinking about a very old train that has only three gauges in the cab. Two huge moving coil meters (one for amps one for volts) plus a duplex gauge for the brake pipe and main reservoir. (Not even a speedometer much less any warning lights!)

[Weter]

And our metro EMUs had two lamps columns: presence of signal I certain circuit # and actual speed.
https://wiki.metrostroi.net/images/thumb/d/d7/Ема-502_НВЛ.jpg/480px-Ема-502_НВЛ.jpg

[Lamplighter]

This is traffic on the given track. There may be a certain number of active vehicles that load the system. But also many other factors: the number of track power plants (substations), the nature of traffic (freight/passenger transport), recuperation, etc.
Probably the easiest would be to ensure the function of random voltage changes in the trolley. E.g. -10% +5% of the voltage value for modern tracks with recuperation and -10% for other tracks.
This could be enough to create the illusion of voltage fluctuations in the traction trolley.
In real operation (e.g. in Central Europe), the situation is much more complicated. For example, on tracks where heavy coal trains run. There is a situation where the train has to wait for an appropriate moment to start.

[darwins]

Lamplighter, on 31 October 2022 - 10:59 PM, said:

In real operation (e.g. in Central Europe), the situation is much more complicated. For example, on tracks where heavy coal trains run. There is a situation where the train has to wait for an appropriate moment to start.

The drivers' instructions for an old d.c. electric locomotive here look complicated too!

https://i.imgur.com/XfvTWXK.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/QnlI8qp.jpg

[Laci1959]

Quote

In real operation (e.g. in Central Europe), the situation is much more complicated. For example, on tracks where heavy coal trains run. There is a situation where the train has to wait for an appropriate moment to start.

Hello.

The Polish EU07 Maszyna simulator is a fine example of this. One of the motors failed several times due to the increased line voltage. At that time, it was necessary to go into the engine room to switch off the failed engine and continue with three engines. Of course, the traffic always got in the way.
The engine compartment could be entered with the driver's position change function. Leading position, engine room leading position in order.

Sincerely, Laci1959

[Weter]

1. It would be better, then - to enable Volt-Amper tables acception by ORTS (for internal, rolling-stock "part"); for external "part" (I.e. contact wires network), that approach, which reputable Lamplighter mentioned, is applicable at least.
2. Yes, that's so: untill regenerated voltage grow higher, than line voltage, no recuperation possible, so only rheostatic braking is available.
Later, automatic switch devices were introduced for activating recuperation or even switch between recuperation/resistors dissipation mode.
So, if no another consumers on same network's section - recuperation is harder to apply, as voltage in line is higher.

[darwins]

Weter, on 01 November 2022 - 06:43 AM, said:

1. It would be better, then - to enable Volt-Amper tables acception by ORTS (for internal, rolling-stock "part"); for external "part" (I.e. contact wires network), that approach, which reputable Lamplighter mentioned, is applicable at least.
2. Yes, that's so: untill regenerated voltage grow higher, than line voltage, no recuperation possible, so only rheostatic braking is available.
Later, automatic switch devices were introduced for activating recuperation or even switch between recuperation/resistors dissipation mode.
So, if no another consumers on same network's section - recuperation is harder to apply, as voltage in line is higher.

For the older locos it looks like we would need to have the dc motor model as standard. Pluse we would need some additional meters for the cabview:

Line Volts = VOLTMETER ?

Motor Volts

Armature Amps = AMMETER ?

Field Amps


Also there would be additional or custom controls -

Series / Parallel Switch (See thread on manual transition)

Accelerating Lever = THROTTLE (but specific notch used for regeneration)

Regeneration Lever = DYNAMIC BRAKE

Rheostatic Brake = ? dynamic brake (Loco has separate rheostatic brake for low speed)