[PRCo] Re: [PRCo]

[Boris Cefer]

I think this does not say much about the rebuilt air cars. As for the 4000s,
it is not so difficult to guess they were different from each other.

B

----- Original Message -----
From: "Fred Schneider" <fwschneider at comcast.net>
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org>
Sent: Sunday, January 07, 2007 1:58 PM
Subject: [PRCo]


> HERE ARE TWO POSTS.  THE INTRODUCTIONS ARE IN CAPS, THE POSTS ARE IN
> UPPER/LOWER.   THE FIRST BORIS HAS ALREADY SEEN BECAUSE THE
> ORIGINATOR FORWARDED IT TO BORIS AS WELL.  IT PERTAINS TO THE ISSUE
> OF MG & BATTERY CAPACITY ON THE REBUILT PCCS IN PITTSBURGH.
>
> THE FIRST IS FROM RUSS JACKSON, THE ENGINEER WHO DESIGNED THE
> KAWASAKI CARS AND N5 CARS FOR SEPTA.   RUSS HAS HAD A LONG CAREER IN
> THE INDUSTRY.
>
> All - Boris is (of course) correct.  The lighting load is not
> insignificant, but under normal conditions should be within the MG's
> capacity.  The only time that the MG capacity might be exceeded is when
> you apply full track brake.  When that occurs, then the battery will
> come into play and pick up part of the load.  If you were to lose the
> MG, then a full track brake application might be a bit weaker than with
> the MG running.  On the Kawasaki cars, they run routine checks of the
> battery by turning off the MA (now a converter) and apply the track
> brake.  (only one step - full) Then you measure the voltage over time
> to get an idea of how much battery capacity is remaining.  Even though
> a battery has not failed, the capacity decreases over the years.  Don't
> know what the original problem description was, but would appear
> there's not a lot of understanding going on.
>
> cheers,  Russ
>
> Are you suggesting, Boris, that the MG or MA set did not have a
> charging rate sufficient to cover the car's full load when in
> operation at night with all lights turned on?   That perhaps they
> simply used the original MG and superimposed all the additional load
> on the battery?
>
> THE SECOND POST COMES FROM DAVE HAMLEY OF PITTSBURGH, WHO WORKED FOR
> WESTINGHOUSE AND STILL WORKS FOR THEIR SUCCESSOR, BOMBARDIER.
>
> I personally have no detailed knowledge of the 4000s electrical
> secrets.  I'll cc Jeff King, who may have some idea.
>
> I have been told that no two 4000s were alike, so there may be
> multiple answers to your question.
>
> Worse comes to it, we could examine 4004 to at least know what was
> going on late in the game.
>