Amps on hill

[shadesman89]

What do amps do below your speed
And why do decrease so much on steep hill like stevens pass?

[shadesman89]

Bump

[Chacal]

I have no idea what you are asking and I suspect it is the same for others.
Please rephrase your question in English.

[shadesman89]

Umm No durr this is English
what I am asking is in diesel locos like the es44ac the is something that says amps blow the speed sometimes 644 amps and when the throttlw is idle it is 0.00 amps anyone got any advice?

[CrimsonKing]

Amps is the measure of how much electricity is flowing to the traction motors. The diesel engine on diesel locomotives powers an electric generator and the electricity is used to turn the wheels. This is why you see RPMs but not amps when the throttle is in the idle position.

[Bananarama]

...anyone got any advice?

Stay in school.

[BNSFdude]

http://www.alkrug.vcn.com/rrfacts/amps_te.htm

[shadesman89]

Driving up a hill my amp level is decreasing is this good???

[BNSFdude]

I dunno, read the page I posted.

[Chacal]

Amps should not decrease when going uphill.
Amps decrease when the electric motors are working less: when you are coasting, or when you reduce the throttle.

What do amps do below your speed

I think I got your meaning: you were trying to ask "What does the amps gauge, below the speed gauge, do?"

[shadesman89]

Because on stevens pass with throttle at 100 percent heading to cascade tunnel my amps decreased from 765 to 654 on the hill.


I'm a train sim n00b btw

[arizonachris]

Because on stevens pass with throttle at 100 percent heading to cascade tunnel my amps decreased from 765 to 654 on the hill.

This is because, as you climb the hill, you are on a steep grade, about 1.5% or 2% I think. Then just before the tunnel (actually any tunnel, on any route, on an uphill grade) the track levels out so you are not climbing and it takes less amperage to go at that speed. In fact, your speed may increase a little. But after you exit the tunnel, in a little ways, the climb may start again, and the amperage will increase.

You can see what the % of grade the track you are on is by looking at the bottom of the F4 HUD. The white line is the track; a smooth, flat line is 0%; a line that looks like stair steps up is climbing; a line that looks like stairs down is descending. You see the percentage (%) at the left side of that track/ line. Hope that helps a little.

[GaryG]

Hi,

Steady throttle setting and Amps increasing = speed slowing. To maintain a constant speed, a bit more power might be needed.
Steady throttle setting and Amps decreasing = speed increasing. To maintain a constant speed, a bit less power might be needed.

Between approximately 5MPH and perhaps 40MPH, the same indicators sort of work for the dynamic lever setting, amps increase as the speed slows. Yes AC and DC power do act differently that's sort of covered by the 'approximately'.

One more item - the grade percentage shown at the bottom left of the F4 panel (if enabled) is the grade at the last car of the train so it isn't really much assistance in seeing if you need to raise or lower the throttle to maintain a steady speed. The staircase distance between steps is the best guide for that planning.

GaryG