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Pickups and Power
If you are using the 'American' system of pickup, with the wheels on one side of
each bogie 'live' (i.e. with their wheelrims in electrical contact with the axles)
then there is no need to provide separate wire pickups; the electrical connection can
be made simply to the securing screw at the top of the bolster. If, however, you are
using fully insulated wheelsets or, whilst using the 'American' system, still wish to add
pickups to the 'insulated' side of the bogie, we offer some guidelines below.
We suggest that pickups are mounted in some way on the drive train moulding
as there is very little movement between that and the wheelsets. The pickups
will not then interfere with the suspension. Various arrangements are possible and you
may already have your own preferences. Bear in mind the following:
If you fix any components to the sides of the drive unit moulding, make sure that
they do not interfere with the free movement of the drive unit within the bolster
and subframe. Limit their overall width to approximately that of the cover over the
worm drive.
If you run wires between the two articulated parts of the drive train, ensure that
they do not restrict the articulated movement.
Connecting wires should be sufficiently flexible, or routed in such a way, that they
transmit no forces arising from differential movements between the drive unit and
the bolster or loco chassis. If this condition is not met, there could be mechanical
'short circuiting' of the suspension, with wobbles and shocks being transmitted
directly from the track to the loco body.
Connecting wires should be routed clear of the rotating drive shafts.
We have used phosphor bronze wire
pickups acting on the outer edges of
the flanges at the tops of the wheels. They
act on the outer wheelsets only, as there is
limited space to fit pickups to the centre
wheels.
Pickups and Power
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(c) PenBits Model Railways, All Rights Reserved
04/05/2017