Traction Motors/tr: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 00:00, 4 April 2025

Motorized rail vehicles with electric drivetrains are propelled by traction motors. These are electric motors that are typically positioned around vehicles' axles, and rely on electricity to run.

When throttle is operated on electric vehicles, electrical power is delivered from the power source to the motors, through a series of different components. On diesel-electric vehicles the response may be a bit delayed, because the engine needs to spool up in order to generate the required power.

At very low vehicle speeds traction motors produce high torque with high electric current. As the speed increases, however, traction motors produce increasingly more counter-electromotive force. This force opposes the supply voltage, causing both current and torque to drop. The faster the vehicle goes, the more power it needs to maintain the same acceleration.

For this reason, it is crucial to add the throttle notch by notch, and always keep the current at a nominal level, by carefully observing the ammeter and traction motor temperature gauges, and not letting any go into red.

When an electric vehicle accelerates under heavy load, it can be exposed to a high current for a prolonged period. This can warm up the traction motors . Depending on the session difficulty settings , traction motors may trip their breaker when they overheat, or much worse - short-circuit and set the vehicle on fire. A very high current surge can trip the breaker even before it comes to overheating, although still at a risk of damage.

Damage to electrical powertrain can result in individual traction motors seizing to work. Since electric vehicles usually have more than one motor, power is automatically distributed to the remaining operational ones. With fewer driving axles on a vehicle, wheelslip is more likely to occur, however.

An electric vehicle's traction can be improved by adding a slug .

On some electric vehicles, traction motors can dynamically reconfigure their circuits to better optimize load on the generator. This is called “transition”, and results in brief disengagements of traction motors at certain speeds. This is normal behavior.

For the TMs to be operational, the TM breaker or breakers must be enabled.

For the traction motors to be operational, respective breakers need to be enabled.

Installing an amp limiter , or overheat protection gadgets, makes it easier to manage traction motors' load and temperature.

One of the advantages of traction motors is their rheostatic and regenerative braking ability.

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-Electric and diesel-electric vehicles carry electric motors onboard, also known as “traction motors” (TM, for short). They are typically located around individual wheel axles, and rely on electricity to be spun and to propel the vehicle.
+{{pll|Rail Vehicle Types|Motorized rail vehicles}} with {{pll|Electric Powersource|electric drivetrains}} are propelled by traction motors. These are electric motors that are typically positioned around vehicles' axles, and rely on {{pll|Electricity|electricity}} to run.
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-When the throttle control device is operated in such a vehicle, onboard systems send the desired electrical power to the traction motors. On a diesel-electric vehicle, this indirectly adjusts fuel injection to the engine, changing its spin rate as needed to generate the required electricity.
+When {{pll|Throttle|throttle}} is operated on electric vehicles, electrical power is delivered from the {{pll|Electric Powersource|power source}} to the motors, through a series of different components. On {{pll|Powertrains Overview|diesel-electric}} vehicles the response may be a bit delayed, because the engine needs to spool up in order to generate the required power.
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-The faster the TMs spin, the more they generate the counter-electromotive force. This reduces the electric current that flows through them and the power output they produce. So, given the same throttle position, if the vehicle is moving slowly TMs will receive higher current than if the vehicle was moving fast.
+At very low vehicle speeds traction motors produce high torque with high electric current. As the speed increases, however, traction motors produce increasingly more counter-electromotive force. This force opposes the supply voltage, causing both current and torque to drop. The faster the vehicle goes, the more power it needs to maintain the same acceleration.
 </div>
 <div lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr">
-The electric current is important because, if it gets too high, it is what heats up the TMs. Depending on the session difficulty settings, when overheated the TMs may pop the breaker, or much worse – short-circuit and set the vehicle on fire. Very high current can pop the breaker even before causing overheating, although at less of a risk for damage.
+For this reason, it is crucial to add the throttle notch by notch, and always keep the current at a nominal level, by carefully observing the ammeter and traction motor temperature gauges, and not letting any go into red.
 </div>
 <div lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr">
-This is why at low speeds, and especially when climbing positive grades under load, it is critical to apply or reduce the throttle gently, notch by notch and keep the current at a nominal level, by carefully observing the ammeter gauge.
+When an electric vehicle accelerates under heavy load, it can be exposed to a high current for a prolonged period. This can {{pll|Powertrain Overheating|warm up the traction motors}}. Depending on the session {{pll|Difficulty|difficulty settings}}, traction motors may trip their {{pll|Breakers|breaker}} when they overheat, or much worse - {{pll|Electrical Powertrain Damage|short-circuit}} and set the vehicle on fire. A very high current surge can trip the breaker even before it comes to overheating, although still at a risk of damage.
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 <div lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr">
-The driver must ensure that the current doesn’t lead to uncontrollable overheating of the drivetrain.
+{{pll|Electrical Powertrain Damage|Damage to electrical powertrain}} can result in individual traction motors seizing to work. Since electric vehicles usually have more than one motor, power is automatically distributed to the remaining operational ones. With fewer driving axles on a vehicle, {{pll|Wheelslip|wheelslip}} is more likely to occur, however.
 </div>
 <div lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr">
-As vehicles with electric drivetrains usually have more than one TM, in case of any one failing its power may be distributed to some of the ones that are still operational. Due to the power being distributed to a smaller amount of wheels, wheelslip is easier to occur. On the other hand, it is possible to add more TMs to a vehicle and improve its traction quality beyond original specifications, by utilizing a slug.
+An electric vehicle's {{pll|Traction Overview|traction}} can be improved by adding a {{pll|Slug|slug}}.
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-On some diesel-electric vehicles, TMs change their circuits at certain speeds to better optimize the load on the generator. This is called “transition”, and it may result in a brief disengagement of the TMs. This is normal behavior.
+On some electric vehicles, traction motors can dynamically reconfigure their circuits to better optimize load on the generator. This is called “transition”, and results in brief disengagements of traction motors at certain speeds. This is normal behavior.
 </div>
+<div class="mw-translate-fuzzy">
 For the TMs to be operational, the TM breaker or breakers must be enabled.
+</div>
 <div lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr">
-For the TMs to be operational, the TM breaker or breakers must be enabled.
+For the traction motors to be operational, {{pll|Breakers|respective breakers}} need to be enabled.
+</div>
+<div lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr">
+Installing an {{pll|Amp Limiter|amp limiter}}, or {{pll|Overheating Protection|overheat protection}} gadgets, makes it easier to manage traction motors' load and temperature.
 </div>
 <div lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr">
-Installing an amp limiter or overheat protection gadgets allows prevention of overloading the TMs.
+One of the advantages of traction motors is their {{pll|Rheostatic & Regenerative Brake|rheostatic and regenerative braking}} ability.
 </div>
-{{See also|Powertrain Overheating|Electrical Powertrain Damage|Breakers|Electric Powersource|Throttle|Slug|Rail Vehicle Types|Difficulty|Amp Limiter}}
 [[Category:Electric & Diesel-Electric|2]]