The Home Machinist!

First, a confession: I currently run an Allen mogul. But like the railroads I am now considering the advantages of electric diesel.
My budget only allows me to operate on the fringes of this hobby (hence building my own 2-6-0).
And now I'm seriously contemplating building an F7 (F3?) diesel.
I've decided on going electric with a PM DC motor power source.
Does anyone have a robust wiring diagram for implementing this system?
Specifically, motor specs, controller specs (I see 4QD getting great grades), and wiring, connecting everything together.
Yes, I plan to fabricate my own trucks (Blomberg) but I figure I should know what the final assembly will look like before beginning.
Using this group's Search function, I've seen great dialogs on chains or belts, 12v or 24v, etc, but I've not found a robust design from which to copy or improvise.
Rail Systems seems to have mastered this approach, but they don't currently sell pieces parts...
Bottom line: 24 volts, PM motor with plenty of power and low amperage consumption... (run all day without a recharge..)
Chet

I would go to the 4QD website. They have wiring diagrams for all of their controllers that can serve as a basic diagram for your locomotive, even if you do not purchase the 4QD. The one thing I will tell you for sure is to put a fuse in line with the + lead to the battery and controller. I have known many people frying boards when they either hook up the wires to the controller wrong, or try to pull a load that is not rated.

Look do the posts here for my request about controllers, lots of information by one member.

BTW, I live in Los Angeles, and there is a scrap electronics man in Sun Valley, Apex Electronics that sells 250-350 watt, 24 volt scooter motors for $10 each, and the controllers for them are $5.00. With a chain drive, my 1" loco can pull two of us quite fast. One member built a 1.5 scale loco with 8 of the motors on each wheel, and we did 17-20 mph one night at LALS.......

Good luck.

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C.P. Mahony
One Inch Foreman
LALS

Jeepers, cp4449. That had to have been one frightening ride! At night, no less...

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Editor - Live Steam & Outdoor Railroading
Allen Mogul under construction
Electric RS3
Stationary Steam

Thanks for the responses, but I was hoping for a recommendation that would actually offer a hook-up that included specific components.
Yes, the 4QD website is a valuable resource...
But that still leaves the selection of a PM motor (single unit with distribution to all axles), or PM motor per axle choices.
I get the sense that a PM motor per axle is excellent for smaller units, but a much larger PM motor with axle distribution is a better choice for a larger loco.
I guess the one point of info I'm pretty much committed to is the use of a PM motor, and eliminate the power drain field coils would cause...
Perhaps another member will be building a F7 or equivalent chassis and will reveal their choices...

Chet, Scooter motors can be bought through many sources. I have found many on Ebay for reasonable prices.

As for how many per trucks or per locomotive that is a personal choice. I have seen them with 1 per truck or 2 per truck. Just depends on how much pulling power, type of controller, size of batteries, or funds for all of the above.

I like you am going to be operating on the fringe of the hobby due to availability of funds. The locomotive I have in the works will be operating on 2 500W motors on the same controller Plum Cove uses in thier Generic Electric. I will have to look up the specs but should handle the 2 motors in parallel with ease. Which I would think would be the minimum you would want or need in your F7. My engine will be using reduction gearing from the motors to thier axles as I would think you F7 would need as well. But I am sure you already know that having read the chain threads. So sorry if rehashing old news.

Jason