Some decoders have thermal protection.
If the decoder builds up too much heat, it will simply shut down.
While this is considered "overload" protection by some,
it is not. An overload can happen long before a decoder overheats,
and can quickly destroy a decoder. As far as I know, nobody makes
a decoder with true overload (circuit breaker, so to speak) protection.
If your loco stops running after
a while, chances are it shut down due to overheating. If this is the
case, it should run OK again after it has had a chance to cool down.
However, it is not advisable to operate a loco where this happens
on a continual basis. Heat is the enemy. If you have a decoder that
regularly shuts down due to thermal protection, that excessive heat
will eventually destroy the decoder. You need to make provision for
better cooling, or get a decoder with a higher amperage rating.
When you consider that most diesel
loco shells are sealed boxes, you can see that there is no place for
heat from the motor and decoder to go. As the heat inside the shell
builds up, less and less can transfer from the decoder to the surrounding
hot air. Many people open the vents in the loco's cooling fans - even
if they don't have a thermal problem. This allows the hot air to get
out, while pulling cool air in from the bottom. The cooler the decoder
operates, the longer it will last. |
