D-17000 Batteries

None of the D17000 literature I have shows anything higher than 32v. Does yours have direct start and generator using that 72V? I suppose you could just keep ganging batteries together until you got there. About forty+ years back Cat still listed a non AABM group size/non SAE type 8v battery with a Cat #1P39/40 that was 19 inches long x 7-1/4 inches wide and 10-9/16 inches high with a 165 to 195 amp/hr rating but I don't know if it's available anymore.

Batteries have changed a lot since back then where one diagram I have calls out a 15 cell battery

Is there maybe a parallel switch in the system?

hello ,this is the traction motor , it may help to find the batt id ,bruce oz
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzerw6q3/id7.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_79_class_locomotive

The unit is definatly 72V, which is the standard for todays modern locomotives. It is a high voltage for a small engine but that is the way GE/ Alco designed it. The batteries actualy add up to 64volts but once the system comes to life it rises to the charging voltage of 72-80 volts.

The starters are direct drives to the motor.

The traction motors operate in series and parallel given there load and speed. But i don't know of or see anything that would modify the starting circuits. Our other locomotives are 32v and only have 4 cells Mine is hard wired in 8-8volt cells so it is a 64volt bank.

Old magnet, I see your part with 39/40 I wonder if it is the same. I don't have any batteries mentioned in the few books I have.

I did get one guy at Cat quoted me an 8Volt battery and he said this is the only one we have ever sold for the D17000. It is part number C36/40 it is 20.8"DX10.6"TX7.25"w which will fit in the battery box. There alot lighter than the Crowns but are half as tall. Will they do the job? I would assume all Cats are outside, (this is more a question of block warmers) but I still would like to be sure.

To add a question on this is winter starting. This thing is sitting out in the weather all year and being in the Mid altanic area I have concerns about having enough cranking amps in the winter months. Not just one engine but two in quick sensation before the air compressors build up to much airpressure, causing even more back pressure against the 2nd starter. The unit with the smaller batteries is trying to start two Detriot diesels simultaneous because of a common shaft. You get one shot and your done for the day, I don't want to get in that possition. Our 45ton unit can start and stop all day because it came with the Crown batteries and they have the cranking amps. BUT you are going to pay to have them and I can't make them fit.

jim rakin would know! i think he knows everything about electric. he should be around one of these days. good luck.

I posted it as 39/40 as the physical dimensions are within fractions of an inch. The 39 corresponds to the lower of the two amperage outputs. Don't know why they would have two so close to the same.

It's all about amperage ratings as far as cranking ability. Would help to know what the original requirement is. That may very well dictate what your battery bank needs to look like more than battery box. Is there any room to rack mount them? Yes, the Cat batteries are external (top mount) terminals.

Bound to be some RR historians out there, you just need to get connected.

Old magnet

I actualy got this web site from a RR Forum. There are tons of 44 ton units out there still, but getting some one to get off there butt and go look has been a real challange. Much less take a picture. I can't even get the RR that sold it to me it up to tell me what they had in the unit. I keep calling and trying to get them to do it. That is where I got the shrimp battery from the one time he called.

RR locomotive batteries add additional AH ratings for availaibility at 8hrs and at 20hrs. Cat doesn't even offer that info. The Crown batteries are twice as tall, and ALOT more CCA's. They are twice as heavy as a standard battery of the same pysical size. But there for the modern stuff. I just happen to have the first of that kind in the 72v set up. The specified Cat battery weighs 90lbs. the Crown wieghts 230 lbs. just for comparison. The cost of the Cat batteries are $1,913.00 for the set. The Crowns will be $5,500.00 plus frieght. From a dollar stand point I would go for the Cat units once I confirm but would really hate myself if they can't do the job. FYI the warrentees are the same. I could probably crank the motor all day with them.

The Strausburg RR went over the batteries with me and showed me how they modified the box and used the crowns. That side I have confirmed if I want to pay the cost for them. FYI there batteries are 4 years past the warrenty and doing fine.

If I could just get the orginal owner or another RR to confirm the Cat units are ok, I'll stay with the Cats. I don't have the stress of stalling out a train and that another one is going to hit me. it would be the only active unit on the line and don't have to worry about having all this extra power on hand.

Jamie

I'd forget about the Cat batteries. What your describing is an entirely different league.

Found this interesting article on locomotive batteries
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32720

Also for those that might be interested in the D17000 RR application
http://www.prrh.org/downloads/ge-44ton.pdf

Old Magnet

That was my first thought until I started looking into it.

Why go through the added cost and hastle when Cat had designed them and they worked. Our other Davenport Loco runs off of two simple truck batteries at 12v no problem. That unit orginaly had a
D-17000 unit and was changed out to a modern Cummins unit. It has been very reliable using the smae two batteries. I would have had some bulitine if they required an upgrade on the Batteries. The pictures I see appear to have the orginal battery boxes still intack.

I do have a guy at the Middletown and NJ RR chasing down his units. They run three and will see what they have before I commit 100%.

Thanks for the reply

Jamie