[ale] OT geek motorcycle?

[Brian MacLeod]

Yes, they save a lot on maintenance on transmissions and stuff, but one
of the larger reasons diesel locomotives drive generators which drive
electric motors is because it allows the engineers a hell of a lot more
control when they use more than one loco.  It's much easier with
electricity to regulate your speed/power then trying to get a bunch of
diesel engines "synchronized."

bnm
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On 
> Behalf Of Kevin Krumwiede
> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2004 11:53 PM
> To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
> Subject: Re: [ale] OT geek motorcycle?
> 
> On Sun, 18 Apr 2004 17:10:29 -0400
> Danny Cox <danscox at mindspring.com> wrote:
> 
> > 	The main problem with electrics, as always is the throttle, or
> > 	more
> > precisely, the lack thereof.  The mini-bike had an on/off 
> switch.  If 
> > you use a rheostat, you lose the energy as heat, and the batteries 
> > wear down as if you were full throttle all the time.
> 
> I wonder how diesel locomotives do it.  Their engines drive 
> generators; electric motors drive the wheels.  Massive 
> transmissions and drive shafts are less efficient and harder 
> to maintain, I guess.
> 
> IIRC, an electric motor's torque varies with current, and its 
> speed varies with voltage.  So, what about using a 
> transformer tapped for various voltages?  It'd be like an 
> electric transmission.
> 
> Krum
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