Joined: 09/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 38
Location: norway
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Hi, I have just purchased a Piko E91 AC locomotive (51549). There is a surprising amount of hum coming from the locomotive as soon as power is applied in either direction. The hum is fairly constant at all speeds. And the hum is almost more noise than the sound effects of the locomotive. Is this normal noise from a Piko engine? (I never purchased a new model from them before)  Video.mov (2,955kb) downloaded 35 time(s).
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 1 user liked this useful post by Kaspar
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 Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 3,917 Location: Michigan, Troy
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No, this isn't mormal. You would hear the gearing before any motor humming. Either it is defective, or the decoder is giving it too much voltage. Is it new?
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Joined: 23/04/2019(UTC)
Posts: 497
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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Sometimes a motor is more noisy at slow speeds and quiet at higher speeds. I searched on youtube for piko 51549 and some examples of the Piko E91 came up (not AC types). Some of the clips have them running but it hard to tell if there is any of the buzzing that you hear.
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1 user liked this useful post by Copenhagen
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Joined: 09/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 38
Location: norway
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Originally Posted by: marklinist5999  No, this isn't mormal. You would hear the gearing before any motor humming. Either it is defective, or the decoder is giving it too much voltage. Is it new? Brand new Christmas present 😢
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1 user liked this useful post by Kaspar
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Joined: 09/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 38
Location: norway
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Originally Posted by: Copenhagen Sometimes a motor is more noisy at slow speeds and quiet at higher speeds. I searched on youtube for piko 51549 and some examples of the Piko E91 came up (not AC types). Some of the clips have them running but it hard to tell if there is any of the buzzing that you hear. Yeah I also checked some of the clips and no buzz like this. But could be DC models. Weird if their AC models had this normally though ..I sent a message to Piko support but they are on holiday break until tommorow 🤪
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1 user liked this useful post by Kaspar
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Joined: 23/04/2019(UTC)
Posts: 497
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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To be more specific. The sound reminds of similar sounds from some of my locomotives at very low speeds where it sounds like they are struggling. And then the sound fades as the engine speeds up. I'll have to test to make sure.
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1 user liked this useful post by Copenhagen
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 Joined: 28/01/2024(UTC) Posts: 60 Location: Nordrhein-Westfalen, Aachen
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Is it possible that you hear the PWM frequency at which the decoder chops the current to the motor? I've read somewhere that it is controlled by a CV in DCC; you can modify that frequency setting that CV to a different value. |
Regards,
Rüdiger (Rudi)
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2 users liked this useful post by RudiC
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 Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC) Posts: 7,458 Location: Scotland
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I have two Piko locos and both are smooth and silent. Maybe ther motor has a problem. I presume the hum is there without any other locos sounds being selected. IF you remove the body and run the loco is it still the same. |
Take care I like Marklin and will defend the worlds greatest model rail manufacturer. |
1 user liked this useful post by David Dewar
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 Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,482 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
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Originally Posted by: RudiC Is it possible that you hear the PWM frequency at which the decoder chops the current to the motor? I've read somewhere that it is controlled by a CV in DCC; you can modify that frequency setting that CV to a different value. That is my thought too. What sort of motor does it have? If it is a coreless motor then that suggests the decoder is not set for high frequency PWM, and I would get quite concerned about operating it in that condition as it could shake the motor windings to pieces.
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2 users liked this useful post by kiwiAlan
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Joined: 09/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 38
Location: norway
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Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan Originally Posted by: RudiC Is it possible that you hear the PWM frequency at which the decoder chops the current to the motor? I've read somewhere that it is controlled by a CV in DCC; you can modify that frequency setting that CV to a different value. That is my thought too. What sort of motor does it have? If it is a coreless motor then that suggests the decoder is not set for high frequency PWM, and I would get quite concerned about operating it in that condition as it could shake the motor windings to pieces. The documentation states it has a 5-pole motor, and drawings show the 51540-63 part. I suspect it’s not a Coreless motor, because Micromotor sells a coreless upgrade kit for this model. Seems a bit strange that people are buying €35 motor to upgrade a brand new €450 locomotive but what do I know  I have looked at the available CV settings on the CS3, but since the loc is in mFx mode the entries are confusing compared to the included manual. There is a setting for CV 52 Motor Type, set by default to DC Soft. For what its worth I tested the loco with an analog transformer and it makes the same sound. 
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1 user liked this useful post by Kaspar
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Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 3,917 Location: Michigan, Troy
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Correct. It isn'r coreless. Piko's have a standard can motor. Very inexpensive.
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Joined: 28/01/2024(UTC) Posts: 60 Location: Nordrhein-Westfalen, Aachen
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Originally Posted by: Kaspar ...
I tested the loco with an analog transformer and it makes the same sound.
Which does not necessarily mean you eliminated the decoder from the current path. Try supplying the motor itself (at its contacts) with a smooth constant DC source of 9 - 12 V. |
Regards,
Rüdiger (Rudi)
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2 users liked this useful post by RudiC
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