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Offline Kaspar  
#1 Posted : 08 January 2025 14:49:30(UTC)
Kaspar


Joined: 09/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 36
Location: norway
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 22 time(s).
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Offline marklinist5999  
#2 Posted : 08 January 2025 16:27:43(UTC)
marklinist5999

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC)
Posts: 3,669
Location: Michigan, Troy
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?
Offline Copenhagen  
#3 Posted : 08 January 2025 17:00:50(UTC)
Copenhagen


Joined: 23/04/2019(UTC)
Posts: 462
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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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Offline Kaspar  
#4 Posted : 08 January 2025 17:40:19(UTC)
Kaspar


Joined: 09/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 36
Location: norway
Originally Posted by: marklinist5999 Go to Quoted Post
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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Offline Kaspar  
#5 Posted : 08 January 2025 17:42:18(UTC)
Kaspar


Joined: 09/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 36
Location: norway
Originally Posted by: Copenhagen Go to Quoted Post
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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Offline Copenhagen  
#6 Posted : 08 January 2025 18:28:09(UTC)
Copenhagen


Joined: 23/04/2019(UTC)
Posts: 462
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
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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Offline RudiC  
#7 Posted : 08 January 2025 21:30:05(UTC)
RudiC

Germany   
Joined: 28/01/2024(UTC)
Posts: 40
Location: Nordrhein-Westfalen, Aachen
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.
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Offline David Dewar  
#8 Posted : 08 January 2025 21:31:30(UTC)
David Dewar

Scotland   
Joined: 01/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 7,419
Location: Scotland
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.
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Offline kiwiAlan  
#9 Posted : 09 January 2025 00:38:35(UTC)
kiwiAlan

United Kingdom   
Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC)
Posts: 8,363
Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
Originally Posted by: RudiC Go to Quoted Post
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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Offline Kaspar  
#10 Posted : 10 January 2025 10:47:42(UTC)
Kaspar


Joined: 09/12/2010(UTC)
Posts: 36
Location: norway
Originally Posted by: kiwiAlan Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: RudiC Go to Quoted Post
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 Confused

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.

IMG_5258.jpeg
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Offline marklinist5999  
#11 Posted : 10 January 2025 14:55:30(UTC)
marklinist5999

United States   
Joined: 10/02/2021(UTC)
Posts: 3,669
Location: Michigan, Troy
Correct. It isn'r coreless. Piko's have a standard can motor. Very inexpensive.
Offline RudiC  
#12 Posted : 10 January 2025 15:14:51(UTC)
RudiC

Germany   
Joined: 28/01/2024(UTC)
Posts: 40
Location: Nordrhein-Westfalen, Aachen
Originally Posted by: Kaspar Go to Quoted Post
...
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.
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