Philo's Lego Train Motors Comparison

[DLuders]

"Philo" (Phillippe Hurbain) has posted an extensive "Lego Train Motors Comparison" on his webpage http://www.philohome.com/ttrain/ttrain.htm . He tested the three motors pictured below. Left to right, they are the 9V train motor, the RC train motor, and the new Power Functions (PF) train motor.

The graphs and tables can't be easily pasted here, but both the 3-car and 5-car test train results indicate that the new Power Functions train motors have the best Lap Times and highest Average Speed.

3-Car Train Test Result Conclusions:

* "The speed of the PF train at the same load is significantly higher than the 9V train (+35%) and the RC train (+64%).

* "The RC train and the PF train consumes more current than the 9V train, resulting in higher instantaneous power (+44%).

* "But since the PF train completes the lap in the shorter time, the energy it consumes to travel a lap is lower than the 9V train (-17%) and much lower than RC train (-46%)."

5-Car Train Test Result Conclusions:

* "The PF train is 68% faster than the 9V train and almost three times faster than the RC train! Powered from only three NiMH cells, it is still faster than its competitors.

* "Performance of the PF train comes with a cost: instantaneous power is significantly higher. But at a lower voltage it outperforms the other trains with less power.

* "And if we compare the energy needed to perform one lap, PF train is 40% more efficient than 9V motor, and more than three times more efficient than RC motor!"