Automatic Traction Motor Control using Arduino for Conventional Loco

A locomotive used for traction which is powered by electricity from overhead line is known as electric locomotive. While the time of run of the locos, there arise situations that the motor consumes current that is above the maximum or below the minimum ratings. This phenomenon causes the motor to rotate abnormally which leads to wheel slipping problem, flashover, burning out of contactors etc. If we could prevent these undesirable abnormalities a lot of money can be saved and also the maintenance works gets reduced. This obliged the development of a system that assists us in detecting the unusual current consumption so that most of the undesirable abnormality can be avoided. Presently there are mechanical systems that help us in detecting this problem which operates after the abnormality occurred. This paper aims in developing such a system using a ARDUINO that monitor the important parameters like current, voltage, speed, temperature consumption of each motors of the loco continuously and alerts the loco pilot for any unusual current consumption. If that situation arises the specific faulty motor can be isolated by the loco pilot or by the proposed system before it gets damaged.