Battery control Wagon, Multi use, multi power, Multi loco

Out on the extension, testing with Vista Coach Elizabeth

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I also decided for reasons of operational flexability, to add a power-in socket at the other end of the loco

Not very elegant looking, but will seek an alternative with operational testing

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Fitted Barcelona with a power socket

not quite so straight forward, as the backhead was not a panel, but out of 4mm MDF,

too thick for the thread on the socket

so had to cut out a hole big enough for the assembled socket to pass through, & then mount it on a piece of brass strip drilled & screwed to the MDF

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<p> </p><p>Was going to fit a seat to this loco for driver comfort,</p><p> but realised if I did, I would not be able to access the power socket!!! </p><p>So seat is going to be attatched TO DRIVER,</p><p> & whole lot can be removed for plugging in!! </p><p>But thats a roundtouit job </p><p> </p>
 
Plug in place
I really would like a better looking connection from wagon to Loco,
A neater plug ( but too small is fiddly for soldering)
And wire that will stay coiled like a phone cable
the blue uncoils too easily not springy enough
Single core maybe, instead of 'flex'


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I decided to make a second battery wagon
so using 1.5mm birch ply for the floor & 15mm x 4mm for the side frames
I fixed them together using white PVA glue & dressmakers pins
BELTS & BRACES
because . . . .

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. . . this one will be utilising my no longer used wheelchair batteries,

12 volt gel, so can be laid on side for lower centre of gravity

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Just a try out to help visualise,

the battery base will be just 5mm above rail bhead height for stability

these batteries are heavy - 2.4 kilos or nearly 5.5 lbs each

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So in effect a sort of Well wagon is emerging

No actual prototype here just a vague similarity

So using same material for side frames fit this assembly, ustilising MDF for floor over battery box

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To join the two assemblies together,
5mm ply was used as connector plates, pinned & glued as before,
as all the battery weight will be suspended through these

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Glue dried, battery in place,

now one can see another benefit of slinging the battery box down low,

only a small bit of the battery shows above the deck, so only a small load will disguise it!

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<p> </p><p>I am thinking, well in middle for ballast,</p><p> with bottom hopper door for unloading, </p><p>One end having a personel shelter/cabin, complete with handbrake wheel ( Speed controller) the other end, </p><p>sided platform for equipement ( something with levers on for on/off switch & forward/reverse switch ) </p><p> </p>
 
Question from NHN

Can the locos pull anything else after that 5.5 lb loading, Don? I tried using a gel battery from a burglar alarm (not much call for alarms here!) but the weight of it in an LGB bogie wagon caused too much rolling resistance. I need roller bearings.......

This post has been edited by New Haven Neil: Jun 29 2009,
 
Havent got that far yet Neil

however the Garratt ( 2 Stainz), has two of these gels on board the engine & will pull as much as I can put behind her,

only limitation is wagons pulling off track on the corners, with the weight of the whole train behind

To get maximum traction out of T Urn I will probably have to add some ballast under the front of him

The wagon has one bogie with brass side frames, & one with aliminium frames

On my free rolling Gravity test off the Bank , it will travel almost as far as the Aristocraft bearing bogied wagons.

So I think rolling resistance, carrying that weight is as low as I can get it

Will have to do some tests
 
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