seigezapf
Registered
I am pretty sure this has been addressed before, but I have not run across it. I'm sorry if it is redundant. I started to wonder if rather then powering the locomotives with batteries, I powered the track with a battery. I honestly did not expect this to work well.
First of all, what battery? What I had available was a Hobbico sealed 12v 7aH rechargeable battery. I tried it on a test section and it worked. Next I hooked it up to my outdoor track. An HRW Mack made it all the way around. Hmmm. I have cleaned debris from my track, but have not been concerned about whether the rails were all that clean. It has been out in snow and rain and falling leaves and such for over a year. I was surprised. Next I tried an Aristo RS3. Again it made it fine though seemed to slow in some areas. So I hooked a track cleaner caboose to the front of the RS3 and ran it around a few times. It ran smoother each time.
This is the test set-up I used.
The battery is 12v so the locomotive does not speed, but keeps up a decent pace. I have no idea how long this battery would last, but at least 5-10 minutes in my test. So I looked for batteries. The only 18v batteries I found were tool batteries. I finally found some that might work - rechargeable wheelchair batteries. Again they are only 12v (18 AH/20HR) that are meant to be hooked up in series to be 24v. The ones I bought were rated to carry a 180lb man 19 miles in an electric wheelchair (at 24v). I figure that might work. I had thought of a car battery, but the amperage in those things is too scary.
What I then need is a control for motor speed and direction. These are plentiful on eBay.
As mentioned I was surprised that the locos I tried had no trouble getting power all the away around the track. Maybe that will change, but it is promising. I'd love to find am 18 volt sealed rechargeable battery with a decent capacity. I'll bet someone makes them. And this is a simple control - no control of sound and such. There may be a way to do that too.
First of all, what battery? What I had available was a Hobbico sealed 12v 7aH rechargeable battery. I tried it on a test section and it worked. Next I hooked it up to my outdoor track. An HRW Mack made it all the way around. Hmmm. I have cleaned debris from my track, but have not been concerned about whether the rails were all that clean. It has been out in snow and rain and falling leaves and such for over a year. I was surprised. Next I tried an Aristo RS3. Again it made it fine though seemed to slow in some areas. So I hooked a track cleaner caboose to the front of the RS3 and ran it around a few times. It ran smoother each time.
This is the test set-up I used.
The battery is 12v so the locomotive does not speed, but keeps up a decent pace. I have no idea how long this battery would last, but at least 5-10 minutes in my test. So I looked for batteries. The only 18v batteries I found were tool batteries. I finally found some that might work - rechargeable wheelchair batteries. Again they are only 12v (18 AH/20HR) that are meant to be hooked up in series to be 24v. The ones I bought were rated to carry a 180lb man 19 miles in an electric wheelchair (at 24v). I figure that might work. I had thought of a car battery, but the amperage in those things is too scary.
What I then need is a control for motor speed and direction. These are plentiful on eBay.
As mentioned I was surprised that the locos I tried had no trouble getting power all the away around the track. Maybe that will change, but it is promising. I'd love to find am 18 volt sealed rechargeable battery with a decent capacity. I'll bet someone makes them. And this is a simple control - no control of sound and such. There may be a way to do that too.
