Power sonic PS605WL 6v 0.5amp battery for Sierra sound unit

[Richie]

Have several Sierra sound cards in my loco's but the battery in my USA Trains PA1 and Bachmann 4-4-0 have died and won't charge any more .
I'm having trouble trying to find a supplier in this country that sales the Power Sonic PS605WL 6v 0.5amp as the ones that I've found on eBay are to large to fit in the PA fuel tank and tender on the 4-4-0.
Can you use other batteries to run these sound cards like 4 AA rechargeable linked together to make 6v ?

 

[Neil Robinson]

I've not found a source for the O.5Ah version.
I came to the conclusion that they were either unreliable or unattractive for some other reason.
The next size up comes in two shapes one approximately cubic roughly two smaller ones side by side and the other long and thin, roughly two small ones end to end. I've always found a way to fit one or the other, but I've not had experience of many different locos.
I believe charging characteristics of lead acid batteries are different to alternatives so I suggest proceeding with caution.
I have read of people who have used NiMH cells successfully http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips6/sierra_tips.html#batt < Link To http://www.girr.org/girr/.../sierra_tips.html#batt but when I tried it I let the magic smoke out. Fortunately it was some time ago and Soundtraxx still had the bits to fix it for a reasonable fee. Also Transatlatic shipping was a lot cheaper then.

 

[Richie]

Cheers for that Neil will look at getting the 6volt 1 amp battery PS610 and see if I can make them fit .