radio control loco's

[cortelrb]

why are battery conversions from track power  so expensive?

Why dont manufacuters offer battery operated systems? at competive prices?

Scientific Toy Co offers sets at KB toys stores that run fairly ok for under $ 40 that can run outside

 

I m new to hobby & want to run battery power. any suggestions?

[altterrain]

The differences between toy and large scale train RC systems are -

• Wattage rating  - Large scale trains have multiple 24 volt motors sucking up a lot of amps. Toy trains have a small 9 volt motor that can only pull a light load.
• Fine speed motor control - Toy trains are seldom asked to creep along at prototypic slow speeds. This is a must for running operations.
• Range - Toy trains transmitters usually have a pretty limited range
• Multiple channels - You can only run one loco from a toy transmitter. I can run something like 24 loco from my RCS transmitter.
• Multiple functions - I have the ability to trigger sound functions (bell, whistle) if my loco is so equipped.

Basically, you pay for what you get.

-Brian 

[altterrain]

One of the popular and less expensive ways to start in the hobby with battery/RC is the use of a trailer car. A trailer car can be used with multiple locomotives. Many adapt AristoCraft's Train Engineer trackside receiver for this purpose. I did one but late last fall so I have not had a chance to play with it much.  Including batteries, wires and such it can be done for about $200. A good site for doing this is - http://ovgrs.org/ (go to Battery Power then scroll down to the Power Car sections). I also have a trailer car I did with a RCS system which ran about $300 ($80 of that is the transmitter which is a one time purchase). The RCS system is far more responsive than the TE and the transmitter is tiny compared to the big walkie talkie TE transmitter.

-Brian