What sort of power are you using outdoors?

[Curmudgeon]

Ummmmm....Gary.....I have converted several Heislers, never once had to use a trailing car, and that includes sound.
And, here is why I don't use Lithium:

Bellevue, Washington-

"Battery explodes at City Hall, two floors are evacuated".

Two floors of the City Hall, located at 11511 Main St., were evacuated at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday when a lithium battery exploded, causing smoke but no fire.
The battery, used for a global positioning system unit belonging to the police department, was being recharged at the time.
No one was hurt, but the city's fire department responded to the call and about 20 people were evacuated from the two floors as a precaution.
The explosion occurred in a basement office occupied by police detectives.

[Anonymous]

Aristo-Craft Ultima with their Train Engineer.

MIkadoursp

[Gary Crawley]

Tony
I use locolinc, works fine as I,m sure all the other brands do including yours.
One thing you might be interested in is I have just fitted two 7.4V, 2700mah Li-Poly packs to my Bachmann Heisler.
They are half the size of NiMH packs and fit in the tender so I don't have to use trailing power cars.
At this stage if have only done limited testing (short runs) to check for operation and heat build up, all fine so far.
When I do a full 2 hour plus run I will see how they go.
One thing to remember is that if any one out there is considering using these batteries REMEMBER the SAFETY warnings for their use.
By the way most RC plane and car dealers sell these packs, also you will need a special charger. (Lithium Polymer Charger)
They are more expensive but not that much and they are coming down very quickly
All the best
Gary

[Anonymous]

I didn't vote for any due to not having a running layout however I do plan on using battery power with RC just undecided on which one. Initially I found myself steering away from RCS due to maufactured in AUS for service reasons until postings on MLS from TOC installed these as a dealer and that there were others. I'll cross the bridge to selection when I get there.

[hobbyfossi201]

I run my trains with the Lenz Digital Plus-system, powered by an 10 amps-transformer, just one track-feeder and - as the layout is bright new - till now no problems with track conductivity or data-transfers.
with best regards
hobbyfossi201

[tangerine-jack]

Actually, I pick up the moniker of Tangerine because my motorcycles and cars all seem to be orange, not by choice, but by chance mostly. The rest of it just makes it sound more pirate like, I explained fully this on another forum topic somewhere (re: the historical pirate figure "Calico-Jack"). I don't have a peg-leg, but I got an 8" pin and 4 screws that make me limp when it's cold and damp. It was funny at the time, and just seemed to stick. In the Army, my self propelled howitzer had an orange pirate flag on it. I kind of like it myself, it's a littly sexy, a little bad, maybe even a little stupid, but seems to work.

Anyway, back on topic, if anybody wants to email me at my bio adress, I will be more than happy to explain how I built my RC power pack. I love the thing as I can lounge in the pool and run trains all at the same time.
[oX)]

[grandpopswalt]

Bob,
Now that we have all that behind us, let me say welcome to our forum. Phil is right; this is a truly friendly and non-confrontational gathering of like-minded folks. Everyone pitches in to help answer questions and offer encouragement to fellow members on a variety of subjects; I think you'll enjoy participating. But be warned, there's also a good deal of good-natured ribbing going on all the time.

Phil,
If you're 6'4", are moderately bald, and have a moustache, you could call yourself Dr. Phil again and cash in on that American TV Pop psychologist’s fame, couldn’t hurt to try.

Jack,
Gotta admit that Tangerine-Jack is a stumper. Do you have a passion for a certain kind of citrus? Or perhaps you’re in the fruit business. I hope it’s not because you’re a bright orange color.

I’m Grandpopswalt because I’ve been waiting for grandkids for over ten years and finally got one (now I have two) and it’s a very big thing in my life.

Walt

[tangerine-jack]

Where do I fit in on the name game?[#wstupid]

[oX)]

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Phil & Walt, I've been called a lot of things, most of them unprintable, and that dosn't really bother me. I just want anybody to know it was me when I write something; I've had instances where the works of others have been incorrectly attributed to me, even while I stood in admiration of the writings someone would not stand behind. Actually, I really would prefer to be just plain old Bob; but when there are 15 Roberts, 4 R. D.s, & 5 Robert D.s already in the local phone book you learn to stick that Capt. in front just to eliminate the erroneous calls! Tony's got it about right --- as my considerable aviordupois will attest! (In other words, I'm a fat boy!)

Now, let's all go out and power up our trains; and since we are all getting older, maybe we ought to be figuring out how to utilize all that methane we emit to run our trains! ---- Maybe the live steam boys have something going here!

[jebouck]

Right now, its an LGB Jumbo 10 amp, routed thru a bunch of LGB switch boxes out to different blocks on the layout. Foolproof and worked without a hitch for about ten years now.
But as I add additional locos every year; they now come with decoders on board from LGB, I might give MTS a try.
I use 100% LGB motive power, starting way back to 1986.
jb

[TonyWalsham]

Anybody can call me what they like.
Just don't call me late for breakfast.

Tony Walsham (RCS).

[toenailridgesl]

Bob,
or should I say Capt. Bob?
Back off... I don't think you were being berated for your use of title, it was just a comment.
This is the friendliest GR forum on the net & I know 'cos I've been online since the net started...
...You wanna be called Capt...fine....I'd prefer to call you Bob. I spend a lifetime being called Dr., I prefer to be called Phil.

[grandpopswalt]

Bob,

Easy does it, that was supposed to be a joke not a jab. However it's quite a coincidence to have two members use the title Capt on such a small forum.

Walt

[Anonymous]

Bob I always wanted to be a masters 5, I have passed a few subjects including ocean navigation but this wasn't my line of work and by the time I had the time to put into it, my knees went on me and I had to sell my yacht as could no longer safely do the job physically. However I am a qualified coxswain and as such I can operate a commercial vessel up to about 13 metres.

I was going to buy a 40 ' catamaran and operate it around the Whitsundy islands but again i wasn't safe enough.


Regds ian

[Anonymous]

Hi Tony
where's the all of the above box[:D].
I have manual live steam standard track feed and 1 battery powerd locomotive with a second eventualy on the way.
regards John

[toenailridgesl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BNSFGP38

Water and heat. [:)]

And yet no-one has ticked live-steam...you use the water & heat to make tea while you watch your trains just sit there?
Tony, as you know, 2 RCS, 2 bitzer R/C & i R/C live-steamer

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Well, when I signed up I just wanted to use my name but the site wouldn't allow that! I guess there are just too many Robert or Bob Johnsons.

Since I am a licensed master mariner and served 35 years as a Delaware River Pilot on those big iron boats, I stuck the Capt in front and the machine accepted that.

I just don't care to appear to be hiding behind some made up name; when I say or write something I put my name to it, and I don't give a S--- who takes umbrage or exception !

Nuff Said?

[Curmudgeon]

RCS and batteries....only.....up to 20 at a time on over 1400' of aluminum track............

[Anonymous]

Like Troy I use MTS and it's terrific but Ihad a lot of trouble getting it to work initially but it runs terrific now. I am convinced that it was more the people than the equipment and I think LGB are remiss in allowing people to sell their stuff, who really don't know enough; I blame LGB not the people.

I don't know if any of you know that i successfully took my LGB dealer to court and a contributing factor (not the main point though) was something that was supposed to happen and my LGB dealer could not discuss it with me in a sensible manner.

I only found out today that the problem I have is common and is supposed to happen and their is a way around it.

I am also of the opinion that if you have any trouble with LGB at all, anything; go legal straight away; with their instructions as they are they will never win. This doesn't mean that i don't think they are a terrific company or that their equipment isn't any good because this is not the case. They are a very good professional company and the LGB stuff is second to none, its just that something is lost in translation both language and through the people in the middle.


Rgds ian

[powlee]

I use Train Engineer for track and points. Very handy the day after Xmas, set the trains on the track then go indoors and operate in the warmth and comfort of my armchair.
All the best
Ian P

[BNSFGP38]

Water and heat. [:)]

[cacole]

I use battery power and the AirWire900 DCC system from CVP Products.

[grandpopswalt]

On-board TE and NIMH batteries.

BTW, aren't we getting a little heavy with captains on this forum? Do we have any generals or sargents out there?

Walt

[Capt Bob Johnson]

I have the Aristo Elete mounted under the house and plugged into an outlet that is switched on my screened porch. Feed cables from power pack route underground to the layout to a DPDT switch which then feeds to track for onboard TE; or alternatively to a trackside TE. That way I can operate either way. It also permits visitors whom are not onboard equipped to operate on my layout via the trackside TE.

Really not sure yet whether I prefer the onboard or trackside setup, each has it's pros and cons.

[Anonymous]

LGB MTS system.Works fine for me.

[tangerine-jack]

Of course I had to vote other on this one as well[}:)]
I use a home brewed RC power pack. I started with an LGB pack, I think it's about 10 amp or so, I don't really know as I got it at a yard sale for $3. I attached an old Futaba 2 channel ground radio to it on a home made control arm, mounted the whole deal on a plywood base inside the garage. Wires are run outside and underground. To operate I plug the unit in, turn on the transmitter and run trains! It is not very hard to do, simply make the arm on your power pack short, and the servo arm long, center the servo on the gimbals of the transmitter for forward and reverse. I guess the other channel can be used for something later.
[oX)]

[Anonymous]

I have an 10 amp altimina ,with a walk around train engineer , I have it 4 years and like it
turn the power on in the house and go out side put the trains on the tracks , and set your speed, no power packs to drag out side. BEN

[SandyR]

My garden railroad is 11 years old, a wavy loop with a siding. Power is from a PS-3 power pack, with a pair of LGB connectors that I attach each time I run and do not leave outdoors. LGB track. No jumper wires or rail clamps. No problems except for the switch, which has a dead point rail that shows up from time to time. I cure that for months on end with just one spray of Radio Shack plastics-compatible connection cleaner.
SandyR

[TonyWalsham]

I manufacture battery R/C equipment for LS locos.
I am conducting this poll to try and find out how populart battery R/C is outdoors compared to say DCC outdoors.

Best wishes,

Tony Walsham (RCS).