What Battery Power System do you use

[FJ and G]

my critter runs on 2 AA batteries and has a dpdt switch. Total cost is about $5. As far as I know, I have the lowest cost motive power system of any garden train in the world. This is 32mm track at 7/8n18 scale.

 

 

[Anonymous]

HI
well I'm wonderin
What battery system to you guys use I'd like to know of a good system at an OK price Alex

Hi Alex...if you can do some soldering and you can aford about $50 the following link of my endevours in battery power for my garden railway may be of interest.

http://www.theoaks.ca/batteryshed.html

...click the link on the bottom of the page for history of the "Gritty Oyster Railway" ...and other live steam stuff...the "Jack Wheldon" page is what folks in the narrow gauge are having fun with...Tony

[Del Tapparo]

I'd like to offer a low cost alternative for battery power. It is somewhere in between the simple battery with an on/off switch and a full blown radio control system. It is hands-on manual speed control.  Push a button and your loco ramps up to running speed. Push it again for a smooth decel to a stop. Easily adjust speed on the fly using a roof mounted rotary speed switch. You can also automate your battery powered critter for back n' forth trolley operation and/or any number of intermediate station stops.  Check out my "One-Touch Critter Control" at www.GScaleGraphics.net under "electronics".

[jnichols]

I use Li-Ion and Li-Poly batteries in all my large scale stuff now. I find the low weight, 3.7 volts per cell and super linear power output over the discharge cycle to be worth the extra money. These batteries do require a special charger however, and I only use packs prebuilt with over/under charge IC protection circuits which are slightly more expensive.

For control I use CVP's Airwire system. I find the DCC output and ease of split battery configuration to be very useful. And while the motor drive on the receiver board isn't the best (fairly low PWM and no BEMF), I typically use the DCC output on the board to drive a Tsunami or ESU Loksound decoder to run the motor(s) and provide sound for the model. This works in all but the most power hungry steamers. In fact virtually my enitre fleet of Accucraft breass steamers are powered in this manner with great results. For anyone interested in using this setup, just be sure to check the current draw of the locomotive carefully before installing anything.

[Snoq. Pass RR]

I use RCS.  Works great and has been for last year since I got my Bach 2-8-0, and I am going to use it for my Bach 38T 2-Truck Shay.  Works all weather: rain, sun, or snow.  Go to http://www.rcs-rc.com/ for more information.

[Ray Dunakin]

What kind of batteries are in those 24v drill packs, anyway?

[Panama Red]

I like everything inside the engine. That way I can use whatever consist I choose without being limited to whatever trail car there is with the batteries.

My battery of choice has been the 24 volt drill packs. You can remove the cells from the unneeded case and they slip nicely in thte average diesel and most larger steam models. They can be recharged by connecting the connector to the tracks (powered) and run trtack power while recharging the batts. has worked for the last year or so with no problems.

So, there you have my take on the subject.

[toenailridgesl]

RCS. Easy to install & swap batteries, has a bunch of options re sound etc if you want them.
TOny W is a good bloke to deal with, a fair dealer & a good reputation. Plus he gives me good red wine when I visit him!
(Tony, is this worth wholesale price on my next order?)

[Anonymous]

Im think about using the train engineer
Trailing car
etc
Power will be Aroisto 2-8-2
Aristo RS3
and a USA GP9
I allready have info on installing
Thanx though

[Anonymous]

Sorry about the bad link guys. It has been fixed thanks to the Rockmodeler's alert.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the response batteryman, the correct link is
http://store.yahoo.com/kalmbachcatalog/garden-railroading-downloadable-articles-how-to.html

somehow a . got changed to a : between store & yahoo, ya never know how those things happen.....
oh well

[Anonymous]

Rockmodeler, the e-mail address in my profile was outdated and now has been fixed. If you are having trouble obtaining the articles from the link I posted in the note, try going to the Kalmbach Information Station and find:

Beginning battery power and radio control
Battery power/radio control, 20 pages
GRPDF013$11.95

[FJ and G]

I only spent about $100 for mine.

See: http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=59974

(I'll have more info as I continue my experiments with double-heading etc)

[Anonymous]

batteryman your link didnt work for me.....

[dsweet]

Hi Alex we have a lot folks in your area using the RCS systems. If you would like a demo please contact us or visit us at the next club meeting.

Don Sweet
RCS of New England

[Anonymous]

I took a great deal of time and trouble to write a series of 5 articles for Garden Railways . In the course of writing those articles, I installed and used, often simultaneously, every system in existence. You can download the whole series (for a small fee) from
http://store.yahoo.com/kalmbachcatalog/garden-railroading-downloadable-articles-how-to.html
I don't get anything for this reprint and have no association with any manufacturer, unlike some reviewers. There is a ton of information there and I recommend it to anyone contemplating RC/battery operation.
If you are looking for a low cost way to go, forget it. Generally, expect to do a lot of modification. For my layout I now use Airwire, DSX sound, Nimh batteries, always mounted in the engine (even the Shay where the speaker hides under the coal load).
By the way, Tony Walsham at RCS really knows his beans and is the only supplier who deigns to respond to questionss.

[grandpopswalt]

I use the Crest(AristoCraft) Train Engineer and NiMH batteries.

Walt

[cacole]

I use the AirWire900 from CVP Products of Richardson, Texas, DSX Sound-Only Decoders from SoundTraxx or a Sountraxx Sierra sound system, and 12-Volt Gel-Cell rechargeable batteries.

An automotive battery charger will recharge a Gel-Cell, which is an advantage because you don't need a special, pricey charger.

[Anonymous]

Airwrie & Sound

WWW.JOHNSHOBBIES.COM

[TonyWalsham]

Hello Alex.

To help you decide what is the best R/C system for you it will be much easier for battery R/C users to assist when they reply if you could provide them with some additional information.

Such as:
How do you intend to operate?
As in, will you be simply switching the loco on and letting it run, or do you intend intensive switching operations?
Do you want to put everything inside the loco, or is a trail car type installation adequate for your intended method of operation?
What sort of locos will you be using?
Will you be fitting full sound and want to operate the sound functions "real time"?
Do you require the ability of adding and/or subtracting locos from a consist?
Do you want the locos to have full intensity constant brightness auto reversing lights?
How many individual operators will there be?
Do you want a small pocket sized TX handpiece or will a stick type R/C used for R/C cars be OK?
Are you confident in dismantling locos in order to mount the batteries and R/C inside?

The list of options and cost variations can get quite extensive.

[Anonymous]

HI
well I'm wonderin
What battery system to you guys use
Im just starting out and got a litttl etime until spring to choose
Anyway
I'd like to know of a good system at an OK price

Thanx
Alex