Tootsie Train Controller Power Modification (Help)

[Safety Valve]

Hi all, I am wondering the best resistor to use for a conversion on a Tootsie Battery Electric Train controller is I'm wanting to preform a 9 volt power modification to the controller, I've recently bought one and I'll be very excited to start using it, it seems to be in very good condition, with little to NO rust! although despite missing a base which I will fashion out of a little styrene and paint matched so I can screw it inte baseboard, it should be a very fun little project it appears to be powered by 4.5 volts DC, I'm doing this power modification for a few reasons, one is so I can run the train set a little longer, I will more then likely use this controller for my Tri-ang TT items....  

The Top of the Controller 

 

The Inside of the controller

[rrinker]

 Changing to 9V will not run the train longer. It will run faster, possibly burn out the motor and/or the controller, and run for a much shorter time.

 That's double the stock voltage, which is potentially an issue, but also note that it looks like it runs on 3x C cell batteries. 3 C cells have a significantly greater energy capacity than a 9V battery. The only way to make it run longer on a set of batteries would be to use batteries with an even higher energy capacity - D cells, but they would never fit. Or a completely different battery technology like li-ion along with the appropriate circuitry to safely use them. You might be able to find a li-ion pack that fits, such a pack would charge to a peak of about 4.2 volts, nominal 3.7V< so the train would run a little slower, but it would run for amuch longer time.

 Or, 4.5 and 5 volt wall warts are easily found, hook one of those up, plug it in, and run as long as you like. No idea what the train draws, but a 1 amp rated wall wart would probably be plenty.

                                          --Randy

 

[RR_Mel]

Randy is correct, a 9 volt battery has half the amperage capacity of a AAA cell.  9 volt batteries are rated at 500ma and a AAA cell is rated a 1000ma.  3 AAA batteries would be much better at double the current rating of a single 9 volt and you won’t need to reduce the voltage.

 

You need to go with a Lithium 18500 cell with a charger.  It is rated at 3.7 volts but static charge is 4.2 volts at 2 amps or more.

 

If you buy a cheapie you will get a cheapie.  Stick with a major battery manufacturer such as Sano or Sony.  The cheapo Lithium batteries on eBay are terrible.   They rarely have more than 20% of advertised capacity, most are about 10%.

 

I bought some of the “better brand” Lithium batteries off eBay rated at 5000ma and using a battery analyzer they came in at a whopping 480ma.

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.