Hello all,
My new, "latest & greatest" Digitrax duplex throttle recently arrived. I'm still getting used to it to have really formed an opinion on it yet. Of course after using the 400-402 series for so long it will take some time to learn the new tactile feel of the device.
Digitrax_DT602Df by Edmund, on Flickr
The information screen is certainly a long-awaited improvement and so far I am growing to like it.
Digitrax_DT602Da by Edmund, on Flickr
It is too fat to fit in any of the throttle pockets I have around the fascia. I have since attached a smaller wrist-sized lanyard rather than use the neck type supplied with the throttle.
Digitrax_DT602D by Edmund, on Flickr
The battery compartment is easily accessable (I, personally, never had any complaints about the DT-400 battery) this new model uses three AA batteries. I'll be using rechargable Ni-MH in the 602.
Digitrax_DT602Db by Edmund, on Flickr
This brings me to my inquiry. Digitrax mentions a BP600MH battery pack that is supposed to plug into that tiny JST plug just visible inside the compartment. They mention plugging in a DC charger.
Digitrax_DT602-man by Edmund, on Flickr
I can not find any product information for this battery pack or charger. I wondered if anyone has heard any information about what this entails. It would seem to be a package battery similar to a cordless phone battery.
For those interested here is the full manual.
I'm just curious if anyone might have some insight on this. Eventually I'll probably write to Digitrax but I thought I'd pick the collective brains here, first.
Thank you, Ed
They just haven't released the battery pack yet. The charger, they expect to use the PS14 like all their other accessories. The actual charge control circuitry is built in to the throttle and/or battery pack.
Do check the one battery contact - the first few had an issue where this is loose and pulling the batteries out causes it to tilt and touch the PCB underneath, magic smoke release being the result.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinkerDo check the one battery contact -
Thanks for that head's up, Randy. The batteries fit into their "nests" rather snugly so frequent swapping may not be too healthy for those contacts.
For years we used several different brands of two-way radios at work, not to mention all the cordless phones out there. Just set them in the cradle and charging begins automatically.
I sure wish the Digitrax EEs would have come up with a method for this using rechargable Lion or Nimh AA batteries without having to remove them
Cheers, Ed
There are just too many different kinds, and all require different charge profiles. It's just not practical. With their battery pack, they have full control. You even mentioned two vastly different and imcompatible batteyr technologies - Nimh batteries are 1.2V per cell, Li-ion are 3.7 to 4.2V per cell. Both need different charge rates.
Just do a Google on BP600MH and you come up with several hits.
But they must be 3 wire.
Marc