7.2v Battery Packs for Trains- any use?

[jay1976]

2nd pic is simlar to mine except I have a diffrent speed controller but the battery to charging socket is how it should be..
got another loco today to add a charging socket to as well.

[Narrow Minded]

got another loco today to add a charging socket to as well.

Don't tell me it was you who bought the yellow Big Big Ruston off eBay?!

[robbieg96]

thanks all for the replies. I feel confident now to wire it up. ;-)

Can anyone recommend a suitable charger to do the job?

Thanks,
-Rob

[jay1976]

got another loco today to add a charging socket to as well.

Don't tell me it was you who bought the yellow Big Big Ruston off eBay?!

nope bought a eeze rapier off ebay the other day..arrived this morning just needed a minor repair to a axlebox and away it went,it just needs a charging point added and battery box hidden up..

http://gardenrails.myfreeforum.org/about7249.html

I did have a ruston in my bid list but was outbid.. I need rolling stock and track really now otherwise I will just end up with loads of small locos with no where to run them.

[jez kirkwood]

Guys a friend of mine has been using the 7.2v packs in his LGB stuff for a number of years with no problems, his locos are just wired with a direction switch and an on/off switch.
I have fitted a 5000mah one into my battery elec loco which is fitted with an IPengineering motor/gearbox and speed controller. I ran my exhibition layout at Llanfair for the whole of both days with this one loco and then ran it round the garden for a couple of hours the next day - on one charge, so the fact that it takes a few hours to charge doesn't really matter, I just charge it over night every few weeks........

[ikcdab]

I just acquired a roundhouse criccieth castle chassis kit for a future project. It comes with a buhler motor. Instructions say use any power supply between 6 and 14.4v. So which do I use? Would it just run more slowly on the lower voltages? If so, is 7.2 or 9.6v best for a medium running speed?

[tom_tom_go]

I just acquired a roundhouse criccieth castle chassis kit for a future project. It comes with a buhler motor. Instructions say use any power supply between 6 and 14.4v. So which do I use? Would it just run more slowly on the lower voltages? If so, is 7.2 or 9.6v best for a medium running speed?

Best advice I had from Brian Jones to work out what battery to use is to connect the loco to a DC train controller (what they use for OO gauge, for example) and then measure the voltage going to the motor when you are happy with the max speed you want the loco to do.

Remember though if you are fitting R/C or sound check the minimum voltage required by these devices.

[mediate]

Not quite an answer to the original question, but close.

I have experimented with an LGB Stainz loco, using two Li-Ion AA sized batteries (which I can obtain here in New Zealand) in a cheap 2 cell holder, wired of course in series to produce the nominal 7.2v. and pure DC current. Control is manual via dpdt switches.

The set up consists of an on/off master switch, a reversing switch with centre off, a low power/high power switch (one cell/two cells) also with centre off, a "kill" switch at back and front, an led light for each direction (only one on at a time) and a light to represent firebox glow.


The loco will run for over an hour pulling a short train, and in a recent test has pulled a train of no less than twenty bogie coaches on a flat oval track of generous diameter.

I will probably fit some form of remote control in due course, but that would/will forfeit the pure dc, which has the motor run so quietly and powerfully. The speed on one cell is a scale 4mph, and on two about 12mph.

[mediate]

I forgot to mention that all my Li based batteries have a safety circuit built in which prevents the battery from excessively discharging and also protects in the event of short circuit. From what I have read, using unprotected batteries is potentially dangerous.

I also use a dedicated Li battery charger which cost me about US$25