Battery Power

Hostler65 Aug 23, 2010

  1. Hostler65

    Hostler65 TrainBoard Member

    19
    0
    8
    Yes I saw krs' post about the new Revolution. But didn't they have one that ran engines remotely while on track power back in the day as well? I will go to their site and look into things.
     
  2. Hostler65

    Hostler65 TrainBoard Member

    19
    0
    8
    The system that I remember was by Crest. I'll be 45 come September so my memory tends to fail from time to time.
     
  3. dmiller

    dmiller TrainBoard Member

    133
    0
    21
    Batteries

    I would agree that one must understand the battery and its characteristics.....(all types), and that LIon/Lipo batteries need to be used properly, and that a charger designed specifically for that chemistry is used..........
    However.....I dont agree that they will "explode". That makes it sound like you have a time bomb sitting there, waiting to go off. If over discharged, or charged improperly.....or damaged.....the lipo batteries will "puff" up, signaling a problem.......and if continuted.....will vent ferociously........it looks like kind of like a roman candle going off, when u lay it on its side.....
    Yes, proper care needs to be taken with lipo/lion batteries........and they need to be respected.......and understood........but not feared.

    After all.....we all have these batteries in our cell phones and laptop computers....and for the most part....dont have any issues with them on a daily basis.

    If anyone wants to understand or read more about LIpo/LIon batteries and usage, send me a pm and I will direct u to a couple web sites with actual usage experiences.

    Regards.

    D
     
  4. mogollon

    mogollon TrainBoard Member

    309
    1
    13
    Yes, Li Poly batteries will "go south" if not properly charged but I have heard all this time and time again about them exploding. This talk comes from folks who don't use them, and like to tell others what they "know". The only words I listen to are those from modelers who have actual experience, not armchair talkers. My locomotives have been in operation for over 7 years now and the first ones have li polys that I installed back then. Over the years, I have had no problems with these batteries except for one that a fellow modeler left turned on and put my loco up. The battery was dead when I got around to checking things. At this time, Lithium Polymer rechargable batteries have the power I need and can fit into the available space I have in my locos. When something better comes along, I will try it.
    Woodie
     
  5. dmiller

    dmiller TrainBoard Member

    133
    0
    21
    Batteries

    Thanks for the extra words Woodie...
    I have used lipos in High draw R/C for close to 6 years now......the only problems I have had was with one that had a bad cell from the manufacturer, and it vented on the charge.......at that time we didnt use balancing chargers, as we do today.....and it was a problem.
    I have over 30 lipo bats. for use in different planes.......still love them.

    D
     
  6. krs

    krs TrainBoard Member

    129
    0
    10
    What I posted is that LiPo batteries MUST be used with the proper charging equipment or they can explode - I wasn't trying to suggest that anyone is sitting on a time bomb.
    This comment by me was prompted by the earlier posts that suggested all rechargeable batteries were about the same - I don't want to see anyone get hurt because they use the wrong charger with LiPo batteries.
    And they certainly can do more than just go "puff" - take a look at this video for example:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3o_2mwRPdw

    As to the Aristocraft Revolution and also Locolinc - you can run those R/C systems with track power instead of battery power or even a combination of the two - track power to give you unlimited running time with automatic switching to a small rechargeable battery to handle short power losses from the track and even run through reverse loops that way with no track power and the required polarity switching.
    There is a company that specifically makes a system like that - not the R/C part but just the track/battery part - good idea in my opinion- surprised that hasn't been around longer as a commercial product although one can easily build that themselves with a bit of electronic knowledge.
     
  7. krs

    krs TrainBoard Member

    129
    0
    10
    I don't know if air powered switches are any better outside than electric ones.
    A friend of mine uses Del-Aire powqered switches and everytime we go over there to run trains, he has to fiddle with omething to make them work properly.
    Maybe that's just him, but it gets annoying.
    I like the electric switch motors that throw the switches slowly - looks more realistic as the points move across slowly rather than just going "snap".

    But dirt in the switches has to be the biggest problem - you will have that with any switch no matter how it's powered and even if it's not.
     
  8. krs

    krs TrainBoard Member

    129
    0
    10
    Sounds like a lot, but I started in Large Scale in 1986, so that's only two engines per year.
    I just took a count of the engines since people often ask me how many I do have - right now the actual count is 52 with two more coming this year before Christmas assuming both LGB and Kiss get off their behind and ship them.
     

Share This Page