Thought I'd share this link with you all; it just popped-up in my mail box last night from someone I barely know. Looks like it's being used/developed for S(?) scale, but the possibilities are rather intriguing if it could be integrated into Z. Thoughts? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w0niIUqA6I&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL Scott
In my opinion all depends on the available batteries. Batteries such as those one can find in watches or pagers (small flat roundy), why not? For diesels, decoder in the fuel tank and batteries in the cab, that could work... But I've no idea of the power that type of battery can deliver vs what consumes a modern coreless motor from Maxon or Faulhaber. Dom
the key tin this video was the lithium ion rechargeable battery pack such as found in RC cars and cell phones. so the longevity factor is for how long it can supply power to your engine. Engine current draw is subject to the load it is pulling but typically about 100 ma per brush less motor. Now you need to determine the max operating time before recharge and that with you 100ma load determines you battery capacity. So I can see this working in HO and HOn30 and larger scales as it already is being done with RC control because radio current draw is minimal. but starting at N and down to Z your battery size just hasn't got the mass to hold a charge long enough to run for an hour or even half an hour without recharging. One or even two button cells are just not going to cut it, and one button cell is not a rechargeable lithium ion battery. Take a look at AAA rechargeable lithium ion batteries for an idea of current cost. battery technology is still growing so things may improve but not sure we are there yet for Z.
It is interesting for a scale like HO. I'd have it set up in a way to charge the batteries through the rails. Even if you had your rails painted you could have sidings set up just for charging.
Garth, you're right. Battery technology isn't quite where we need it to be at this size, but it might viable in the not-so-distant future. I was envisioning an F7 A-B...the B unit to carry the battery pack, and the decoder in the A unit. Scott
It could change any scale as you could run trucks and cars etc on roadways and control each one separately. ...don