Battery control Wagon, Multi use, multi power, Multi loco

[Granitechops]

Just been doing some more work on the second battery control wagon,
so thought I would first bring over the start of this project from GSM
DATE check JUNE 2009
As some may have noticed I often recycle everyday items for railway use

but today I departed from the usual; as I saw something that was still in use & NOT ready for recycling yet

A bin out of an accessories carry box

 

[Granitechops]

Figuring that they frequently never returned to the carry case,

I though how useful it could be to turn it upside down

 

[Granitechops]

Drill some holes for power wires in

 

[Granitechops]

Drill a hole for an on/off switch

 

[Granitechops]

Drill a hole for a forward /reverse switch

& two more for the power out to the jack plug for connecting to whatever loco would be in use

 

[Granitechops]

connect a few wires together

 

[Granitechops]

Including wires & connecting jack for power in from a 7.2 vlts battery pack as an alternative

Power in leads connected to a couple of AA cell holders Making 12 cells

needs a speed controller, but that is not to hand as yet.

 

[Granitechops]

Find a suitable wagon drill a hole for a mounting bolt

 

[Granitechops]

Mount box of tricks in wagon along with battery packs

 

[Granitechops]

This is just in testing mode

it needs a power jack on front of wagon

jack sockets at rear of each loco

covers for the batteries

A fuse in the circuit

a speed controller

but for now its working

 

[Granitechops]

T Ern went round with 40 axles
test successful

 

[Granitechops]

Drill hole in back sheet

cant be central as there is a structural member on the inside

 

[Granitechops]

Insert jack socket to check clearances

Would have liked to put it down inside that central raised floor area but there was not room in there

and a smaller jack would have meant more problems with seeing what I was soldering

 

[Granitechops]

So cut off flexi part of socket cover

Not critical as it does not get any pulling strain in here

wire up & fit

leaving enough wire curled up, inside for any later dissembling of Loco

 

[Granitechops]

Socket from rear

look better with a bit of red paint

 

[Granitechops]

Set up

needs a bit of black tape around end of plug to hold wires securely

And with hind sight

it would have been better to have the wires exiting the wagon ABOVE the buffer beam

although after 3-4 hours track testing, it has not fouled on the couplings yet

 

[Granitechops]

Poor pic of T Urn going over Gotha pool bridge

the blue wire is purely cosmetic, it represents the Air brakes coupling

 

[Granitechops]

<p> </p><p>So now I can fit any small engine with a jack socket, </p><p>& run it behind this wagon </p><p>AND if I get round to making another different wagon, </p><p>with say R/C I can ring the changes, </p><p>so the same wagon is not always behind the same engine </p><p> </p>

 

[Granitechops]

Alternative power supply
7.2v Battery pack connected up

 

[Granitechops]

7.2v disconnected FIRST

before filling holders with 12 AA cells

These cheap LIDL rechargable AAs give quite a good run, even including pulling 20 wagons up a 1 in 20

but no good for the camera thou.

Note;

there are battery holders & there are Battery Holders

The 8 cell holders ( from Maplins )are simple to get the cells out of

The 4 cell holders( from else where ) are a pig, need a screwdriver to get them out,