I originally posted this in the DCC section but as it's a DCC, RC and battery conversion, there's a fair bit of crossover so thought I would post here as well! (Admins if that's frowned upon, please feel free to delete one or other!)
I have a number of locos to convert to battery, so I've decided to bite the bullet and start with the 2-truck Shay. Because this doesn't already have a decoder fitted, I figured it made for a good way to ease myself into it.
First step was to pull the PCB out of the firebox. I'm going to use this space for an ESU Loksound XL4 for sound, motion and lights, plus a Revo DCC receiver to control it.
The coal bunker was removed and the old Sierra and it's speaker removed. The plan is to keep everything else in the firebox, try to shoehorn an 18v tool battery in here and to make the bunker magnetic for quick and easy access.
Figuring out the Bachmann wiring loom was fun, mostly because the 'colour scheme' they use seems to be based on whatever colour wire was on the bench at the time
The decoder was loaded with ESUs Shay profile and test fitted into the firebox.
The speaker I had laying around and is the perfect size to fit under the cab floor. Although it's small it's a high quality 5w speaker and seems loud enough.
Next up, removing the track pickups from the trucks - necessary because they are directly connected to the motors.and removing them might also help reduce friction a little. I'm trying to make sure that all of the modifications I make are reversible.
The Loksound gets some micro-jst connections to make removal a bit easier
The coal bunker gets some molybdenum magnets to replace the screw connection. This will make getting to the battery quick and easy
The receiver and decoder mounted in the ashpan. A test for range is needed with this configuration as the receiver aerial is pretty low to the ground. If it's not great, the plan is to move the receiver to the coal bunker, to join the battery
The bind button for the receiver screws into a nut which has been epoxied to the back of the smokebox door
The battery is an Ansmann 14.8v pack, mounted in coal bunker. 5a fuse is just behind it.
Just waiting on a toggle switch for the power.
The first test run went fine on the bench supply. The only issue was a programming one for the front and rear lights. I've corrected the settings in the decoder so should be good to go.
Update: So it has been run up and down the (completely unpowered!) test track with my 3yo son on lookout duty and everything worked like a charm! All of the DCC functions and lights work as they're supposed to. The slow speed move-off is the tiniest bit jerky, so I might look at a decoder auto-tune on the motor at some point, but it's very minor.
After a handful of runs though, the loco stopped and appeared dead. The Revo was unlinked.
That was a bit worrying and I put it down to a blown fuse.
I pulled the fuse to test it and found it fine. NOT what I wanted to see!
Then the penny dropped - I removed the battery and hooked the loco up to the bench supply - all was fine again. In my haste to test after a couple of weeks on the bench, I'd completely forgotten to charge the new battery - it was flat
I have a number of locos to convert to battery, so I've decided to bite the bullet and start with the 2-truck Shay. Because this doesn't already have a decoder fitted, I figured it made for a good way to ease myself into it.
First step was to pull the PCB out of the firebox. I'm going to use this space for an ESU Loksound XL4 for sound, motion and lights, plus a Revo DCC receiver to control it.
The coal bunker was removed and the old Sierra and it's speaker removed. The plan is to keep everything else in the firebox, try to shoehorn an 18v tool battery in here and to make the bunker magnetic for quick and easy access.
Figuring out the Bachmann wiring loom was fun, mostly because the 'colour scheme' they use seems to be based on whatever colour wire was on the bench at the time
The decoder was loaded with ESUs Shay profile and test fitted into the firebox.
The speaker I had laying around and is the perfect size to fit under the cab floor. Although it's small it's a high quality 5w speaker and seems loud enough.
Next up, removing the track pickups from the trucks - necessary because they are directly connected to the motors.and removing them might also help reduce friction a little. I'm trying to make sure that all of the modifications I make are reversible.
The Loksound gets some micro-jst connections to make removal a bit easier
The coal bunker gets some molybdenum magnets to replace the screw connection. This will make getting to the battery quick and easy
The receiver and decoder mounted in the ashpan. A test for range is needed with this configuration as the receiver aerial is pretty low to the ground. If it's not great, the plan is to move the receiver to the coal bunker, to join the battery
The bind button for the receiver screws into a nut which has been epoxied to the back of the smokebox door
The battery is an Ansmann 14.8v pack, mounted in coal bunker. 5a fuse is just behind it.
Just waiting on a toggle switch for the power.
The first test run went fine on the bench supply. The only issue was a programming one for the front and rear lights. I've corrected the settings in the decoder so should be good to go.
Update: So it has been run up and down the (completely unpowered!) test track with my 3yo son on lookout duty and everything worked like a charm! All of the DCC functions and lights work as they're supposed to. The slow speed move-off is the tiniest bit jerky, so I might look at a decoder auto-tune on the motor at some point, but it's very minor.
After a handful of runs though, the loco stopped and appeared dead. The Revo was unlinked.
That was a bit worrying and I put it down to a blown fuse. I pulled the fuse to test it and found it fine. NOT what I wanted to see!
Then the penny dropped - I removed the battery and hooked the loco up to the bench supply - all was fine again. In my haste to test after a couple of weeks on the bench, I'd completely forgotten to charge the new battery - it was flat
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