Batteryfying a Baguley for Free - er... minimal cost

[3Valve]

Hi folks,

Been experimenting with battery power for my Accucraft Baguley.

Wanted to battery power it without spending a fortune as I've got one of the new metal chassis on reserve. So I raided my spaes box and dug out my old Aristo Basic TE (the orange jobby).

After removing the electical pickups from the Baguley, I made a mounting plate for the TE receiver circuit board out of 80 thou plasticard and mounted it all up in the bonnet portion of the Loco. I strapped up a couple of 9v batteries in series and wired in an on/off siwtch. Lo and behold when I powered it up it worked.

Now got something I can stick pretty much straight on the track and run. When the new chassis arrives I'll probably battery R/C with Cliff Barker components but for now this should keep me happy.

Circuit Board in place

Another shot. Aerial cable passes into the cab and is coiled up in the cab roof.

Body on - on/off switch not too visible under the footplate.

Loco in service hauling 16 Tons of summatorother an empty open wagon and brake.

 

[minimans]

Re:Batterfying a Baguley for Free

Very neat! But when I read the title I thought it was free deep fried bagels..................................

 

[yb281]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

Now that's a damn clever idea mate. Nice one

 

[3Valve]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

Very neat! But when I read the title I thought it was free deep fried bagels..................................

Ah good spot. Title corrected.

 

[Neil Robinson]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

That looks good.
What mAH capacity are those batteries and how long does the loco run on one charge?

 

[3Valve]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

Ah glad you popped in for a look see Neil. They're just standard non-rechargeable jobbies that I used to test the theory.

Need to find something suitable in rechargeables and would welcome any advice, as I'll probably use this chassis for a scratchbuild when the new one arrives.

I don't think these standard PP9's are gonna last long on a run.

 

[GAP]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

For batteries I surf Evil Bay and get the cheapies from China
I have some 3000mAHr AA's on order 16 for $10 Aust postage included.
I have 9 installed inside a LGB 2076 tank engine along with a 2.4GHz receiver and a servo with a DPDT switch glued to it.
Its easy to just fit them into place and run jumper wires to make a custom battery pack.

 

[Gizzy]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

Nice work mate....

 

[Neil Robinson]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

Need to find something suitable in rechargeables and would welcome any advice, as I'll probably use this chassis for a scratchbuild when the new one arrives.

The basic train engineer is rated at 12V to 22V DC input. I imagine that the Baguley would run O.K. on 12V into the train engineer as it's a diesel shunter rather than an express loco. I suggest you test this by lashing up a 12V DC supply in place of the two 9V batteries in place at the moment.
The choice of battery is then down to available space. I think the Train Engineer will take up much of this so you may need to use single NiMH cells made up into several packs of differing shapes to suit the available space. For 12V you'll need 10 cells, preferably AA size, but AAA if you can't find the space for AAs. The best AAs will give around three times the running time of the best AAAs between charges. If there's room you could consider lead acid gel cells or Lipo packs but AFAIK these aren't available in the wide range of shapes possible with made to order AA or AAA NiMH packs.
You can always experiment by using any type of AAA or AA battery taped together to check for space before ordering.

 

[CoggesRailway]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

Very neat. Experiment with the run time. I did a similar thing with duracell batteries just playing around and it lasted a suprsing time. But ultimatley 200mah won't be enough i'd guess

 

[400Parker]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

My Baguley/Drewry was converted to run on 10 x 1.2V rechargeable AAs (to give it a 12 volt supply) by Mike Ousby of Acme Engineering http://www.acmesteam.co.uk/ .
I see the Component Shop http://www.component-shop.co.uk/ < Link To http://www.component-shop.co.uk is now selling 2900mAh AA cells @ £4.95 per pack of 4, which looks pretty good. They also sell the necessary 10 cell battery holder. I looked into using a lead-acid battery, but I couldn't find one that would fit, and in any case the AA cells have a higher capacity.
Steve

 

[Neil Robinson]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

Presumably a 5 volt smoke generator would only draw around 2 - 3 W and not diminish the running time too much on a set of 10 AA s ?

The 5V smoke generator will draw around 250 to 300mA, I guess that typically the motor would take about twice that so using a smoke unit would reduce running time by around one third.

 

[shropshire lad]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

Just caught up with this thread,brilliant Gareth
I've got a basic TE unit that came with my Lil Critter set somewhere so i can feel a Schoema conversion coming on

 

[3Valve]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

So quick update on this originally free but now low cost battery project.

The PP9's have gone and were replaced with 12 x 2000Mah rechargeable AA's. What a difference. I've had about two hours continuous running so far and it now maintains a reasonable and realistic speed. The drawback is that I've got half a cab full of batteries now but you can't see them at normal viewing distances.

Took a quick video at the weekend after the battery change.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd961MsQt7s

 

[stockers]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

Nice bit of work there. the vid looks great. great use of an old orange train engineer.

 

[yb281]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

Excellent.

 

[Hobo]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

Very neat! I'll be re-visiting again soon as I'm going to attempt something similar with a GRS Kerr Stuart kit on an Otto chassis.
Haven't got a plan yet, but I want on-board batteries and control rather than in a trailing wagon. :thinking:

 

[MRail]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

I kept my Baguley cab clear by forming 12 x AA's into a U shape to fit over the motor.
This is covered by a plasticard box with switch & charging socket accessed by hinging the bonnet flap.

Receiver & Mac 5 under a false cab floor. Brass plate was for antenna (40MHz) now converted to 2.4GHz.

 

[MRail]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

I believe Tony Walsham did something similar but neater using shrink wrap.

 

[Tony Walsham]

Re:Batteryfying a Baguley for Free

I have done quite a few of the first generation Baguleys.
http://www.largescalecentral.com/LSCForums/viewtopic.php?id=6389 < Link To This was the first attempt.
I followed that with a couple of updates.
http://www.largescalecentral.com/LSCForums/viewtopic.php?id=7712 < Link To Update # 1
http://www.largescalecentral.com/LSCForums/viewtopic.php?id=8264 < Link To Update # 2

I am awaiting the latest version to appear so I can convert one with the latest version of the RCS PRO-3 ESC and Planet 2.4 Ghz R/C.
That is going to be more of a challenge as the motor now occupies part of the under bonnet space.