Estimated runtime for LGB Porter with DCC?

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Lylat1an

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I'm about ready to test my first battery conversion, but the manual says that I shouldn't run the battery lower than half of its capacity.

With that in mind, how long might a CVP AirWire900 BAT2 (14.8v 6.8a) run a LGB Porter with a DCC sound decoder before reaching that point?
 
How long is a piece of string?

Do you intend to use smoke?
Sound? - How loud??
Run it like an express, or sensible speeds?

Having said that, if you mean 6.8Ah capacity for the battery. You can very probably run all day.

The loco will probably draw 1-2Amps and I would guess you will not be running full-throttle?
I would expect 4-5 hours of continuous running. - More likely, more than enough before you have to go do something else, or get bored.

Enjoy!

PhilP
 
Lylat1an said:
I'm about ready to test my first battery conversion, but the manual says that I shouldn't run the battery lower than half of its capacity.

With that in mind, how long might a CVP AirWire900 BAT2 (14.8v 6.8a) run a LGB Porter with a DCC sound decoder before reaching that point?
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What type of battery is it?
 
Lylat1an said:
Lithium Ion.
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They can usually be run down to a quarter discharge, As you have been advised to only run it down to discharge I would stick to that. As previously stated you should get a run of at least 4 hours. However I would supervise any recharging to prevent any incident.
 
casey jones snr said:
They can usually be run down to a quarter discharge, As you have been advised to only run it down to discharge I would stick to that. As previously stated you should get a run of at least 4 hours. However I would supervise any recharging to prevent any incident.
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Okay, thanks!
 
As with almost everything about batteries, there seems to be over-interpretation.

For longest battery life, avoid discharging your batteries deeply, and indeed they will last longest with never being discharged "fully".

But, assuming you can only use 50% of the available capacity is very limiting.

Taking them down to 25% is perfectly fine, if you do this all the time, the battery may last a few less years, but who really cares? Enjoy your trains and use that battery. (I'm on electric car forums, and this is a continual debate, agonizing over charge cycles, max charge percentage, minimum charge, etc.)

Think of your batteries in your train like your laptop... would you turn off your laptop if the battery got down to 50% and you needed to use it?

No, you keep using it.... do you make a habit of this? No.

Greg
 
Hopefully, it is a properly constructed pack, with a BMS (or protection) board?
In which case, you should not be able to over-discharge the battery pack.

It is not a good idea to use individual Li-ion cells in a holder designed for 'conventional' cells.

PhilP
 
Seems very odd, only being able to use half of the batteries charge, a bit like filling your car with petrol, but having to stop for a refill at half a tank
 
Paul M said:
Seems very odd, only being able to use half of the batteries charge, a bit like filling your car with petrol, but having to stop for a refill at half a tank
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It is more to do with getting maximum life from the battery technology. - Though for model trains, we are not stressing the batteries normally.
Lithium-based batteries can be permanently damaged, if discharged too far.
Either the battery pack will have a protection device (board of electronics) or the device the batteries are powering, will normally look after this for you.

PhilP
 
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