I am almost giving up. I am having a hard time getting my train to run outside so considering battery power.

[TTaannggss]

I can see the 2 wires I need to connect on opposite sides to the rear truck. Can I attach them to this rechargable battery and what gauge of wiring should I get? Thanks. I tried but this is just too tough.

 

[maxi-model]

First you will need to source a speed controller (ESC), manual or R/C, (latter needs a transmitter-TX and reciever-RX) recharging socket/on-off switch and fuse and it would be a good idea to get a wiring schematic for your loco to work out the best place to feed variable voltage and constant, for any accessories like lights and smoke generators. Voltage wise the pack you have is at the top end of what most LS locos will use. What loco and make is it ? Max

 

[Rhinochugger]

I can see the 2 wires I need to connect on opposite sides to the rear truck. Can I attach them to this rechargable battery and what gauge of wiring should I get? Thanks. I tried but this is just too tough.

Hi, from the photos it looks as if the wheels are pretty grubby.

I use acetone to clean mine (your wife's nail polish remover is much the same - or your nail polish remover come to that ) but be careful not to get it on any of the bodywork.

If you can dip a cotton bud into it, get the motor running and hold the cotton bud against the wheel, you'll be able to see a difference quite easily.

I'm assuming that you've cleaned the track before your frustrations got the better of you - the LBG had held cleaning block is the simplest, and surest way of track cleaning; I still use one and I have nearly 300ft of track

 

[TTaannggss]

It is aristo craft f unit. I have a dog and have to listen to her bark inside my house while I am running trains. She puts her dirty paws on the tracks. At this point I just want to run the engine. I might get a remote in the future.

 

[TTaannggss]

This is it. Plus the connections are just going to corrode over time. I want battery power. Can I use this battery?

 

[TTaannggss]

The engine has an on off switch. So I can hook everything up then get it to go. The origional plan was to have my battery operated toy steam engine run the tracks dragging a track cleaner but it does not work any longer. Plus with battery power it is easier on the f unit engine....less handling and cleaning plus I will be less exposed to chemicals. I givvvv up

 

[maxi-model]

Take a little look here Aristo FA-1 Tips A very good source of information, not just for Aristo' PA/B's. It's always a good idea to take a look at your loco and track maintainance regime, you can use smoke oil, instead of acetone, to clean wheels.

You can always just keep to one battery loco for those "lazy" days. I did that for a while. Now I have a whole host of them and gas fired live steam All run on the same track. Oh, and I still have the capability to run track power DC. Never got rid of my 20 amp Crest and 10 amp 5471 Train Engineer set up - both Aristo' products Max

 

[Jazavalley]

I can see the 2 wires I need to connect on opposite sides to the rear truck. Can I attach them to this rechargable battery and what gauge of wiring should I get? Thanks. I tried but this is just too tough.

Do not worry nothing ever cones easy, and once you get the first one running you’ll be really chuffed. I do not have an outside layout so cannot give advice, but hang In there, I have several times hit a wall and thought why do I bother then eventually got the issue sorted if you are not getting enough advice here, whispers, try another forum, and when you sort it, come back and show how you got it done.
best of luck.

 

[TTaannggss]

Cool but you see the battery specs that I want to use. Before I start to splice wires in the engine. Is it safe to use that rechargable battery? And what gage of wiring should I use.

 

[TTaannggss]

I first set up my g scale in my basement from Feb to late April when I set it up outside.

 

[PhilP]

You will find your loco may run too fast with that battery, but it will work.

MMany Aristocratic loco's have a travk/battery switch, and one of these connectors hanging out the end..
You can connect a battery into here.
Your biggest problem, will be connecting to the actual battery.

Please! Fit a fuse, as the first thing the battery is connected to.

PhilP

 

[Jazavalley]

Cool but you see the battery specs that I want to use. Before I start to splice wires in the engine. Is it safe to use that rechargable battery? And what gage of wiring should I use.

Well I can guess a rechargeable battery would be a good idea, as long you you are ok opening and shutting where you site it, and as you have to open for a normal battery no issue.
If you have a rechargeable I would have two, one ready to use and one on standby charging, so if it runs out your not left waiting for it to power up. Rechargeables are no less safe than usual batteries. in fact if you have solar panels they are a bonus as you charge when sun, and can use when no sun.
As for gauge, well that all depends on the draw of the battery,and there I have reached the limit of my effective usefulness, try searching the net, put your loco + rechargeable battery and see if you get a hit, or g scale and rechargeable battery,+ the battery power and draw and add wire gauge and see if you get hits. THEN if you get a reply see if you can find a second to confirm it! never resort to telephone wire! look in screwfix site and look at the wires for sale they may say what they are used with and solve your problem from the other end!
If all else fails ask on a model plane site because those guys tend be pretty switched on, flying your model is risky and avoiding a crash ensures they take care! So if they use the same battery it is likely (not guaranteed) that it MAY work with a loco, also rather expensive so check before transferring info from one site to another!
As you can technically minded I am not! but these thoughts may help you track down your answers, if not sorry for wasting your time.

 

[Jazavalley]

You will find your loco may run too fast with that battery, but it will work.

MMany Aristocratic loco's have a travk/battery switch, and one of these connectors hanging out the end..
View attachment 299395You can connect a battery into here.
Your biggest problem, will be connecting to the actual battery.

Please! Fit a fuse, as the first thing the battery is connected to.

PhilP

Can he add a regulator to slow it down???

 

[dunnyrail]

There are lots of issues about using what appears to be drill battery, but it could be used.

However you will need to be able to uncouple the battery from the circuit to recharge it, so some kind of connection to the power points will be necessary.

You do not show the side with power connection so this could be an issue as many of these type of batteries have 3 terminals for the setup. I cannot comment on the use of them.

Then you must have a fuse in the circuit just in case things go wrong.

The loco will need the pickups disabled, typically if you want to still have the availability of track power at say a friends house a DPDT switch wired in will also be necessary. You could use this as the off switch by having a DPDTCO switch.

However when to turn it on the loco is likely to set off like a scalded cat on 20v, remember this power will go direct to the motor, this a different scenario to providing that voltage via track as there is voltage loss to consider so we tend to have more Dc volts for G via a controller.

Finally speaker wires will do but some would disagree with that.

 

[TTaannggss]

Well I can guess a rechargeable battery would be a good idea, as long you you are ok opening and shutting where you site it, and as you have to open for a normal battery no issue.
If you have a rechargeable I would have two, one ready to use and one on standby charging, so if it runs out your not left waiting for it to power up. Rechargeables are no less safe than usual batteries. in fact if you have solar panels they are a bonus as you charge when sun, and can use when no sun.
As for gauge, well that all depends on the draw of the battery,and there I have reached the limit of my effective usefulness, try searching the net, put your loco + rechargeable battery and see if you get a hit, or g scale and rechargeable battery,+ the battery power and draw and add wire gauge and see if you get hits. THEN if you get a reply see if you can find a second to confirm it! never resort to telephone wire! look in screwfix site and look at the wires for sale they may say what they are used with and solve your problem from the other end!
If all else fails ask on a model plane site because those guys tend be pretty switched on, flying your model is risky and avoiding a crash ensures they take care! So if they use the same battery it is likely (not guaranteed) that it MAY work with a loco, also rather expensive so check before transferring info from one site to another!
As you can technically minded I am not! but these thoughts may help you track down your answers, if not sorry for wasting your time.

Yes I appreciate all the help I can get. I think I am going to unscrew the body from the chassis to tonight. Get the corresponding wiring tomorrow. Just hope the battery will not damage the motor. This battery recharges quicker than you can say Manchester 500 times.

 

[TTaannggss]

I am not that technical and think I will wreck the motor. I think next time I am in London ont I will go to a model railway store and buy what I need if he has it. I am spending way too much time cleaning and fiddling around with connections. As time goes by it will only get worse.

 

[TTaannggss]

I also have this

 

[maxi-model]

So, it appears you are right on the border, not that far from Detroit (these things are relative in north America, I know ). Not close by but highly respected in your continent when it comes to Large Scale battery and RC conversions Batteries, Chargers & Battery Install Kits | RemoteControlThrottles.com. Wires ? Most of the suppliers over here use multi strand, silicon sheathed, as available from any good slot car supplier. Max

P.S. I understand cruddy track and peripatetic locos can be a right PITA. However, a well thought out, accessible layout and a simple cleaning regime should be your first port of call. Some recommend a swiffler on the end of a stick, I use a similarly mounted abrasive block. I live in a fairly damp climate, my line is mostly in partial or full shade overhung by various shrubs and trees. They were not the problem - electrical continuity only became reliable when I cleaned up all the rail ends and switched from regular joiners to clamps...with a dollop of something like Coppergrease to slow down the tarnishing of those electrically conducting parts, thus rendering them unreliable. Yes I gave up the fight......after 18 years. Max

 

[Paul M]

I would try the 9.6v pack first, at least that way if it works, your loco will be a bit more controllable.

 

[TTaannggss]

Ok I will try them both. I will just wire and hook the wheels to the batteries. I want a slow meandering freight train. I might go to toys are us tomorrow and pick up a toy battery loco. Just to use as a track cleaner. Just I am having problems with the joints too and it seems to only be getting worse day by day. I have only been running my g scale train outside for a month and I am getting very frustrated. Puppy says hey what about me ...I want to have fun too as she steps on my tracks with her dirty paws.