I recently purchased a locomotive with an older PH Hobbies sound system in it. Its circuit board is similar to that shown on the PH Hobbies page on Greg Elmassian’s website, though in my case the power plug is located on the end of the board instead of the side.

(Greg’s page on the PH Hobbies sound systems is located here)

I was told when I bought this that the sound system’s battery had died and I would need to replace it. I’ve opened up the loco and really don’t see a battery – I do see a rather large capacitor (280K) about the size of a C cell battery.

Anyway, in the absence of a manual or any further information on this, should I be able to replace the capacitor with a 6V battery like I have on the Sierra systems? Or is the capacitor another item which just has to stay in addition to the battery? The sound board is wired with a DPDT switch underneath; center goes to the capacitor, left side goes to the sound board, and the right side goes to two metal posts underneath the loco (I presume for charging purposes).

I’ll try to get some pics in a day or two - my apartment has pretty poor lighting for decent pictures at night so I really need to wait for daylight.

Thanks!

EDIT: So whoops – apparently there’s an electronics forum. I probably shouldn’t post after my bedtime. If this should be moved then please do it…

This is the sound unit for the NW-2 :http://www.usatgscalegroup.com/phpbb/download/file.php?id=246

As you didn’t say with unit I was guessing.

I hope this helps.

Sean

Actually the capacitor works out better, as long as it has enough capacity to run long enough when track power is too low.

Is the system working?

I think some manuals can be found, try posting a picture of yours if you can.

Regards, Greg

Scratch that. It’s not a capacitor – it’s some sort of weird battery that I’ve never seen before.

Looks like one of these.

I think I can replace that with another battery, correct?

Also Greg – I’ll try to get some better pics with my DSLR after the battery charges – but here’s what I took with my point and shoot:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8t7k78qadair73m/IMG_0092.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/i6esnwcv8j4yacm/IMG_0094.JPG?dl=0

The link to the battery picture is NG.

Something like this?

It’s several “coin” cells stacked up in series.

Greg

Yup Greg, that’d be it. Apparently I don’t know how to post a link here.

I have a few rechargeable 6V Ni-cads around…am I correct in presuming that those should pretty much be a drop in fit?

I believe so, you don’t want to change the voltage, each nicad cell is about 1.2 volts, so the voltage should be a multiple of this, 5 cells should give you 6v.

Try to keep the “size” similar, i.e. mah a lot smaller won’t power the system long enough, and a larger one could take longer to charge or damage the charging “system” (such as it is).

Greg