I want to instale a battery for my Bach big hauler. I am looking at putting a battery into my 10 wheeler but I want to use a basic on off switch. Speed control is not an issure just forward and reverse. My biggest problem is money. I can afford a battery/charger and the switch but not much else. All I want to do is turn it on and let it run. My layout is not large so RC out plus way to expensive for me. Here is my question I have never done this before but how do I know what size battery (rechargable) to use. What does everyone else use for battery for this loco (I dont need it to run fast just a nice speed to enjoy watching it go around? Also how does it get hooked up. Do I take the wires from the power pickups (wheels) and hook the battery to the wires and add a switch somewhere between the battery and motor.??? Like I said I have never done this before and I cant afford to have it done for me plus I have to learn somehow. I figure this is a good way to start. If anyone has pictures of how it is hooked up that would be very helpful. I am visual learner. Thanks for all the help and dealing with a newby on this subject.
Shawn,
Might be easier to keep an eye out for one of the battery powered Big Hauler sets on eBay. They usually sell for much less than the regular DC electric sets.
Lionel also makes battery powered G-scale sets.
Ralph
Ralph Berg said:I thought about it but I am not a big fan of e-bay. Plus I really want to learn how to do battery power that way I can eventually do it to my other engine as well as any other future engines I get. Thanks
Shawn, Might be easier to keep an eye out for one of the battery powered Big Hauler sets on eBay. They usually sell for much less than the regular DC electric sets. Lionel also makes battery powered G-scale sets. Ralph
I’m sure someone from the Battery Mafia will chip in and help you out.
Ralph
Go to the forums on this site or any train site, and look under battery and rc or power, and by putting all the goobledegoop you find there you can diseminate out what might work for you or contact one of the members you see posting in battery all the time and they might be able to help you out! The Regal
Big Haulers usually have an on/off switch located under the front smokebox door for the smoke unit. I did a similar installation on a B’mann 2-4-2T engine. Just disconnect the wires from the wheel pick=ups and the smoke unit run then through the slide switch to a an 8 or 9 volt battery. I made up a 7.2 v battery pack from sub C NiMH batteries and installed it in a trailing battery car for the time being. It doesn’t need much juice to run it at scale slow speed. The 7.2 in mine keeps it trundling along nicely.
(http://www.lscdata.com/users/kenbrunt/_forumfiles/wrkcab02.jpg)
Two 7.2V NiMh are probably the cheapest. Wired in series, you’ll get 14.4 volts.
You might want to take a look at Del Tapporo’s Critter Control (http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/DelTapparo/Criiter_Control.htm) It allows you to set the speed you want rather than run flat out all the time.
You’ll also need to consider a charger and circuit. I installed my first batteries using the RCS chargers that I got from Dave Goodson, but my later installations have the battery removable so I can charge outside the loco.
Tony has some tips and kits over at http://www.rcs-rc.com/?page=on_board_battery/battery_overview.html
Del also just came out with a simple critter speed controller for $40. I picked up a simple speed controller
( http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250256811806 ) for $10 (plus a few bucks for connectors) that I’m using for my 7/8’s trains. More about it on my blog -
http://www.grblogs.com/index.php/2008/02/16/my-7-8-s-rail-work-truck?blog=25
-Brian
I filled my tender with an Aristo trackside TE and holders for 12 AA batteries. Works a treat for about $120.
Shawn:
A few comments and suggestions:
I believe the Big Hauler will run very fast on 14.4V. You probably want something in the neighbor of 8 to 10V for operation at something below slot car speeds. I would suggest you put the locomotive and the train you intend to run on the track and use a variable power supply to get the speed you want. Then use a voltmeter to measure and note that voltage. That will provide some guidance as to the required battery voltage.
On another front, your RR looks to have some grades. Uncontrolled (fixed voltage) locomotives will tend to run very fast down grade and very slowly upgrade. The test above using a constant voltage will show if this is within your (and the train’s) tolerance for speed change.
Del Tapparo’s ‘critter controls’ work very well, are quite affordable and allow you to manually set the speed dependent on the load and / or grade. Lots of battery powered LS model RRs start with something similar. Del has packaged the technology to make it affordable without requiring that you do the R&D and construction yourself. Using his stuff, you can use a 14.4V battery pack and just set the speed you desire regardless of train length.
Happy RRing,
Jerry
Thanks guys. I appreciate the plugs for my Critter Controls. We just had an open house yesterday (250 people). I ran Critter Control battery power exclusively without a single glitch all day.
Why would I want to sell a simple PWM controller for $39 when I know they can be had for $9.95 on e-bay? Mine is nearly half the size and designed for convenient roof mounting (board is parallel to the roof). Theirs is good for 3 amps (good enough), but mine will go to 5 amps (even better). Theirs will waste 1.0 volts of your battery pack with losses across the driver. That is one battery cell wasted! Mine drops only 0.1 volt. For $9.95, theirs is a kit that you will need to build and add connectors of your choice. Mine is fully assembled, tested, and has screw terminals. Mine works on 7-20 volts input. Theirs; I can’t find a spec.
OK is this the one that changes direction at the blink of an eye? Or am I confused again?
You’re confused again 
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Smooth starts and stops prevent gear damage and look prototypical
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Adjustable speed control with your last speed setting retained in memory
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All control functions are done with one rotary switch that can be disguised to blend in with the locomotive and still be readily accessible for operation.
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Off-board speed controls allow maximum installation flexibility.
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Automatic Station Stops and/or Reversing under battery power
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Eliminates the expense and frustration of radio control
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Full 5 amp Motor Driver can handle full size locomotives
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8 to 30 Volts input (8-20 cells)
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Built-in circuit breaker
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On-board diagnostics verify your wiring
Sorry for the confusion: Tom, your description is of the “Enhanced Critter Control”. The “Basic Critter Control” does the same thing, except no station stops or back 'n forth automation.
The $39 “Simple Critter Control” simply controls speed with the turn of a knob. Nothing else, other than being well constructed and designed specifically for use in large scale trains.