I have a new Climax that can be switched between track power or battery power. Has anyone had any experience in using battery power with this unit? I also intend to install a Phoenix 2K2 Climax sound (from an older unit.) I’ll use a ‘Norton Board’ for controlling the sound etc.
Any info would be appreciated.
Bob
Bob, I have three of them. I use qsi plug and play with g wire. I run a battery car behind and it works great.All you have to do is flip a switch from batt to track.:)Regards,Ron
Thanks for the reply Ron.
Did you install any sound system in your Climax? I plan to use a Revolution without sound and hook that into the Phoenix and make use of some of the ‘magic’ Paul Norton uses. Thus my referring to the ‘Norton Board’ earlier!
Thanks again Ron and all the best from Vermont.
Bob
Bob, I do have sound. You should check out Tony’s trains in VT. They deal in a very simple p+p. I have a p+p sound decoder that plugs into the mother board in the climax. then I have what they call g wire receiver, that plugs into the decoder. then I have a hand held transmitter . Called nce g wire cab, that programs everything. But its all p+p you cant beat that. If I can do it anyone can LOL.So I would check out Tony’s. He will tack good care of you. Plus he’s in your neck of the woods. 
Regards,Ron
Thanks again Ron for the information. I am aware of Tony’s Trains etc. I have invested in the Revolution system and would hate to get involved in changing to a different system. We had several guys here today running trains track powered, battery powered and live steam. One friend suggested I simply install a Revolution with steam sound in the climax, and as you suggested use a trailing battery car and be done with it. I am leaning heavily in that direction at the moment. I’ll keep you posted as I go down that track!
Bob
Bob, ether way you cant do better then the climax.if you got grades it will climb it. that’s why I bought three. Just keep them oiled up. Have fun.Regards,Ron;)
Ron: I have the Revolution installed and running in the Climax. The sound is fine but I had to connect the speaker directly to the Revolution Rx. The lights are not working yet, but I figure I just need to do some looking and get that hooked up properly. I ‘hollowed out’ the underside of a log car for the battery and that looks like it will work nicely. I also took care of the ‘oiling’ of the moving parts on the Climax. So for your encouragement…Thank You!
PS Any ideas about the lights? Transmitter indicates they are ‘On.’
Bob
Bob, I’m not familiar with the revolution. But I also had to connect the speaker wires to the decoder. Did not have to do anything to the lights, they work fine with the qsi decoder. Glad to here you are gaining on it. Regards,Ron
Thanks again Ron.
Does anyone out there have any experience with the new Revolution Receiver with sound being installed in a Bachman Climax ?
Specifically having to do with the lights and firebox flicker, how did you get those features to activate?
Connections direct from the speaker to the Rev Board is necessary for the sound to operate properly.
Bob
Bob,
Mine has many miles and was built for me by Dave “Curmudgeon” Goodson. He even rebuilt it after it was involved in a major derailment. Great work horse!
Old RCS System with Sierra Sound, still works great
If it’s like most Bachmann locos, the Revo doesn’t pass battery voltage to the J1 pins 6 and 7, so the lights, firebox, etc. don’t get electricity. I’m not at home to look at mine at the mine at the moment, but try looking for solder pads that will allow you to make that connection. I forget off the top of my head if J1-6 is B+ or ground, so check that first.
Later,
K
Ric: Thanks for your words of encouragement.
Kevin: When you do get home, please send me more information as to how to go about making the proper connections from the Revolution Rx board to the motherboard in the Climax for lights and firebox flicker. A techie friend and I worked at it today and were not successful in getting the lights to light up when using battery power and the Revolution Rx and Tx.
I guess we are missing some information as to what we need to hook up on those boards!
Thanks in advance for your info and reply.
Bob
Hey Kevin: In connecting the battery to J1 pins 6 & 7, what about the battery voltage? I am using a 14.8 volt battery. Is the voltage too much to jumper onto those pins to get the lights working?
Thanks.
Bob
Sorry but I got sidetracked for the past several weeks. Just went through an unplanned triple bypass, so my focus has been on ‘things’ other than trains. But it looks like I’ll be at it once again in the near future and am determined to get that Climax lit up with the Revolution.
Bob
Bob, Sorry to here, Hope every things going well. Regards, Ron.
Ron: Getting stronger each day.
Thanks for asking.
Bob