Large Scale Central

Batteries, and the need for new ideas in their form

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

With more and more people changing over to battery powered locomotives, and the need for new ways to put batteries in locomotives;

I ask; when will some manufacturer, design, and produce a battery pack (With the latest battery type) that replaces the coal load in a steam locomotive’s tender ?

Take for example; one of the most widely produced model locomotives is the Bachmann 10 wheeler. Another is the LGB Mogul, and maybe the new Aristo 2-8-0, will be the next most produced of this group of locos.

With the numbers produced, surely it would be worthwhile for some enterprising manufacturer, to produce a battery pack, that could replace the coal load in those locomotive tenders. Just a simple plug in. There of course would have to be one type for each loco.
When installed it would look like a coal load.

This would make it much easier for new conversions, and get away from the need to bother with a “Battery car”, which is a pain in the butt…!!

The coal load would be charged on a simple charger just like the ones that charge up most gizmoz we see today. The charger would be of the type that you just plug the battery in and forget it…no overcharging, and a light that indicates a full charge.

The battery should be able to power a single motor locomotive, like the ones mentioned for 2-3 hours of constant running under a moderate load.

Solar power for recharging batteries is a nice thought, but this “Coal load” replacement idea, is one that would be more practicle, for today’s needs, and look one heck of a lot better than a battery car, constantly needed behind a steam locomotive that already pulls a tender behind it with a simulated source of energy, that could be made to be real.

So; if this “Coal load” could be produced, all a person would need to do, is have two coal loads (Battery packs), per locomotive, and just keep them charged, allowing them to run a locomotive constantly for 2-3 hours, or “Operate” a locomotive for up to 5 hours, per battery pack.

This whole idea is to try to bring us just a step closer to making our model locomotives look and operate with more realism, without jumping into live steam, which most would not be able to enjoy or master in safety, or expence.

Years ago, there was talk of the future over at Bachmann, in their design department; of “New battery technology”. It was suggested that new “Electric power cells” could be moulded from new “Plastics” of the future, that will be able to store electrical energy in any shape needed. At that time, mention was made, of model locomotive tender coal loads.
Are we any closer to that “Future” than back then…?

Why not a “Battery Pack” looking like a coal load, using existing battery technology… NOW…?

#2

It might be said, for those that question it: that there is a great difference between a locomotive that just runs in circles, constantly; than one that is involved in what is known as Operation.

When constantly running, a locomotive is using electrical energy constantly.

When a locomotive is used in an operation, it is not running constantly. Some of the time, it is stopped waiting for a “Meet” on a passing siding, or waiting for “Orders”.
From our experience on an operating outdoor model railroad; an average locomotive is using power only about one third to one half of the time, in a 4 hour period, while in service.

This is mentioned only to give some idea of how much battery life you need while enjoying the freedom from the dependence on track/wheel contact for electrical continuity purposes.

NO (Before some well meaning person steps up with a bat in his hand)....There is a place for track power, and there is a place for battery power....this is not meant to start a war.......!!!
#3

That’s a great idea, Fred.

I think the only idea stopping it is the wide variety of receivers and sound equipment that takes up so much of the space on a 10 wheeler, of what ever generation, tender.

#4

Hi Fred,

As a manufacturer I think one reason you haven’t seen a specific battery designed that fits into your specific loco, is just that. Too many locos or tender sizes for a specific battery design. At least for my company, “Cordless Renovations” we try as best as we can without purchasing every locomotive, to offer a wide variety of battery designs and if we don’t offer it, we will build you a specific battery-pack that will fit directly in the space you need.

All of our installers ask for very odd shapes, sizes (L-Shape, Triangles, H-Shapes) and dimensions that fit into a wide variety of loco’s, and I’m sure that some of our designs have been installed into a Bachmann 10 wheeler or a LGB Mogul. I know in time as I get more familliar with each locomotive you will see designated battery designs that will fit into your loco, but until that happens please give us a call and we will help you in any way we can to get you up and running.

Rick Isard
Cordless Renovations, LLC

#5

Fred, maybe your thinking of this or I’m not understanding you correctly?

If you referring to changing out the mold of the coal or designing a battery-insert that looks like a coal load or is attached to the backside of the foam insert, that may work? But, I’m not sure of the sign requirements or dimensions where the battery would fit, and that’s the problem.

I’ll do some digging around and ask questions to our installers to see if this will work?

Rick Isard
Cordless Renovations, LLC

#6

I think it may be easier just to make a new, removable coal load for the tender, then use whatever battery you choose to fit underneath it. That allows the most flexibility in terms of placing the battery, control electronics, and speaker. (I like to use the largest speaker possible for a given space, and shoe-horn everything else in around it.) I use mostly 14.8v Li-Ion packs, 2600mAh, that are all of 3" x 3" x 3/4". They fit right under the coal load in even the smallest of tenders, so all I need to do is remove the coal load, swap the battery with a fresh one, and replace the coal load. It’s not remotely difficult to make a custom coal load for a loco. (I wrote about my technique in an issue of Garden Railways a few years ago.)

Besides, it’s therapeutic to take a hammer and whack on a lump of coal with reckless abandon in order to make smaller lumps for our coal loads. Would you really have our manufacturers take that away from us by providing us boring cast coal loads??? :wink:

Later,

K

#7

Considering using a Lithium ION battery in my battery car brings me to view some older posts.

Breaking up coal, to replace plastic, is quite a rewarding task. It does look more realistic. However, one of my ‘Annies’ is a wood burner. Out of the box it possessed that apalling ‘plastic’ load. I decided to reove and replace the plastic. I quartered some cherry wood twigs which produced fine looking logs. I left the ‘logs’ in a container in my garage to dry out slowly over the winter period. When the time came for this loco to be run I built a log load, almost identical in shape to the original load, with these new cherry wood logs. A most dramatic visual improvement. :wink: The left over logs were placed trackside - a thing which I notice was done on the Colorado ng lines.

#8

Kevin,

Do you recall which particular issue it was with your coal load article? Or the approximate date? I’d like to find it.

Steve

#9

Steve, try August 2008.

K

#10

Thank you, Kevin.

Steve

#11

Yeah, have an Annie too, so I think I’ll dredge up a year old post on batteries.

Alan, how the heck did you find this post about batteries to talk about coal loads? Tell me it was not cosmic radiation, you searched for “coal”?

I’m starting to worry about aliens.

I know, why the heck do we have to keep the thread on topic if everyone is through with it? Nasty old Greg…

Greg