Large Scale Central

Converting Bachmann Climax to Battery/RC

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

I’m looking for information on converting an older/original Climax to battery/RC. I’m mostly interested in wiring modifications needed to isolate the pickups and get power from the controller to the truck motors. I will be using a trailing car to hold the battery and electronics.

Any help or references will appreciated.

Doc Watson

#2

Like this?

http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips5/climax_tips.html

#3

The pickups can be isolated in the trucks. It’s been a long time since I did mine but I remember needing to rewire the chuff sensors to get them to work right.

Terry

#4

As there is only one contact per cylinder, the chuff sensors on the old Climax cannot be rewired to get them to work.

They would end up giving chuff, chuff, blank, blank.

You will have to figure out another way of doing it mechanically, or use voltage variation.

#5

I put magnets on the universal joint under the firebox, and mounted a reed switch under the firebox. It woks fine, if you don’t look too close

#6

First off, I won’t be putting a sound unit in the engine initially. So comments regarding sound are appreciated and saved for future reference.

David, I have looked at George’s article but I still need to find out how the leads from the front truck should run to the bunker. Any experiences would help a lot.

Doc Watson

#7

Don, are you going to gut the loco or use Bmans boards? I pulled all the wiring out and started over. The wiring for the front truck goes through the boiler to the fire box then if i remember correctly there in a wire way on the bottom of the loco from the fire box to the water tank.

Terry

#8

Don, what Terry said. The wires go up through the truck mount into the boiler/smoke-box and run back from there.

#9

Terry,

I don’t want to gut the engine at this time. I’ll check the wiring to the tank. If I apply power to only the front truck, maybe I can determine which wires are coming from it. And, if I remove all the truck pickups, perhaps then I can solve the conversion issue.

Thanks Terry and David.

Don

#10

Doc,

Dave Goodson did a Climax for us and it has been a great runner. I’m sure he’d share some secrets.

#11

Thanks Ric. I’ll check it out.

Doc Watson