Tim, the Revulsion is based on Zigbee, a networking protocol poorly suited to the use of (typically) a single controller sending short bursts of packets.
A poor example to be sure.
But making a decision now does not need to lock one into a proprietary system, since there are non-proprietary systems available, with good track records.
That was my main objection. My advice to the OP is read, experience, and talk to people.
Regards, Greg
TonyWalsham said:I'm shocked to see you using his endorsement!
Mr Polk has openly declared that battery R/C will rule the roost eventually.
Are you saying you don’t take the word of the great man as the absolute truth? 
3 words does it for me!!! Battery/QSI/G-wire!! Nuff Said, let the beatings begin!! Hah LOL Regal
Greg Elmassian said:
... My advice to the OP is read, experience, and talk to people.Regards, Greg
Del Tapparo said:Greg Elmassian said:
... My advice to the OP is read, experience, and talk to people.Regards, Greg
What’s an “OP” please?
OP = “original poster”
TonyWalsham said:I'm more inclined to read what he says and then do/believe the opposite
Are you saying you don't take the word of the great man as the absolute truth? ;)
I am at the NGRC on Tacoma. The majority of people seem to be running batteries or live steam. There certainly are some track power layouts, Dc & DCC but they seem to be the minority. I overheard the onwner of one layout telling someone that “track power is a pain in the a**”. I wonder if the “humidity” in this area could have and affect on the power decisions here? One clinic presenter says that where he lives, they have 2 seasons. The rainy season begins about the 2nd week in August. It ends around the 1st week in August.
Batteries are not cheap. Good batteries are really not cheap. I believe there is a saying that you get what you pay for. In this case, it really might be true. It was very interesting watching trains run smoothly at slow speed, no stuttering or anything. All this on totally uncleaned track.
mike omalley said:Thanks. I never would have guessed that.
OP = "original poster"
Bill Swindell said:Yes, you may have seen the light (or the dark side, as they call it around here).
.... It was very interesting watching trains run smoothly at slow speed, no stuttering or anything. All this on totally uncleaned track.
The next question would be how long does a battery last?
I run radio controlled cars and they get about 10-15 minutes of run time. Do the train batteries last longer than this before they have to be recharged? It seems that I would be spending my time charging batteries instead of running the trains.
Just curious…
A few data points from my battery usage. The shay will run about 3 hours continuous round-and-around, or about 2 with lots of switching. The 45 tonner about the same, maybe a bit more. The K will run about 45 minutes heavy switching. (I assume this is because of the old batteries I have in it.)
I get about an hour and a half running a consist of 2 dash 9’s pulling 14 Aristo 100 ton hoppers with 16.8 volts at 3800 mA, with lights on the lead engine and no sound or smoke (my brain provides those). I get about 3 hours with the same battery and only one dash 9.
Basically, you will purchase and install the largest batteries you have room for. In most cases this will be at least 2 hours. Depending on the loco etc, it can be 6 hours or more.
My general rule of thumb is a 4400mah battery is good for at least 2 hours on a large loco. 2200mah is good for 2-6 hours on a small loco.
If you look around on “Evil Bay” you can find 7.2 6800 mah batteries for $80.00, for 4 of em with Tamaya plugs on em and FREE SHIPPING from across the globe!!! Don’t know how good they are but am going to try four of em!! 4200 here in the states on there for 2 for $49.00!! Good but not the best price of 4 for $80.00. Regal
Even if you flatten the batteries you can easily extend run times by using the on board charge jack to plug in extra auxiliary batteries in a trail car.
That can give you virtually endless run times.
I had an open house at the railroad yesterday. The day’s operations were split between two locomotives, each with a freshly-charged 2600 mAh Li-Ion battery. We ran continuously from 10 to 5, with neither pack going flat. I ran again this morning for two hours on one of those packs and it still hasn’t shut down. That–as the saying goes–ain’t too bad.
Later,
K
Kevin Strong said:
I had an open house at the railroad yesterday. The day's operations were split between two locomotives, each with a freshly-charged 2600 mAh Li-Ion battery. We ran continuously from 10 to 5, with neither pack going flat. I ran again this morning for two hours on one of those packs and it still hasn't shut down. That--as the saying goes--ain't too bad.Later,
K
I’m getting close to putting something permanent together in a trail car, and Li-Ion sounds interesting. What are folks using for packs and chargers?