Any downsides to the BCR/BCR2 circuit?

The BCR is made in the form factor of a 9V battery, so it snaps in to the same connector and sits in the same holder as the NiCD battery it replaced.

 

The only downside I can think of is that if you're using it in one of the engines known to misbehave if allowed to shutdown with a discharged battery, you have to remember to allow the BCR to charge fully before allowing the unit to shut down. I can imagine a scenario where you turn on power to a siding, realize you've activated the wrong engine and reflexively swat the toggle switch off before remembering that particular unit has to be left powered for 60 seconds before it can be shut down "safely".

 

Other than that it's just the cost of conversion if you have a large fleet.

 

---PCJ

is there any downside on installing the BCR circuits now and having them sit for what could be years? Many of them have already sat for at least 5 years.

no the only "downside" is you have to wait the minute for the BCR to charge up.

 

Does the circuit simply plug into the battery connection?

Yes... as long as you purchase the correct BCR 5V or 3V.

 

For engines with smoke units, is there any advice to storing them, e.g., wetting the wicks every 2-3 years

do NOT wet wicks while loco is in storage. you run the risk of the fluid leaking out and hurting the paint. alsways burn off all your smoke fluid and dry the exhaust before wrapping the unit in storage.

Actually, the usual recommendations is to add a few drops of smoke fluid to the unit for storage.  You don't want to saturate it, but 8-10 drops will do for fan driven smoke units, 4-5 for puffers.  If it's still robustly smoking when you are storing it, it probably doesn't need additional fluid.  I know MTH recommends it, and I've always made sure the smoke unit had some fluid when storing them.

 

 

 

Thanks.

 

How do you tell if an engine needs the 5V or 3 V BCR?

The  manual will have it, but if you don't have it handy, look at the battery. If it is a 9volt type that is the 5 volt. If it looks like 2 double a batteries that is the 3 volt. You could also look up the manual on the MTH website. Hope this helps,

 

Bob

Round charging port is 5 V square charging port is three volts

Good info. I know I have some older PS2.0 engines that don't have a charging port - would they be 5 volt?

 

When you have a BCR installed in a PS2 engine - do you increase transformer throttles above 10 volts and let the capacitor charge for 1 minute, and then address the engine with the remote, or does the PS2 engine start up by itself after 1 minute?

Ours our.

Paul,
    Good info. I know I have some older PS2.0 engines that don't have a charging port - would they be 5 volt?

Yes, they would be 5 volt.

If you are going to store them for 10 years, I definitely would remove the batteries. Leakage is rare, but not impossible and in any event, the batteries would probably be worthless in 10 years without a charge.

 

But, I would not install a BCR at this time, because in 10 years technology may have advanced to the point that current BCRs would be obsolete.  I would not discount the possibility that super-capacitors deteriorate in storage.  A PS2 loco will not be harmed by being stored with no battery or BCR, but don't start it after the battery is removed.

Actually, PS/2 stuff will run without a battery and not incur any damage.  The only thing you'd want to insure is the battery connector does not touch anything.  The battery is needed to insure proper shutdown when you remove track power and to maintain continuity on momentary track power interruptions.

 

If I were taking the engine apart to remote the battery, I'd just install the BCR.  There's no data to suggest the SuperCaps will deteriorate in that time period.

 

The battery is needed to insure proper shutdown

That's why I said don't start it after removing a battery

-+

 

You can run it and even shut it down without a battery, however removing track power results in an aborted shutdown.

 

You won't do any damage, but then there's probably no reason to run it after you take the battery out if you're storing it.

 

In the Train Club I belong to, the members have inquired from me the same question. So, after a brief non-technical answer, all of the PS2 engines, whether they take the 9V size equivalent or the smaller BCR, have been converted to the BCR units. One member had a engine that I replace with a BCR that sat on his display shelf at home for over a year plus. We just put it on the track, started it up and  about 1 ½ minutes later, away it went. In my opinion, replace the original with a BCR. Less headaches later, but this is my opinion. I hope you find your own resolution.