@bob2 posted:I don't see it as a diversion. The discussion is based on why folks don't buy more 2-rail, and "dead rail" or battery RC will make the center rail obsolete. What could be a more natural progression in a thread such as this?
OK, well in that case I'll offer a few thoughts.
One of the challenges with 2-rail is reversing loops. It wasn't as much of a problem in the days of running everything in blocks before command - but with command - which I VASTLY prefer - you need relays and sensors and all kinds of things to get the trains to run smoothly through a reversing loop. Now 3-rail doesn't have that issue - and neither doe dead rail, and that is one thing that makes dead rail attractive.
The challenge with dead rail is recharging the batteries of course. They have to be taken out of the engine or whatever and then charged on a pack. I guess maybe some systems have an external charging port, but that route takes the engine out of service until it's charged. This is a first world problem obviously - but there is one thing I don't like - and that's leaving 3rd party lithium batteries charging un-attended. While I (mostly) trust laptop and cell phone manufacturers with their built in lithium batteries do to their proliferation - I've still seen lots of phones and laptops turned into charcoal bricks.
I think part of the reason we haven't seen any major manufacturers take the battery power route is due to the fire hazard and potential liability.
Now, how to solve it... I thoroughly believe a combination system is the right path. Battery powered locos combined with Bluetooth wireless (or other wireless coms) that use a STANDARD that everyone can agree on. Then, charging-on-the-fly operation where you just provide dead simple AC or DC 15-20V on sections of the layout to allow the locomotives to charge as they pass over them. This will allow them to enter and exit reversing loops without trouble, and continue running on the actual dead rail sections of the layout. Engines could also be easily charged while they sit in a yard or engine facility.
Think of these "charging sections" as the track pans of yore where the locomotive scoops up what it can opportunistically. Doing it this way would allow the whole layout to be powered down without worry of the lithium batteries overheating, giving everyone peace of mind and removing a lot of danger and liability issues. The current supplied doesn't need to be anything special, no special wiring to combat signal issues, or voltage drop or anything else. Just electrified straightaways or something.
