DIY BCR FOR PS1 LOCO'S

With guidance and help from GunRunnerJohn, I have been able to make my own BCR's to replace the 9V batteries in my MTH PS1 loco's.

The cost of getting original BCR's from the US has become crazy, due to ever-increasing costs (AUS dollar to US dollar) and postage charges, and the extended time it takes to eventually get them to me here in Australia.

What I've done is to "convert" some of my junk "white" MTH batteries into BCR's, using two (2) super caps that are readily available here in Australia. (12 super caps with free postage is $62.57 AU - which equates to about $10.50 AU to make a BCR)

I carefully cut the top part of the battery case with a stiff box cutter or Stanley knife, and separate the top terminal section from the case, then I remove the old round batteries.

I then place two (2) super caps, end to end, (so they will fit inside the old battery case) and solder a positive (+) and negative (-) set of leads together, to configure the polarity "in series". I then solder a small length of black wire to the remaining negative (-) lead, and a small length of red wire to the other remaining positive (+) lead, and solder them to the base of each corresponding terminal on the "lid" of the old battery.

A small piece of insulation tape is placed over the top end of the capacitor set, so it cannot possibly short against the underside of the battery terminals where the red and black wires are soldered on.

The terminal cap, along with the two super caps (attached by the wires) is then slid back inside the old battery shell, and the top is held in place with red insulation tape. I then label the new battery conversion as a BCR, so there is no confusion as to what it is.

Each BCR is then tested in my "mule" (old AS-616 Baldwin chassis - no body shell yet!!), and all I can say is.....THEY WORK A TREAT!!!!!

I check the voltage (multi-meter) after running the Baldwin around the layout for a couple of minutes (horn, bell, couplers, crew talk...everything working), and they are consistently up around 8.5V DC. I am one happy camper!!!