Skip to main content

Gentlemen - 

I have recently purchased a new old stock premiere DC-3 rail inspection car     (20-2242-1) PS 2

Tested and everything runs fine.  During lubrication I have discovered it has the dreaded 8.4 V battery.  I have removed it and want to replace it....what are my choices for replacement?  

 

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

A new NiMH battery will likely last 7-8 years. Consider your 5 v board may fail at any time then you have a BCR with no place to put it.
FWIW I just picked up a PS2 5 v engine from 2001. It had a white battery which may have been original as the engine was used for display only. It measured about .6v and was replaced with a NiMH battery I had. I decided to try and see if the old battery would take a charge and was surprised it did. Its been holding for a week. I don’t plan to use it but it could be used in a pinch.

Pete

@Norton posted:

I decided to try and see if the old battery would take a charge and was surprised it did. Its been holding for a week. I don’t plan to use it but it could be used in a pinch.

For around $3 for a new NiMh 9V (8.4v) battery, I can't see taking the chance, if I see a white or silver 9V battery in an MTH locomotive, it's the first thing to hit the trash can.  I don't really care if it holds a charge, it never gets the chance here.

I understand the risks of forgetting to charge the NiMh, but you could burn through ten of them before you exceed the cost (with shipping) of the BCR.  Proto 1 is likely on extended life support by then anyway.

Is there any downside to leaving the engine on the track for 14 hours to charge the NiMh?

Not sure of the downside of charging or not charging a NiMH. I hadn’t charged the one I had for two years. Put in the engine and it was found. Check it with a voltmeter first. 8 volts or above is Ok.

BTW the white batteries are NiCads. Same applies though. 8 volts or above is OK you won’t blow up the engine. Don’t use the charge circuit in the engine if the voltage is below 8 volts though.

Pete

Last edited by Norton
@Norton posted:

Not sure of the downside of charging or not charging a NiMH. I hadn’t charged the one I had for two years. Put in the engine and it was found. Check it with a voltmeter first. 8 volts or above is Ok.

BTW the white batteries are NiCads. Same applies though. 8 volts or above is OK you won’t blow up the engine. Don’t use the charge circuit in the engine if the voltage is below 8 volts though.

Pete

I've had a lot of BAD batteries that will hold a voltage above 8 on a meter. When they go under load the voltage drops rapidly to 5 or 6. To truly test these batteries, you need to apply about a 100ma load and monitor the voltage for about 15 seconds. If it stays above 8, then you have a good battery.

My worst experience with a battery is one that sat long enough that the polarity on it reversed. When the PS1 engine was started, Magic smoke rolled out a few minutes later.  Somehow the board and charging circuit still worked after a new battery was installed.

Last edited by H1000

Add Reply

Post
The DCS Forum is sponsored by

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×