It definitely was more run time than I expected, Dave. Although on my layout, it would always be getting some power from the rails, so it should run all day.
@@StanFerris I am modeling in N scale for now with steam locos only, but when I go to HO scale I will definitely consider dead rail steam locos. No more worrying about whether my power routing turnouts will want to route power through their points!
After the run test, I put the loco back on my layout and it took about 20 minutes for it to recharge off the track power. On my layout, the loco should run all day long as it will continuously get some power from the rails if I have the NCE power cab turned on.
hi, what i am wondeirng about is how do you charge it? which type of charger is between the rail and the battery? are you running the engine on 3,7V or are you using such voltagecircuits giving higher V out?
@@tschagalaga Hello! My layout was first designed for DCC power with NCE Powercab and controls. So when I considered going to battery power, I chose the S-Cab system with a controller that is compatible with NCE. The locomotive batteries are not removed for charging. There is a built-in charger on the S-cab board that uses the NCE DCC power already in the track. So the locomotive runs on the same dc voltage is it would with DCC, or standard DC.
Same was true for my HO set up, S-Cab runs side by side with my NCE DCC and it charges from rails. It was an ah ha moment for me, why should I be cramming in S-Cab at that cost when a keep alive would do the same for 29 bucks. Leaving you with much better DCC options. But outside on my G scale I run a 3.7vdc 1000MaH on a LGB small 4 wheel engine and it last 1hr 29 minutes no cars about an 1hr pulling 4 shorties
Thanks for the comments, Steve! One of my DCC locos had a keep-alive circuit, but it was unreliable because the keep-alive would only keep turning the motor but not listening to the cab control, so operating was troublesome. Yes, the S-cab is a bit more, but well worth it for me considering all the time and money that goes into building a layout. Blessings!
I was wanting it to be more extreme 😄 like taking it up a 45 degree hill
Ha ha!
I'm also considering dead rail for vintage locomotives like New Bright, Eztec/Scientific Toys and Echo. as they run on either 4 or 6 C cell batteries.
Yes, that sounds great! I can't remember when the last time was I had to clean my track rails!
THANK YOU...for sharing.
Thanks!
Wow that is really impressive!
It definitely was more run time than I expected, Dave. Although on my layout, it would always be getting some power from the rails, so it should run all day.
If you were running steam you could put all that stuff in the tender!
That's for sure!
@@StanFerris I am modeling in N scale for now with steam locos only, but when I go to HO scale I will definitely consider dead rail steam locos. No more worrying about whether my power routing turnouts will want to route power through their points!
@@user-nx8tk1pp5o I know what you mean! Did you see my video on putting dead-rail into N scale?
@@StanFerris Just now. Amazing how the electronics and the batteries are getting smaller and smaller. Keep up the great work!
After the run test, I put the loco back on my layout and it took about 20 minutes for it to recharge off the track power. On my layout, the loco should run all day long as it will continuously get some power from the rails if I have the NCE power cab turned on.
hi, what i am wondeirng about is how do you charge it? which type of charger is between the rail and the battery? are you running the engine on 3,7V or are you using such voltagecircuits giving higher V out?
@@tschagalaga Hello! My layout was first designed for DCC power with NCE Powercab and controls. So when I considered going to battery power, I chose the S-Cab system with a controller that is compatible with NCE. The locomotive batteries are not removed for charging. There is a built-in charger on the S-cab board that uses the NCE DCC power already in the track. So the locomotive runs on the same dc voltage is it would with DCC, or standard DC.
how much mAh have this battery??
420 mAh
@@StanFerris that's pretty decent in the RC world
Same was true for my HO set up, S-Cab runs side by side with my NCE DCC and it charges from rails. It was an ah ha moment for me, why should I be cramming in S-Cab at that cost when a keep alive would do the same for 29 bucks. Leaving you with much better DCC options. But outside on my G scale I run a 3.7vdc 1000MaH on a LGB small 4 wheel engine and it last 1hr 29 minutes no cars about an 1hr pulling 4 shorties
Thanks for the comments, Steve! One of my DCC locos had a keep-alive circuit, but it was unreliable because the keep-alive would only keep turning the motor but not listening to the cab control, so operating was troublesome. Yes, the S-cab is a bit more, but well worth it for me considering all the time and money that goes into building a layout. Blessings!