Battery

Sound system backup.

Lionel used D cells in their postwar diesels to power the horn and correct me, if I'm wrong,, but didn't they also use a 9 volt on some early sound systems.

The batteries are almost always for something related to sounds.  Lionel RailSounds usually has a battery backup provision, and continues to this day.

MTH ProtoSound 1 uses a battery and won't run without it.  MTH ProtoSound 2 uses a battery as well.

Fortunately for Lionel-oriented hobbyists, I suppose ...

Lionel trains will run without a battery, but the "sacrifice" is doing without sounds for the locomotive shut-down sequence after the train has stopped and track power is shut off. IMHO, a cool feature, but its absence is just a minor inconvenience. Now that BRC devices are often used as replacements for 9V batteries in trains, regular use of trains will keep the BRC charged up and ready to go to work at shut-down. No battery depletion worries.

Mike Mottler   LCCA 12394
mottlerm@gmail.com

For Lionel, I have the battery solution. YLB - RailSounds Battery Replacement

@dkdkrd posted:

Isn't there someway to replicate the battery back-up circuitry for the sound feature to, say, a WBB Trueblast II board??  

I'm sure it's likely possible.  I haven't ever looked at it because it just isn't something that comes up for me.  I'm 99% a command guy, and most of my projects revolve around that end of the aisle.  If I ran a lot of conventional stuff with such boards, I'd be more likely to investigate the possibility. 

Adding to above comments on MTH designs.

Protosounds 3 uses a capacitor instead of a battery to power the shutdown sequence. In essence, MTH finally created a circuit that J & W Electronics BCRs took care of in retrofitted older MTH models.

I’m not sure why Lionel hasn’t followed suit.

Also, the battery in Original Protosounds (PS1) models can be problematic. The battery powered the chip for sound sequencing, but when the battery aged and eventually failed, it resulted in scrambling the chip during shutdown, requiring a repair. That’s why a BCR is a good idea for PS1 models.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

For Lionel, I have the battery solution. YLB - RailSounds Battery Replacement

Is that price for one or five? I saw it says "quantity 5" in the description, but nowhere else. I just wanted to verify if that was the amount you get, or the number in stock. 

Although it's not obvious, the number is simply their inventory on hand for a specific product, you get one for the listed price.  I've mentioned this to Bill on several occasions, it's less then crystal clear.  

If that were the quantity you got, this is a killer deal!

Thanks for clarifying!