Greeting All! Just received my "Ebay Special" - a Weaver 2-8-2 Mikado with no box or documentation (OOOPS!!). Just lights up, I suspect the battery is dead as it attempted to run forward and reverse ONE TIME before just sitting with it's lights on. Any idea where I can get a battery?
Best, Mitch TCA 77-10545
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Is this an older brass engine with QSI or Proto-1 reverse and sound? If so, it needs a rechargeable 8.4v NiCad battery, which you can get from the hardware store, Harbor Freight, Radio Shack, Amazon, etc. Be sure to get 8.4 volts - There are some 7.2 volt rechargeables in 9v shells and those will not make your engine work. The battery MUST be charged before use. You can charge it in the locomotive by leaving it in neutral with 10 volts or more for an hour or so, but it's better to charge it fully on an external charger. Also, you should only use a NiCad battery on these older units. The old QSI-OEM electronics will not stand up to the current demands of a NiMH battery or BCR and you can blow the charging circuit if you install the wrong battery.
You can use a 9v alkaline battery for a brief test, but for regular use you need a rechargeable Nicad.
yup the bcr is the way to go.
Is this an older brass engine with QSI or Proto-1 reverse and sound? If so, it needs a rechargeable 8.4v NiCad battery, which you can get from the hardware store, Harbor Freight, Radio Shack, Amazon, etc. Be sure to get 8.4 volts - There are some 7.2 volt rechargeables in 9v shells and those will not make your engine work. The battery MUST be charged before use. You can charge it in the locomotive by leaving it in neutral with 10 volts or more for an hour or so, but it's better to charge it fully on an external charger. Also, you should only use a NiCad battery on these older units. The old QSI-OEM electronics will not stand up to the current demands of a NiMH battery or BCR and you can blow the charging circuit if you install the wrong battery.
You can use a 9v alkaline battery for a brief test, but for regular use you need a rechargeable Nicad.
Can you use a 9v alkaline for test purposes only?
DO NOT use a BCR in an old QSI-OEM system. It requires more charging current than the charging circuit will provide, and it can burn out the charging circuit. This information came directly from the late Art Boynton, who was the QSI factory service rep. The same goes for NiMH batteries. Early Proto-1 boards are also questionable with a BCR.
Yes you can use a BCR. I have used it in PS1 and QSI for several years have not had a problem.
I have had a BCR in my old PS1 Southern Ry F3 set for 3 years and no problems.
I just replaced a Weaver QSI battery with an MTH Ni-Cad battery for PS-1. The only difference is very slight and don't matter as the mAh(mili amp) rating is 120 instead of 100.
The Weaver engine is not exactly performing 100% even with a fully charged battery so I may have to replace one of the circuit boards but I will wait until something happens.
I have a Williams QSI sound unit I will replace it with and a bridge rectifier instead of the circuit board for direction. So what if I lose direction control, at least my engine still runs.
Lee Fritz
Many Thanks for all the useful informati fellow O Gaugers! I've ordered the MTH battery and an hoping for thebest
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