If it is DC for an LED light to test be sure the + side of the LED (the longer prong) is hooked up to the + side of the circuit or it will not light. 

It's a regulator circuit to produce 9V DC from an AC voltage.  Presumably, you put track voltage in and get 9V DC out.  Since it has a 9V battery connector on it, presumably it was a 9V battery replacement circuit for a locomotive or operating car.

As John says, probably a 9V replacement circuit.  It appears the black wire of the battery cable connects to the "+" output of the circuit. This reversal from convention suggests the 9V connector is meant to look like a battery rather than take power from a battery.  The ginormous cap can mean many things but suggests it is for rolling stock (rather than track-side) to take dropouts.

Thanks guys!  Now I hope that I didn't kill it by hooking it to the 9V battery and light.  It did start to get warm.  Next time I'll ask first.

John

Well, the only component that I can see that might have died is the regulator, cheap and easy to replace.   However, I'm guessing that when you try it, it'll work, those regulators take a lot of abuse.

Do you think this might be a power supply for a CCTV onboard camera?

John

Could be, it's clearly a power supply for something that requires 9V DC.

Looks like the Flux Capacitor!

Marty!  Where's my DeLorean? 

George

I'll try it out on my train camera.  The only other thing that I might have got it for is a PS-1 battery replacement.

Thanks again for the help!

George, if it was I would go back to 1938 and buy a brand new 700E and get JLC to sign it!

John

It's not really suitable as a battery replacement, since the point of the battery is to provide power when there is no track power!

Could it perhaps be a type of 'BCR' intended to replace the battery on Legacy locomotives? The battery connector would connect to the battery connector in the locomotive, and the 2 wires would go to the AC power. I have heard that these exist, but I've never seen one.

Edit:  After a bit of searching, I think that I've found it.  It would seem to be a battery eliminator designed to power a camera from track power, although I suppose that it could still be used as I suggested above. This link shows a circuit that looks identical to the one shown above.  http://www.wirelessmicrocolorc...ttery-Eliminator.htm

I can't imagine what the utility of this would be.  The board obviously has no storage capacity, and when there's rail power available, the battery on a Legacy locomotive isn't really in the picture.  When you lose rail power, this power supply will also lose power, game over.

I believe it's probably a battery eliminator for the camera or a similar device.  So, your second guess is probably the best.

Nicole, FWIW, the camera site you linked sells a camera system for $99, and I bought the same camera for $25, so I wouldn't shop there if you want to save money!

CCS-811T1 Single Camera System, $99.95

2.4 Ghz Radio Remote Control Wireless RC Camera, $27.30

I agree, it probably is for a camera - I have two of those micro cameras.  I'll give it a try.  I was thinking maybe a battery replacement for Railsounds to keep it going during momentary power drop outs, but after looking at the BCR thread my board doesn't seem to have the capacitor size needed for that.  Thanks for the help!

That is the 2nd camera that I bought, the 1st was from Micro Mark for about 3 times as much.  It is the same camera.

John

Yep, I have two of these, and mine were in the $25 range both times.  I see them for absurd prices as in the example above, I just don't buy at places like that.