Model Railroading > Powering a small layout with 6V batteries

I have a 4 x 8 foot layout wired for DC, with track power wired separately from accessories power. I want to do an outdoor photo shoot where, at the very least, I can light up the accessories power, which includes buildings, street lights, and some other items.

A friend said I can do it with two 6V batteries wired in series to make 12V. Is that the case? If so, is there any chance of getting track power as well? Would I able to hook up two additional 6V's to the track power and get some kind of power for a single engine?

> A friend said I can do it with two 6V batteries
> wired in series to make 12V.

Welcome to model railroading circa 1930. Sure you can do it. I'd not risk a contemporary electronic power pack for control unless I'd know straight DC would be OK. Back in the days of 6 volt car batteries, model railroads were controlled by resistance dimmers and, often, creative ballasts and ghost loads.

Lighter Wrote:
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> > A friend said I can do it with two 6V batteries
> > wired in series to make 12V.
>
> Welcome to model railroading circa 1930. Sure you
> can do it. I'd not risk a contemporary electronic
> power pack for control unless I'd know straight DC
> would be OK. Back in the days of 6 volt car
> batteries, model railroads were controlled by
> resistance dimmers and, often, creative ballasts
> and ghost loads.

Ok, so maybe I should skip powering the track this way, but accessories might be ok?

> Ok, so maybe I should skip powering the track this
> way, but accessories might be ok?

Should be fine. 6 volts might be enough alone. If your lights and so forth are mainly LED then a 9 volt battery might be a better answer.

Thanks. The lights are mixed between LED's and bulbs. Maybe I'll have example photos this week of how it went.

You could do it easily. I know of a couple of off-grid types that use a marine battery to run the layout, then recharge the battery elsewhere.

You could use an inverter to generate AC for standard throttles, or modify a published throttle plan by removing the step down transformer and rectifier stages. Inverters can be found at auto supplies, truck stops, RV shops, and of course, Wally*World.

With more understanding of Electronics the battery could be connected to a model power pack, but there's some safety issues in there. For a short term set up it's not worthwhile and would confuse the original project.

If there is a transformer in the power pack there is danger of it produces a high voltage. Also concerns about wiring any circuitry backwards and damaging the circuitry.

For about $20 you can get a 100w AC inverter for a cigarette lighter 12v DC plug, $50 gets you 400 watts.
Either one gets you USB charging ports too.
This info from one minute on Google, checking Autozone and Wal-Mart.
A one amp DC motor drawing 12 volts is only 12 watts so even the little one has plenty of power.

It seems like for what you're trying to do, unless you're going to some other rural location, an extension cord might be the simplest thing.

steeplecab Wrote:
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> It seems like for what you're trying to do, unless
> you're going to some other rural location, an
> extension cord might be the simplest thing.

Yeah, it would be, but I want to get a background that blends seamlessly into the layout. I did it last spring at a much earlier stage at this location, which worked perfectly, and was about two miles away. I swung by there today to check that it looked the same, and now it is filled with new condos going up. Grrr... gotta find another spot.

---

For a short period, a car battery and a cheap 300-500 watt power inverter and a small basic transformer should get you a brief bit of operation. They seem to be available on Amazon for 25-35 dollars. When we had a power outage a few years ago, I powered an alarm clock and my laptop with a similar setup for a few days.

How long would a simple Computer style UPS last?

Some even have a carry handle.

The car that's getting you to the shooting location has a 12v battery installed. Why not use your jumper cable to power the whole thing? Just be careful not to let the clips touch each other.

Years ago, I made a Christmas display on a counter where I worked. It was in "G" scale and used a 1/24th scale RGS 2-8-0 sitting by the depot. After many days I started getting the old, "is it a real train?" questions. Finally, having no way to really power the thing properly, I used a regular 9V transistor radio type battery and the lights came on and the engine moved a few inches, everybody was amazed; so anything is possible.

John Huey
Simi Valley, CA
http://mancosbob.rrpicturearchives.net/default.aspx

SeaboardMan Wrote:
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> The car that's getting you to the shooting
> location has a 12v battery installed. Why not use
> your jumper cable to power the whole thing? Just
> be careful not to let the clips touch each other.

The amps from a car battery would turn an HO motor into a melted mess.
Inverter and a cheap transformer is the SAFE way to do it.

SeaboardMan Wrote:
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> The car that's getting you to the shooting
> location has a 12v battery installed. Why not use
> your jumper cable to power the whole thing? Just
> be careful not to let the clips touch each other.

Honestly I don't trust the condition of my battery that much, but as others pointed out, the safety concerns are a good reason to avoid it.

PHall Wrote:
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> SeaboardMan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The car that's getting you to the shooting
> > location has a 12v battery installed. Why not
> use
> > your jumper cable to power the whole thing?
> Just
> > be careful not to let the clips touch each
> other.
>
> The amps from a car battery would turn an HO motor
> into a melted mess.
> Inverter and a cheap transformer is the SAFE way
> to do it.

Amps are on an availability basis, not constant like voltage. You could have enough amperage available to arc weld, but if the load resistance limits flow to 1/2 amp at 12 volts, you'll get 1/2 amp. Drop a quarter across the rails, and all bets are off; you'll spend plenty of time changing burnt track and wiring.

Think about it. If you run your layout on a 15 amp household circuit, you are NOT using 15 amps of current. A battery is no different in that regard. Quite a few of you are confusing volts vs. amps.

Inverter and power pack is easiest way, but customizing a transistor throttle circuit to run from a battery is not rocket science.