No.5 - Sir Frederick
A
significant leap forward in technology (!) by way of LiPo battery power has
allowed me to fit a 3 cell 11.1v battery pack into Sir Fred's cab. The picture
on the right shows the battery below the door line inside the cab. Another
view shows the battery from the opposite side, also showing that the driver has
had to move to this side of the cab. The only thing preventing fitting the
battery on the right hand side is the internals of the accessory socket inside
the cab.
Also visible on the left hand photo, is the top of the speed control unit (ESC) just below the front of the door aperture. This is an MTroniks Loco Viper unit (with cruise control), a very small and neat device well able to handle the power of the LiPo. The original on-off switch as fitted by LGB is replaced by the MTroniks switch and I have removed my earlier switch (and power collectors) from under the loco. The output from the ESC goes straight to the LGB motor block and to the directional circuitry via the smoke unit connectors. This retains the lighting as before.
I removed the 'iffy' sound unit and speaker from its roof location and dropped a 40MHz Rx into its place, looping the aerial around the cab roof in the void. As the body is plastic and I expect helped by the ESC Cruise, early indications are glitch free.
1 week later.......
Well, that didn't last long! I found after a period of running that I lost all control over the loco, which then proceeded to behave most erratically.
The fault was traced to the elderly receiver which I've replaced with a 27Mhz one, and service is resumed! I also made a cut out in the cab roof below the vent so that the crystal is easily changeable.
The loco is now free from the Power Van which has been returned to service as a Goods Van, following a makeover.