Battery Powered USA Trains NW-2 | Show Menu |
by Paul Norton
The following pictorial illustrates the conversion of a USA Trains NW-2 from track power to on-board, battery power and radio control.
As this was not a Plug and Play locomotive, a Super Socket was made for the 75 MHz receiver.
The socket was easy to make and there are several advantages to using it.
- The terminal blocks made wiring the receiver, motors and lights easy.
- The large chokes on the board suppress radio noise generated by the motors and greatly improve radio range.
- Resistors mounted on the board made adding LED lighting easy.
To see how the Super Socket was made, click on the link.
As the on-board, lithium-ion battery provides the power, and the 75 MHz receiver controls the motors and lights; the redundant factory wiring and circuit boards were removed.
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The redundant components were stored in a large Ziploc bag with the locomotive model number, road name and road number marked on it. If required, the locomotive to be returned to its track power state for re-sale at a later date.
In order to mount a lithium-ion battery in the fuel tank, an opening had to be cut in the frame.
A styrene platform was made to hold the battery in place and mount the Super Socket. An L shaped post for the Black Kat antenna was added, and fastened in place with a screw through the bottom. Longer screws were used to fasten the fuel tank and the platform to the frame.
The Super Socket was hot glued to the platform. The antenna was slipped over its mount, and the receiver plugged in to the circuit board.
Although it may not provide any greater range than the wire antenna, the Black Kat was easier to mount because of its small size.
The Black Kat antenna is sold by E Cubed R/C for $10.
Both lights were replaced with bright white LEDs. A two-pin plug was used to wire the front light so the hood could be removed easily. The rear light was wired directly to the rear terminal block, but could be undone if the cab had to be removed.
The bright white LEDs, and the two-pin plug are available from All Electronics.
CAUTION: The two pin plugs sold by All Electronics are not colour coded the same as the plugs in USA Trains or Aristo-Craft diesels. To see how to change the wires over so that proper polarity is maintained, click on this All Electronics Plug Fix link.
A double pole, double throw switch was required to toggle the battery between its charging plug and the 75 MHz receiver.
The DPDT switch, is available from All Electronics.
The hinge for the radiator door was modified, and a bracket installed to mount a double pole, double throw switch.
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A fuse was mounted above the switch, and one side wired to it. The receiver was wired to the fuse and the DPDT switch through the front terminal block.
Half of a two-pin plug was used to connect the battery to the DPDT switch. The other half was mounted on the front pilot as a charging plug, and soldered to the DPDT switch. The chassis mounting wings were removed from the plug to make it less obvious.
New wires and a 0.1 uf capacitor were soldered to the terminals of each motor. A capacitor across the motor terminals reduces radio noise generated by the motors.
The capacitors, are available from All Electronics.
The new motor wires were long enough to pass through the holes in the frame and connect to the Super Socket terminal blocks.
The DPDT switch was toggled to bring the battery and receiver on line. After programming the receiver, the headlight and motors were tested. Had the headlight and motors been operating in opposite directions, the motors wires in the terminal blocks could have been reversed.
The locomotive was tested and radio range at 135 feet was reliable and responsive.
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Last Modified 8/25/08 3:27 PM