Easy - Peasy battery R/C in a trail car for the K 27.

[Tony Walsham]

The K 27 looks like being a pretty straightforward battery R/C install using RCS.



The TRACK - BATTERY switch on the K 27 Super Socket is not wired the same as the AristoCraft socket.  Unlike the AristoCraft switch, the Bachmann TRACK - BATTERY switch completely isolates the on board BATTERY terminals from the track in TRACK position.  This is an effective battery supply ON - OFF switch.

We used an RCS # ILC-2. 

 

These provide enough parts for four locos.  The cost is about US$ 4 per loco plus the trail car and battery R/C.  Many operators will already have their trail cars set up so installation will be a snip!!!

Anyway, simply feed an RCS ILC-2 connector lead through the rear of the tender and connect it to the BATTERY terminals on the socket pcb.  Set the switch to BATTERY and you are all set to go.  If the loco runs backwards simply reverse the two wires at the BATTERY terminal on the socket pcb.

We found 14.4 volts gives an ideal top speed.  If you want to go faster use more volts.

In the next day or so I shall offer up some on board installation options.  These will range from very easy to quite simple.

[altterrain]

Tony,

If its running the wrong direction on first hook up, couldn't you just throw the NMRA/LS switch? or is that just hooked into the track power circuit?

Just curious,
Brian

[Tony Walsham]

No Brian. 

As advised by Mr Stan Ames, the NMRA - LARGE SCALE switch is before the TRACK - BATTERY PICK UP switch and will have no effect.

Edit note:  I had the original reply wrong.

Another edit note:  I had the original reply correct. 
Stan Ames was wrong.

Now the answer is once again YES.  You can simply throw the NMRA - LARGE SCALE switch to change the polarity of the BATTERY terminal.
The NMRA - LARGE SCALE switch is wired after the TRACK - BATTERY switch.

[Matthew (OV)]

Tony,

Hooked up like that, does the "dummy" board have to be plugged in for the lights and things to work?

Matthew (OV)

[Tony Walsham]

Yes Matthew.

Everything is left stock standard.
The dummy board will also be left in place for the very basic on board battery install.
It will also be left in place for the next level install.  However, two traces on the dummy board will need to be cut to isolate the motor for direct connection to the R/C controller output. 
The internal Bachmann electronics will then be powered by the full battery traction voltage the polarity of which is controlled by a small fused relay.
More later.

[Tony Walsham]

Here is an update on what RCS will be doing.

Since I wrote the above comments I have had a chance to study exactly what Bachmann is actually offering the LS community with the K27.
I have decided not to detail how to modify the existing socket pcb in the tender.  There will be no need to.
Rather I will offer two ways of installing battery R/C.  Neither of which will involve any changes to the existing Bachmann wiring.

Firstly, no matter what brand of battery R/C you will be installing, the Bachmann socket pcb provides an input terminal to access the pcb.
A. If you are installing a PNP controller with a built in, or plug in R/C, such as the QSI + Airwire system, you can use the BATTERY - TRACK switch as an effective battery supply ON - OFF switch.  It will be up to you how you actually install the batteries and access them to keep them charged.
B. If you will be installing an non PNP R/C system such as Airwire, Locolinc, RCS or EVO, that TRACK - BATTERY will not really suffice. You will have to still install the batteries plus an overall ON - OFF switch and method of on board charging if you don't want to continually keep removing the tender shell to charge the batteries.
In this instance I will offer the BIK-U3 installation kit plus a Y-CABLE harness for those want to use twin stick Ni-Cd or NiMH batteries that have Tamiya connectors. 
These two items will greatly simplify the installation for either A or B methods no matter which brand of R/C you choose to use.

Assuming you are choosing method B, RCS will detail two ways of going about the battery R/C install.
I won't get into specialist sound systems but rest assured whichever RCS system you use it will be sound compatible.

1). This will be a very simple method of installing battery R/C.
The dummy plug is left in place and the output of the onboard R/C controller is simply hooked up to the BATTERY terminals and the TRACK - BATTERY switch is set to BATTERY.  The track voltage is positively isolated so only the output of the R/C controller is fed into the Bachmann electronics.
Performance is just the same as it would be on track power but with a big improvement when compared to running on dirty track.
Because the lights on the K 27 will come on an instant before the loco starts to move, there is no real reason to go to a higher level of installation unless you want to have all the lights on even when stationary.

2). Now that RCS is confidant that Bachmann have got the basic socket design right, RCS will be offering a totally new Plug'N'Play R/C controller designed especially for the K 27.  The PNP-1. 

Simply remove the dummy plug and plug in the PNP-1. 
Plug in the suitably mounted RCS RX-8 receiver module.
Then hook up the fused battery supply, via  BIK-U3 if you choose to, and switch the TRACK - BATTERY switch to BATTERY.  (The PNP-1 is designed only for battery power.  You cannot use constant track voltage as the power source).
Then switch the BIK-U3 switch to ON. 
Link the PNP-1 to the RCS TX-24.
You will be set to go.

The PNP-1 will be capable of a genuine 3 amps continuous and be plug compatible with the Phoenix P5 + P5T sound systems.
It will also have options for use with other brands of sound systems.  Because of the way the Phoenix will be wired to the PNP-1, I see no problems using the built in K 27 chuff timer, as it comes from Bachmann.
The RCS PNP-1 controller will have built in motor "noise" suppression so that long range is assured when the system is correctly installed.
Subject to successful testing of PNP-1 prototypes, the PNP-1 will hopefully be available at the end of Feb or early March.

RCS is not in the habit of announcing vapour ware.

Rest assured, it will happen.