On Board Battery Charger for the NCE Procab.

Many of us use rechargeable batteries in our NCE Throttles removing them to be re-charged. 

Many years ago I installed some "On Board Chargers" from Mark Schutzer in the U.S, comprising of 4 components mounted on a very small printed circuit board, installed onto the Wireless Board with 3 connections, details at Mark's Web site 

Plugging the Throttle into the Cab Bus charges the batteries at 52 mAs with the system powered.

The LM317 Voltage Regulators used in Mark's Article, are smaller versions of the TO-220 LM317T unit. 

Some years later I added the On Board Chargers to the rest of my Throttles using the smaller LM317DCYR Regulators using SMD 24 Ohm resistor, a Diode & Capacitor, all purchased from Element 14 here in Sydney, mounting them onto some Veroboard & glued it to the Throttle housing near the Wireless Board. I also used some LM317LZ Regulators.

Recently I was asked about installing a battery charging circuit into a Procab. 

Only attempt the "installation" if you are confident with soldering. Do at your own risk.

Jaycar only has the TO-220 version of the LM317. While they have a SMD 1 Amp Diode, they don't have the surface mount 24 Ohm resistor or the Capacitor. Below are listed their Part Numbers for the 4 components I used for the LM317T Charger shown below: 

        LM317T - ZV1615, 

        IN4004 1 Amp Diode - ZR1004, 

        24 Ohm Resistor RR0533 & 

        .1 uF Capacitor - RC5360.

Using the Circuit Diagram in Mark's above Article.

I soldered the 24 Ohm resistor between the Output & Adjust legs of the LM317T.

I then located the LM317 under the Red & Black wires from the Battery Compartment, shown right.

I soldered the IN4004 Diode from the LM317T's "Adjust" leg, with the "band" end (Cathode), connected to the Red wire from the Battery Compartment.

I soldered the Capacitor "across" the LM317's Input Pin & the Black Wire from the Battery Compartment, see below photos.   

As shown, the Input (12.0 Volts) for the LM317T, is taken from the Wireless Board Harness where the Red Wire connects to the 27K (273) SMD resistor. 

If it looks too difficult to solder a wire to the 27K SMD resistor on the Wireless Board, connect the LM317's Input (thinner Red Wire in the photo), to the 12.0 Volt Input of the 5.0 Volt Regulator, on the Procab Circuit Board. Shown right with an alternative position of the LM317 Regulator. 

A close up of the alternative position for the LM317 Regulator, with some heat shrink on the Capacitor lead going to the Negative Tab as it passes the Battery Positive Tab.

Making the LM317T Charger is much easier than assembling SMDs on a piece of Veroboard. 

Cab06s have a Circuit Board that includes "spots" where you add the components 

Mark Schutzer sent me Circuit Board with 8 X RJ12 Sockets that allows for up to 8 Throttles to be charged at once. Powered by a 12.0 Volt 1.0 amp Power Supply. The power to Throttles via the Pins 2 & 5 of the RJ12 Socket is disconnected after 15 hours. This Board allows charging without the DCC system being turned on. 

Chargers can be added to Cab06s using SMD as per Mark's Cab06 Article. I have added the components to one of my Cab06s.

Using re-chargeable batteries, be mindful that batteries should be inspected for leakage etc and never install NON rechargeable batteries. I used to add a note in the Battery Compartment to "Rechargeable NiMH ONLY". 

Operating Session.

I have accumulated more than enough locos and rolling stock over the years, with the latest acquisitions almost finalizing particular passenger train compositions. 

I have made up 20 trains, in most cases including a loco, and they're stored at Stations, Loops, Sidings etc, ready to run. 

Each of the trains has a double sided "Operating Card" with the appropriate instructions to run the train, that's clipped to the top of the Throttle as shown. 

Many of the above trains end up back where it started from. A “return” Card has been done, if the train needs to be returned to it's original location, marked with asterisks below.

While I occasionally run a train, I'll have some mates over for an Operating Session. Let me know if you'd like to run some trains on the Main North. 

 

 

For an Operating Session, I’ve sorted the Operating Cards into a "sequence" and placed them into the "Trains to Run" (Lower) Pocket, above my Work Bench. When finished, hopefully the Operator returns the Card to the “Finished Trains” (Upper) Pocket, instead of his pocket.

Whenever an Operator needs to run a train, they should take the next Card in the “Trains to Run” Pocket.

I have operated and had lots of fun with a Timetable Operating Session on a friend’s layout. I have all the appropriate Working Timetables but have never got around to finalizing a Timetable. This would replicate operations more accurately but this “sequence” method will do for the time being. 

Note: My DCC Ammeter is on the layout fascia.

Staged trains & their location are listed below. Highlighted ones have a video of the train made, some years ago.  

                                Empty W44                                                Sulphide Works 

                                Newstan 1200 Ton Coal Train                 Newstan Mine.

                                Brisbane via Wallangarra Express             Gosford Station Platform 2

                                Northern Tablelands Express DEB Set  Armidale & Northwest Staging

                                Newcastle Flyer                                         Newcastle to Sydney to Newcastle.

                                Glen Innes Mail                                         Armidale & Tamworth.

                                North Coast Perishable Goods                  North Coast Staging.

                                North West Mail                                      North West Staging.

                                Newstan Empty Coal Train                       Port Waratah

                                Interurban 8 Car Set                                  Gosford

                                Brisbane Limited                                       North Coast Staging

                                Gosford Race Day Train                           Gosford Racecourse

                                Full BWH Wheat Train                            Werris Creek

                                Superphosphate Train                               Sulphide Works

                                Coke Train                                                Sydney Staging

                                Full W44          ***                                   Sydney Staging

                                North Coast Daylight Express                  North Coast Staging

                                Toronto Passenger                                     Fassifern Station.

                                Glen Innes Mail     ***                            Sydney Staging        

                                620/720 Railmotor                                    Newcastle.

                                Empty BWH Wheat Train       ***           Port Waratah

                                Coil Steel Train                                        Sydney Staging

                                North West Mail           ***                      Sydney Staging

                                RU Wheat Train                                       Tamworth

                                Sheep Train                                              Tamworth 

The "bottleneck" during Operations, is at Broadmeadow due to trains needing to run into Port Waratah which is at the rear of the Broadmeadow Yard. Trains to/from Newstan Mine and other south locations, can require 3 roads/loops for run arounds etc, to get in/out of Port Waratah/Broadmeadow. No trains or locos can be left unattended in Broadmeadow’s 4 Rear Loops (Tracks 4 - 6) or both mainlines. Track 1, closest to the Aisle has some rolling stock and locos. The track into Port Waratah is located between the Yard and the Station. See Track Plan below. 

Another busy location is Gosford, where trains to Sydney needed an  engine change to a 46 Class Electric, except the diesel hauled (44, 45 & 48) trains from the North Coast. Trains from Sydney required the 46s to be replaced by steam locos at Gosford. I model this loco change over. Possibly a Yardmaster is necessary here, possibly me.