16 Premier 4-8-2 M-1b Steam Locomotive
The special NiCad 7-cell 8.4v self-charging battery recharges continuously during train
operation and should last for up to five years. The battery is a dry battery that should not
leak or cause any damage to your engine. Depending upon when your engine was built,
it may need to be charged right out of the box. If engine sounds seem distorted or
garbled at low voltages or become silent when power from the transformer is turned off,
test the battery to determine whether it should be recharged or replaced.
Test:
Put the engine in neutral and leave the track voltage at 10-12 volts (high enough
for the lights to shine brightly and the engine to move steadily) for 15 minutes.
Recharge:
If the sounds are
improved at the end of the 15-minute
test charge, the battery charge has run
down and can be recharged. There are
a number of ways you can do this:
•
Leave the engine in neutral
with track voltage at 10-12
volts for 6-7 hours so the
battery can fully recharge (if
your engine has a smoke unit,
be sure it is turned off).
•
Use M.T.H.'s battery
recharger (sold separately)
that plugs into a wall outlet
and a special port under the
water hatch in the tender to
recharge the battery overnight
without leaving it on the
track.
Replace
: If the sounds are not improved at the end of the 15-minute test charge, it is
time to replace the battery. Available through M.T.H. Parts. A standard 9v alkaline
battery can be substituted until your replacement arrives, but since alkaline batteries
cannot be recharged, it will eventually wear down. Do NOT use a 6-cell 7.2v battery.
Self Charging Battery Back-Up
Unhook Wires, Remove
and Replace Battery
AC Battery
Recharging Jack
Figure 8
