M . T . H . E L E C T R I C T R A I N S
13
DASH 9 DIESEL ENGINE
The special NiCad 7-cell 8.4v self-charging battery recharges
continuously during train operartion 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 determined whether it should be recharged.
Test:
Put the engine in neutral and leave the track voltage
at 10-12 volts (high enough or 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 unit has a smoke unit, be
sure that it is turned off.
• Use M.T.H.’s battery recharger (sold separately) that plugs into the wall outlet and a
special port under the engine 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, the
battery must be replaced (as shown in figure 12, below). Contact the M.T.H. Parts
Department (phone: 410-381-2580; e-mail: [email protected]; mail: 7020 Columbia
Gateway Drive, Columbia MD 21046-1532) for a replacement battery. 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 like those found in most convenience stores.
SELF CHARGING BATTERY BACK-UP
Figure 11- Replacing the Battery
Replaceable Battery
Pull Battery
Figure 11- Battery Port
Battery Port
