Lead Acid Batteries

ALL LEAD ACID BATTERIES - avoid using more than 50% capacity. If you run until the loco goes slow then you will shorten the life span and capacity. I would recommend a second set for full day running. Use as little and charge as often as you can. Even put on charge while having a lunch break.

Many manufactures do not recommend charging at a higher current than 10% of capacity - ie 42 amp hour battery should not have more than a 4 amp charger.

Car battery V leisure/traction battery

Asked anyone 20 years ago and the answer would have been simple. Use a car battery for constant drain use and the battery would be dead after a few cycles. You left your car lights on and the battery may never have recovered. Replacement batteries lasted 3 years if your were lucky.

Today we are seeing car batteries with 5 year guarantees and some lasting up to 10 years in car usage. Modern car batteries have changed. Look up on the internet and there are several sites that claim there is no differnce between modern car batteries and leisure/traction batteries.

• The Hercules has been designed to take two type 063 car batteries. These are round post and can be used with the quick release battery connectors. If you want to use flat post batteries the equivilent battery is the 085.

• To cover ourselves we have to recommend that you use leisure / traction batteries for this engine. That said they are roughly twice the price and we haven't had any problems to date. Be aware though any guarantee which comes with car batteries will be void as you will not be using then for there designed purpose.

With our own locos we see standard car batteries last 3-4 years.

• The Hercules deck is designed to accept two standard car batterries. By placing them at the ends the loading on the bogies is more evenly distributed.

• Expensive verses cheap. I am not convinced there is much to be had from more expensive batteries in use for locomotives. Run either down and you will ruin them. 

• Voltage is a basic indication of amount of power left but it is basic and not very accurate. The iDrive will shut down is it reads less than 22.8v  - this to help protect the batteries.
  

• A type 063 car battery weighs around 12kg. Not a lot but two together on a 34kg chassis is dangerously heavy load. Please use round post and quick release battery connectors. This removes the temptation to lift a Hercules with its batteries in.

• BATTERY ACID - if there are signs of wet on a battery make sure it does not come in to contact with skin or clothing. If it does wash immediately with lots of water. Should your loco overturn, promt action to upright the batteries may save further damage/injury.

• Strap down batteries when transporting in a vehicle. Even in a foot well.

CHARGING YOUR BATTERIES

One charger - charge each battery in turn. Two chargers - Link wire doesn't have to be removed. in fact the two chargers can share the same wire. We would recommend an automatic charger which automatically drops to trickle charge when the battery is full. Over charging batteries is a sure way to shorten the life of a battery.  The control board should be isolated before charging - turn off the battery isolator switch.

• Avoid overcharging batteries - alway use an automatic battery chargers to prolong the life of the batteries.

• If you do not use an automatice charger, then charge in a well ventilated space as over charging can produce hydrogen gas.