Innovative Lego Train Power Solution: No More Batteries Needed!
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- Опубліковано 5 тра 2024
- Innovative Lego Train Power Solution: No More Batteries Needed!
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Direct link for Power Pickup: bevinsbricks.com/store/ols/products/9-volt-lego-train-power-pickup-adapter
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why can't I get to the website? It says it's private and wants me to go back to saftey
I believe FXBricks has/had something of the sort on their pipeline
Not sure nobody else has had any problems making orders
So we're back to the 70s/80s electric powered trains!
YES!
But now we call it "Innovative Lego Train Power Solution"
@@Netaction Give it the Apple treatment.. take somethingn old and call it innovative.
Never did I think I would see a system like DCC for more conventional model trains in Lego.
Actually Lego DCC has been a thing for many years, using a special firmware on an RCX and real DCC decoders. I ordered a couple decoders but haven't gotten around to trying it yet
I e never seen anything dcc for lego, who sell it ?
@@BevinsBricksWorld I wrote a lengthy reply to this but it either disappeared or got blocked by UA-cam for whatever reason 🤔
@@BatteryPoweredBricks i am intest in it
Playing Around with raspberry to get it work
@@BevinsBricksWorld Not sure what happened to my previous comment. It's not a product, LDCC is a custom firmware for the Mindstorms RCX. You use the Mindstorms IR remote to send commands to the RCX and then it sends power / commands through the outputs to the track. A 9v motor would have to be modified with one of three supported off-the-shelf DCC decoders. It's a really old project, but very cool. It has a ton of applications outside of trains as well
Please send this to LEGO to let them rethink their current train system.
Hi Leo
Wasn't expecting to see you here!
Personally I'm a fan of the electric rails owning both 12v and 9v stuff, but I don't think LEGO is actually wrong in their current methods either. Lego is expensive anyway and the track is expensive enough even when its just mass produced injection moulded plastic, using the 9v style track by default is going to price most folks out of buying the Lego train for their kids. And that isn't a good thing, if you don't get the kids ever playing with stuff outside of the computer toys like Lego will start to die as the oldtimers do. Plus not being conductive track means you can create track layouts that would be impossible in 9V.
A battery is simple, relatively cheap to buy, lasts a pretty long time even with cheaper low capacity rechargeable battery and ages with alkaline battery. Its good enough.
@@foldionepapyrus3441Lego isn’t expensive because of the production cost though. Lego is just expensive because it’s Lego.
@@woalk Not that I have any major complaints with any of the clones I've tried, they do interesting ideas Lego have not, and at the price being rather shoddy in comparison isn't disappointing really. You just can't compare the two so directly and say Lego is too expensive. As you do get what you pay for.
Lego is really high quality, lasts virtually forever, and has really well thought out set designs that have clearly gone through many iterations to be really detailed, solid constructions, and still have the play value. Where the clone type construction stuff may be substantially cheaper, but its generally massively worse in quality, with much worse set design that you have to add new parts to so it won't fall apart on its own...
So yeah Lego isn't expensive entirely because because of the individual parts production costs, some of it is because they have great customer service and really make well thought out sets - all that proof of the design costs more. But the parts are just better than the clones, especially the cheap clones that either don't grip at all or can't actually be put together without a softhammer...
Mouldking stuff is the only 'compatible' clone I've seen that gets close in part quality to Lego, and its not exactly cheap either. Because parts with the right tolerance even when you are very clearly copying Lego's homework are not cheap to make the injection moulds for... And with the designs of their sets being stunning to look at but very flawed in places. It is very clear instead of rejigging the set design or designing their own part that won't cause rapid part failure for overstress by abuse they have copied Lego's homework and probably never actually test built the design for real before putting it on sale. For instance they use droid arms held in clip brick around the elbow as a decorative element on one of the locomotives I have - which just doesn't work you will snap that clip brick in very short order or lose the arm as it violently springs off if you don't file down the elbow and glue or solvent weld the two together...
“Sold Out” already 😂
Yeah didnt expect that so soon. I had 20 listed, so Ill be making more as soon as I get home to get them for sale.
Brick fair is coming up fast
Tbf, it something the lego portion of the model train hobby needs badly.@@BevinsBricksWorld
You should use a bridge rectifier its basically just 4 diodes instead of two.
The advantage is you will have power no matter the direction you turn the knob.
I actually have a few rectifiers on order to test sizing
You made a dream come true for many of the train people (incl. me). Also for City-Builders, this are greate news, because it is annoying, to change the batteries or load them often.
Totally agree
I still have some of the old 9V and even 12V train parts around. They were a looot better than modern ones in many regards. Lego back then had a lot of accessories for them and specially the 12V had many different nice lights. Lego had always been expensive, but back then it also has the quality and products to demand that price.
How i loved building things like small lighthouses or trainstations with all the various gimmicks light up.
I never owned any of the 12 volt stuff, but have seen some of it and you are right, they had some amazing options and parts.
Wow Daryl! You just keep bringing the hits! First some awesome lighting products. Now some cool train options 😍. Love the power adapter to the small connector for power functions. I need one for Powered Up. YALL HELP FUND DARYL'S R&D!
Hey Scott thanks, as for the power ups to .8mm plug I already sell those on my website as well 😀
I was wondering why nobody has invented this yet.
Now we got.
Good job.
Because it's $60 for one set of wheels
You mean what regular model trains have been doing for a while?
You've outdone yourself once again Daryl! This is totally awesome and wish I had room for a display with trains! Nice work buddy!
What you could do regarding Powered up: Just create a replacement for the lower part of Powered Hub City Hub. There are two pins for 9V on the upper part. Pros: Train will still works with phone, remote or PyBricks, no patent issues. Cons: You still need an expensive hub.
I'm surprised that in the last 20 years no supplier has come up with the idea of offering something like this in mass production.
The idea itself is not new. FX-Bricks announced something similar 2 years ago. (i think)
This is so essential for 9v Train lovers.
Almost ALL Lego motor systems can be operated with this, including. 12v train-motors that also run wonderfully on 9v.
Above all, it makes digitizing the Lego trains enormously easier.
These current collectors MUST go into mass production and offer them (significantly) cheaper.
That... is GENIUS! Probably cheaper than a LEGO 9v motor and gives better traction too! Also a huge advantage if trying to build a powered steam locomotive with the larger wheels driven by a power functions motor. I don't have a 9v layout or the space or motivation to build one at the moment, but if I ever do I'd love to go this route.
That would be a great use for this
You’ve outdone yourself again, nice job Daryl! I will be placing an order.
Thanks, Ill be making more available tonight after I get them produced.
This is awesome! The brick at 2:16 really cracked me up. Great work.
Lmao, yeah got a little over pushy that that brick 🤣
I love this so much daryl, thankyou for doing this community a service!!
Thank you I appreciate the kind words and support.
This is brilliant! I also hate batteries and use 9V for all my trains. I'll be buying some of these from you when they're back in stock!
How well do they work on switches and other track that have small "gabs" (x-crossing). The reason why LEGO always used 2 pickups (front and after wheels for the motor for example) is to make sure the power pickup is never interrupted. I always wondered how big this impact is because LEGO could have cut costs there as well, but they didn't.
Thank you for this question. As I feel I over looked testing on switched track. As you are correct the switches have a gap that could cause an issue. Ill be looking at that today and will be posting a video on it.
You should use one of the PWM lines for the LED so that it is controlled by the receiver and with the train controller you can change the brightness. PWM is also used to control the motor speed. Also throw a capacitor and a current limiting resistor on there just to be safe
Cool, a pretty simple idea, for a lasting problem. Maybe think about a more advanced system building off this. Maybe something like a basic sound board that taps between the pickup and the motor, it could change the sound it plays based on who much power it receives
This is such an awesome product. Congrats on the release!
Thanks my friend, still cant believe so many people are after these
I wonder if we could use the new tracks with a copper tape on it that would work with this system.
Absolutely
Alien tech from the 90s/2000s (at least that's when I grew up with Lego trains)
I was looking for something like this on Reddit a few weeks ago!! Thank you so much!!
Sold out but exactly what i always wanted, a single wheel set power pickup, FXBricks teased something like this years ago but we never got it.
I took 50 pre orders and once I get all those orders filled I will be offering both a single and double pickup version again.
I ordered two of the single pickups five days ago and they came today (I expected them to take a lot longer). I’m super excited to try them out this weekend!
My goal is to try and have everyones shipped out by this weekend. Glad to hear they arrived quickly for you :)
Even if many of the comments describe this idea as ingenious, I don't see it that way. The idea is basically good but not thought through to the end. It definitely won't work on switches because of the non-electrified "gaps" and I'm not sure about crossings either, unless you buy two of your adapters for a total of $80 (!!!). It probably doesn't make sense then to use the two adapters on one bogie, but on two different ones. But that means that I have to lay a lot of cables to the locomotive. For visual reasons, I need a lot more of the stainless steel wheels for §25 a pair. And finally there is the problem of the missing weight due to the missing battery box.
To be honest, I don't see any advantage at all compared to an used 9-volt motor that I can buy for about $50 on Bricklink. Your idea is definitely not for people with a normal relationship to money. It costs me hundreds of dollars to equip just one of my trains.
That may be your opinion but I cant make and sell these fast enough. Your looking for cheap and thats ok. This isnt cheap.
I dont know why this showed up in my feed but I wish you many many sales in the future!
Thanks for the good will :) hope you have a blessed day !
Fantastic
This is awesome. I'm another step closer to trying out a powered track system.
I prefer them myself just if no other reason no batteries.
brother made dcc for lego trains. nice.
try making a similar verison when i worked in a machine shop few years back for this exact idea. you design is brilliant will be buying some soon 🎉
Really interested in this for PoweredUp
Those will hopefully be released next month
How genius is that 😱👍 I love how old stuff can still be used. I'm also using the 9V transformer, to drive my Brick-build Monorail on the old 12V rails with powerfunction motor's.
Greetings from Switzerland
Buttermaker
Awesome!
Moin,
simply a fantastic invention. I'd love to see more of these great implementations.
Greetings Inu
Thanks 😊
awesome part but the price is kinda crazy :o i also hate batteries and am using the old 9v system. i was hoping that fx bricks create a digital system like "normal" model trains have had for years already, so we can control lights and have multiple trains on the same track, doing different things
Amazing solution!
Thanks
I'd really like a Powered Up version so my train could _provide_ power to the track instead of _receiving_ it. Think about it: As your train goes down the track, other 9v trains are getting _powered up!*_
*9v track only.
Lol, I dont think the batteries would be able to.produce enough amps to power the tracks.
Thank you for making these, I plan to buy sets for all my trains once I am financially able to, I've been talking with my more nerdy friends for years on how we could do this, I've been trying to source steel wheels from old Eurobrick forum posts for a while with no much luck. Even been trying to clone the ME metal tracks, with not much success
No rush, I will be making and selling these for awhile :)
okay! i feel the need to mention what exactly this can do, because this? This is REALLY Cool-
this will, in theory, allow for directly motor driven 9 volt steam locomotives, with driving wheels actually doing the driving, and no battery box hidden in a wagon or tender! this also allows a small electric tram to be mostly empty and still motorized!
Thanks and yes this gives a lot options for train builders.
you can use a full bridge rectifier just above the weels to get the supply lines polarity always right for the +9v and 0v lines. no risk of burning anything this way if someone turns the knob the other way around
Yes that is a great idea
Daryl you are awesome man! Keep up the good work! LEGO needs to bring back and needs more electric trains
Thanks and I agree 100% never understood why they stopped them.
Absolute genius!
Thanks
It baffles me lego the multi-billion dollar company can't do this when there is a clear market for it
Another great idea ! Just wish someone would make the 9v system parts again. I get so fed up changing batteries.
Thanks, Fxbricks makes great track for 9 volt. I designed a simple power box and a new connecting cable, but still working out the bugs before I offer any of it.
Looks great, would definitely be interested in it if I had the space for a train display lol. I’m in school for engineering and have a good understanding of electrical and hobbyist elements. How difficult do you think it would be to modify existing Lego tracks to be able to carry an electric current?
Understandable, trains are an expensive hobby
Very nice! May I suggest you consider 3D-Printing the wheel base? I'm sure it would need it way less time to manufacture, and it's a lot less expensive than you might think. I have a FDM printer farm, and I agree this technology might be a bit to rough for very delicate parts (even though you can reach it with high accuracy), there are other printing technologies where you can hardly make out a difference to injection moulding.
I have considered it but I have also seen very few things printed for lego that have a good clutching power.
@@BevinsBricksWorld Fair point. I'm not really in the Lego game, so one would have to test it out first. cheers
When you doing the adapter from the wheels to the IR use a Rectifier circut.
Its basically a rectifier yes using diodes.
Do you think it's possible to make a train motor brick (like Lego sells) where a battery is included in the brick itself? I've always dreamed about having a train motor that doesn't require wires, but also doesn't require the 9V track.
Its possible, but the box would need to be made larger for the batteries and due to the amp draw of the motors you would not get much run time.
love this! long live 9volt trains!
More products will be available soon too :)
Impressive my guy!
Thanks
That is AWESOME! Price is good for the creation. Question, if you don't have the electric version track and use batteries, will it run on normal Lego track?
Well it can ride on standard tracks yes, but no way to induce power so no need for it.
Make an adaptor that sits between the IR controller and the motor, with outputs for red and white LEDS such that the front of the train is white and the back is red, whichever direction the train is going.
Thats a good idea
Incredible. Ever since i picked up a vintage 9v set ive been looking for a solution like this. I'd absolutely like to pirchase a few kits if/when available. Im wondering if a 3d printed wheel holder might be a good solution.
(I should clarify im interested in getting the pieces and building my own wheel sets)
I do sell my wheels alone also
I was looking for a way to do this for ages! I dont use PF but if you ever do PU ill buy a dozen.
I do plan to offer pu as well just waiting for my plugs to arrive so I can set them up. 😀
this could be pushed further to implement something similar to (if not actual) DCC for Lego trainsets.
Nice! Curious does this work on regular LEGO train track and using foil stripping on the track?
Absolutely
I'm the same on "say no to batteries". Your diode adapter does make me wonder if a capacitor in that circuit could also help jump gaps in the track. Like at my basic level understanding, it only needs to store enough energy to move the train less than an inch and it'd be sufficient. I don't actually know how long the IR receiver has to be unpowered before it'll stop driving the motor though, maybe it's already internally handling that issue.
Sadly I'm probably not ready to pay international shipping on this kind of thing but it's nice to see new components available, not just hope to find the 25 year old bricks that still work.
Not sure if a cap would hold enough juice to power thru, but at the same time, with a single wheel setup, the train rolls right over the gap if moving at a medium speed so it might.
Awesome
Hey Rob 👋
great work.
I always had a similar idea but i always was to lazy to build something like it.
I get that, for me once I get an idea in my head, I cant get it out until I do it.
@@BevinsBricksWorld I write them down just in case an oppurtunity comes up and I can bring an idea to live.
BTW heads up for your honesty explaining the price.
this is very cool, I dont have power track, but the lego grope Im in dose, and has train displays, I definitely may get one at some pont!
also I only see the 4 wheeled adapter and not the cheper one.
Im currently filling pre orders and will release both versions after the pre orders are filled. As for the 1 wheel set or cheaper as you call it, they do not work on switched track.
Would advise using a dedicated bridge rectifier ic/discrete component for the adapter. Also I'm not entirely sure but I'm not sure the power up hub has a power input on the ports. Theres contacts that you can expose by unscrewing the battery compartment and removing it from the hub.
a bridge rectifier may be better yeah. it would drop the requirement that the rails be the correct direction, and allow for doing odd layouts with polarity crossings if so desired (tho extremely rare I'm sure)
What are you using to transfer the power from the metal wheels to the cable? Carbon brushes? Metal springs?
Stainless steel bearings
What Lego should do.
This is amazing. Well done!
I've never owned any 9V Lego tracks or trains. I only have PF and PU, and I never considered 9V because I don't like the wiring. But I'm starting to dislike the battery boxes too now, so your video is making me sway. Question; Can you run multiple trains independently on 9V? Whenever I see videos of controlling the train speed using the black/yellow controller, it makes me think that the motor is simply being fed more or less power through "the grid". But this will be true for all trains on the tracks. So they will all speed up or slow down. So are they independently controllable?
They can be seperately controlled if you set the speed control at full throttle and add a pf reciever
This is incredible!
Amazing that you've finally, as mentioned by many others, made many dreams come true.
The power pickup itself is just plain revolutionary, but the remote control adapter is insanely cool atop that!
I'd love to buy your products, but it seems your website either has a certificate error or my computer security software is just being persnickety.
Thanks, dont see any issues with my website and Ive had several orders today. 🙂
@@BevinsBricksWorld Yeah, so probably my security software in that case. It tends to be overly sensitive.
I did find your site via using my cell phone data internet, will for sure be buying some pickups (once back in stock) and having a good gander at your other products!
I have had 2 other people say the same about security. For those with concerns, I do accept paypal as well :). The pickups, I plan to do another presale once I recieve my order of bearings. Ill make a video as well to give people a heads up before I do it.
Absolutely awesome product, and I like the idea of selling just the steel wheels alone for their aesthetic. Can't wait to see what new idea cones to life next.
Thanks, yeah I thought for people that just want an all steel wheel train for asthetics it would look great.
With 4 diodes in the adapter it won't matter which polarity is on the tracks...
I'm very curious, how would a powered up version of this work if the only connection is what normally plugs into the battery pack? Will there be some kind of adapter to connect two plugs together?
Im working that out still, the biggest problem is I am waiting on plug ends to experiment with.
Are you using some conductive grease on the bearings or just no brease at all?
Its chrome molly bearings and I buy them already assembled.
i have about 10 of the "vintage" 9v traint motors, perhaps i shuld try to sell them. i also have 2-300 9v rail segments.
If they work and are in good unbroken co dituon, they usually sell for about 60 to 65 each
What a great product, if I was so talented than you I would do the same. Keep going, btw think the Lego train community isn’t that small and Lego don’t see the potential in doing great stuff for that
I was honestly unsure to even produce this for sale, as I did not think there would be enough demand. Clearly I was wrong.
@@BevinsBricksWorld I guess it’s all about risk, but I’m really sure Lego is stupid. But be careful Lego is a pain if they found out.
Would it be worth getting someone to design and 3D print the wheel holders so you don't have to modify each one yourself? Maybe selling just the metal wheels so people can print their own 3D printed holders.
Well it would be a lot easier yes, but like anything it would probably raise costs. As for the wheels I do already sell them as pairs.
Just put in my order. I only have a single PF motor so I didn't need more but you can guarantee that my 5 powered up motors will need the future release. Just in time for brick fair planning.
Waiting now for those adapters so I can use the remote control. Also I need to figure out how to integrate with my trains for aesthetics.
So excited, thanks again for the great products. We are lucky you became an electrician. If you were a plumber we would still be waiting for anybody to create products.
Thanks so much for the support
If you need someone to mass produce the plastic parts to your custom specs in batches let me know I run a print farm and could get these out to you fairly cheap
Thanks for the offer
Maybe put a rectifier in your adapter for the IR receiver. That way it will always get the right polarity, no matter the polarity of the rails. This would also enable you to build more complex layouts by adding short sections without power between the differently polarised rails and having two pickups, rectified to the same polarity, far away from each other.
why not put a recitfier in the pickup itself, would make it fully compatible with powerfunctions.
@@Ramog1000 Then it would no longer be compatible with the old 9V system with transformer. You couldn't drive backwards there.
You are exactly right, I am looking at making adapters with a rectifier built in to them though.
@@ThisNameShallBeUnique oh yeh right, whups
i sent you an email. as someone who uses DCC with lego trains this is a great idea and would love to help you improve on it
Stopping by with no knowledge - is there a voltage drop at some particular length of track from the source?
Yes but its rare anyone has a large enough display to see it. In the case of that happening, I do also have some other products I am trying to work on and develope.
Awesome job on this! My only issue is I have the plastic track.😫 I hate the batteries but don’t have the funds to replace all my track.
Stick a thin strip of aluminum tape onto your plastic track.
As Nick said you can apply copper tape abd make your own tracks, I have a video on that as well
okay WOW, calm down LOL
I wonder when we will be getting lego trains powered by overhead electrification
Lol that would be possible, but now sure anyone would want it as it would also be extremely fragile
Did you consider Aluminium for the wheels?
Yes and it is to weak as the shaft bends easily.
use a full bridge rectifier or 4 diodes in a rectifier configuration then it wont mater the polarity of the track
Yes but then you cannot control the motor with the speed control and to me that is the most important part. Thinking it would be better as an option to have a rectifier built into a plug set as an option.
4:50 you could have used 4 instead of two diodes to create a Gretz bridge
Never heared it called a gretz bridge before. Always called it a full wave bridge rectifier. Learn something new everyday 😀
Triple 9 volt power motor
Nice idea, but still kinda pricey. But on the other hand, who has something to manufacture their own wheels?
Thats the issue with the cost, the wheels were not cheap and I had to purchase 1000 of them to be able to do this. I had a local cnc shop make them.
Do u clean ur track?
Havent needed to, but if you do, it can be cleaned by using an eraser.
Great video Daryl have a great work 💪
Thanks, you as well.
Liking your new products. Definitely can tell you are from the hobby and making stuff we all want .Great job keep it up !
Thanks so much and thanks for watching.
I think this question has already been asked... What about aluminum instead of steel? It will have a noticable lower price - both the metal itself and its processing.
But just like stainless steel it also "does not rust" and in appearance it will not be much further (still looks somewhat metallic).
Of course, the reliability will be lower than that of steel... but still, metal is metal - it will be quite enough for use with Lego Trains.
Yes, but aluminum is very soft, and the shaft legth required for this method only being 3mm diameter, means it would easily bend and warp, making the wheels wobble. Im more concerned with quality than I am cost.
@@BevinsBricksWorld , hmmm... Steel axles but aluminum wheels? I think this will turn out to be even simpler in production - no need to “waste” metal on processing a solid part, instead, process the wheel and press a steel rod into it. I think that an aluminum wheel can easily withstand the required load. Although even when using a steel wheel, it will be possible to -optimize- reduce price of production
Your welcome to try and make some, but now your talking about 2 unique items to be machined and the aluminum wheel need to be pressed into the axle so it cannot slide. So now your also adding time to assembly.
I take into account that it is possible to buy a pre-made steel rod of the required diameter and length. Time is taken up for pressing, but is freed up for creating the rod itself.
What actually IS the advantage of the old 9V system?🤔
The biggest benefit is no batteries, which means no battery pack that needs hidden.
Will this work on trixbrix tracks
Yes
It can't because trixbrix is 100% plastic just like LEGO RC track. Fx Track will work though.
@@amseladams my trixbrix have copper wire on them
@@kkscott8019 I was not aware of 9V track from trixbrix. Is this a new product, or did you apply copper tape yourself? In any case this will work then of course.
@@amseladams I applied copper tape myself cause I like that they have narrow gauge tracks
Great job! Waiting to see if it works with power up motors, too!
Potential game changer? Excellent work! All success to you!
Thanks, and thank you for watching.
When are you restocking?
They are sold out already
8pm eastern tonight I will offer 50 for presale
I think you should find a Chinese firm to mass produce them for you!
Wow this is a game changer. This opens up so many possibilities. Awesome job buddy.
Hey Dave, hope your doing well and thanks, been having a lot of fun creating new products.
Cant wait for new products down the line!