We recommend the use of batteries designed for Panasonic cordless phones or other cordless phones which use a Panasonic connector. These will plug directly into the soundcard battery connector and avoid the need for any soldering.
If space is limited then we suggest the CTB40 replacement battery for Uniden XC630, XC631 and XC633 cordless phones. The connectors on these are not quite Panasonic compatible but will push on okay with a little pressure. Just make sure that the red wire in in the corner of the soundcard and the black in towards the centreline.
"Button" batteries do not have sufficient power or voltage and should not be used.
Whilst 3.6 volts batteries are recommended, the battery voltage can be between 3.2 volts and 5.0 volts.
If you need to attach leads to a battery without a Panasonic connector then ask a battery shop to assist you. Soldering leads to a battery can cause it to get too hot and lead to damage or even the battery catching fire.
A battery is needed to maintain the sound when the track voltage is low or zero. Any 3.6 volt rechargeable battery can be used and the soundcard will automatically recharge the battery whenever the track voltage exceeds 6 volts ie, when the locomotive is running at moderate speeds. The recharging feature is optimised for NiMHi batteries and these are recommended. NiCad batteries can be used but will not recharge as efficiently and are not as good environmentally. Rechargeable Lithium batteries are not compatible with the soundcard recharging facility and should not be used.
