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R680 Starter Kit


Woolies

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Just found my son's Hornby R680 in the loft and thought it might be OK for my grandson to use.  However, it won't work!  It is still in the original box with track and carriages intact.  There doesn't seem to be any power from the locomotive.  The controller seems to work but nothing happens, the locomotive does not move.  Do I need a battery or something else please?  Any help would be appreciated or should I dump it at the tip.

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The Hornby R680 set includes a Battery Powered Controller. So Yes, you will need Batteries to suit. Can't remember exactly, but from memory I believe the controller in the R680 set, uses two 6 Volt Lantern Batteries. Although I am not gospel on this. It is the controller that provides the power, NOT the locomotive. You can test the locomotive by connecting a 9 volt PP3 battery across the loco wheels and see if they run.

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I wouldn't dump it. If it is as intact as you say AND complete with original box, then it may be valuable enough to auction at a special toy auction.

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Just found my son's Hornby R680 in the loft and thought it might be OK for my grandson to use.  However, it won't work!  It is still in the original box with track and carriages intact.  There doesn't seem to be any power from the locomotive.  The controller seems to work but nothing happens, the locomotive does not move.  Do I need a battery or something else please?  Any help would be appreciated or should I dump it at the tip.


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Chrissaf  Thank you very much for your advise.  We have looked in the book and it does mention 2 Everready 996 batteries but there isn't a picture in the catalogue (it is 1977 thought) to show how they are connected to the controller.  We are assuming that the controller sits on top of the 2 batteries and the terminals poke through the holes in the base of the controller? Does that mean that the spring type terminals on the batteries poke through to the circuit board?

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I've never physically held one of these battery controllers in my hand, but I believe the springs on the batteries somehow make contact through the holes in the controller base. This link gives some images of the EverReady 996 battery. There are other old hands on here who are more familiar with this particular controller as it has been covered before in previous forum questions.

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Some modern equivalents of the ER 996 can be viewed here.

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If you prove the loco is OK with the test battery as I mentioned in my earlier reply then you could consider replacing the battery controller with the Hornby mains powered alternative controller (recommended, as the battery controller is the pits). Namely, the R8250 Controller plus the P9000 Power Supply Unit (Note: these are purchased as two separate items). Click on links for further info, these links open in a new page / tab.

 

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Further to last post: If you do decide to purchase the R8250 / P9000 combination to replace the battery controller, then subject to the design of the existing power connector (power connection to track) then you may need to also purchase the power connecting clip R602 to use with the R8250.

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That's strange 2e0. My link for 996 equivalents (not genuine ER 996 obviously, as EverReady doesn't exist anymore) show prices as low as £1.46 each. ToolStation do them for £2.48 inc VAT and Screwfix for £2.49

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