Help Powering the Emerald Night ?

[kat180]

I bought the Emerald Night for my dad last Christmas. This year I was thinking of getting the power functions so he can have motorized.

We have an old 9v (I think) track - unlike the new tracks which are all plastic, this has metal lines and there was a chunky control that attached to the track and you could turn the round yellow switch clockwise or counter clockwise to get the train to move either forward or backward. Can we use this track? Is there anything extra we would need to buy to get the Emerald Night to run on this other than the list they suggest on the website?

Also - I could use some help on what Power Functions I actually need to buy. I sent Lego an email but got no reply, neither did I get any help on their message boards. I finally rang up and the girl told me I would just need to get a Motor, Switch and Battery Box to get the Emerald Night moving (coming to around £20) Is this correct? She didn't sound sure and it is completely different from the website) It is only a basic, round track and not something that would be up and running much so I don't really want to buy the whole list of PF listed on the website - it costs more than the train!

Am I correct in thinking that if I got the above 3 items, they would all somehow have to sit on the train (be hidden inside?) I've read the Battery Box is chunky - will it fit?

I am considering buying him the Maersk Train. If I did would I need to buy different Power Functions to the 3 above? I assume it's only worth investing in all the Power Functions if you have a bigger track and would want to run two or more trains at once? Which my dad would love but we don't have the space unfortunately.

Sorry for all the questions! I have been reading up about it all, but tbh the Power Functions and which ones you really need are quite confusing for someone who has no idea how they all work.

[clcwong]

Please look at both of their instructions and you will find all you need and the steps to put power functions in. Did you have a look in it?

If you are going to use 9V on Emerald Night, simply just add the motor in somewhere but not the engine will be fine.

[Snapshot]

The EN will run perfectly on the 9V track when motorised using Power Funtions. But you must make sure you're buying the correct motor as it does not use the standard train motor. As clcwong says, RTFM!

The Maersk train uses a standard train motor (or two) and TLG recommends the rechargeable battery back which will also need a charger. The IR receiver is the same.....

[kat180]

Please look at both of their instructions and you will find all you need and the steps to put power functions in. Did you have a look in it?

If you are going to use 9V on Emerald Night, simply just add the motor in somewhere but not the engine will be fine.

Yes I have. We don't have the box but the website says we need:

8882 Power Functions XL Motor

8878 Power Functions Rechargeable Battery Box

8887 Transformer 10v DC adapter

8884 Power Functions IR Receiver

8879 Power Functions IR Speed Remote Control

Which is very expensive. What I want to know is are they all necessary? I don't understand how Power Functions all work, every piece is sold separately and it seems to me there are different versions of each thing. This list is also quite different to what I was advised over the phone. Then I was told:

8869 Switch

8881 Battery Box

8883 M-Motor

When I was reading up about the 9V track I was told I need an extension wire to make it work with Power Functions, but the woman on the phone didn't think that was right. It seems people on this site do seem to understand, know and own these trains themselves so I was hoping someone would be able to clear it up for me.

[JopieK]

Yes I have. We don't have the box but the website says we need:

8882 Power Functions XL Motor

8878 Power Functions Rechargeable Battery Box

8887 Transformer 10v DC adapter

8884 Power Functions IR Receiver

8879 Power Functions IR Speed Remote Control

Which is very expensive. What I want to know is are they all necessary? I don't understand how Power Functions all work, every piece is sold separately and it seems to me there are different versions of each thing. This list is also quite different to what I was advised over the phone. Then I was told:

8869 Switch

8881 Battery Box

8883 M-Motor

When I was reading up about the 9V track I was told I need an extension wire to make it work with Power Functions, but the woman on the phone didn't think that was right. It seems people on this site do seem to understand, know and own these trains themselves so I was hoping someone would be able to clear it up for me.

Well, they were wrong... The only way to use it well is sticking with the upper (and expensive) options.Please first check other discussions about the EN at Eurobricks... This is a form for AFOLs so keep in mind that a lot of people here are able to help you, but only if you keep up with the rules...

The PF parts that you describe are suitable for a small LEGO technic set, not for a train, especially not for the EN.

[kat180]

Well, they were wrong... The only way to use it well is sticking with the upper (and expensive) options.Please first check other discussions about the EN at Eurobricks... This is a form for AFOLs so keep in mind that a lot of people here are able to help you, but only if you keep up with the rules...

The PF parts that you describe are suitable for a small LEGO technic set, not for a train, especially not for the EN.

Thank you - I did think the woman on the phone didn't sound particularly sure.

I wasn't aware I had gone against any rules, if I have I apologise. I'm afraid Emerald Night is the first lego train that either of us has bought/put together since I was a child. Neither of us have used Power Functions before and I'll admit, I was finding it all confusing.

I was hoping I wouldn't have to get the Rechargeable Battery and Transformer, they are just too expensive for now, since he will only have the train running over Christmas and maybe once or twice throughout the year.

Thanks again.

[Cale]

Yes I have. We don't have the box but the website says we need:

8882 Power Functions XL Motor

8878 Power Functions Rechargeable Battery Box

8887 Transformer 10v DC adapter

8884 Power Functions IR Receiver

8879 Power Functions IR Speed Remote Control

Which is very expensive. What I want to know is are they all necessary? I don't understand how Power Functions all work, every piece is sold separately and it seems to me there are different versions of each thing.

If you want to motorize your Emerald Night the proper way according to LEGO's instructions that list is what you will need. It sounds complicated but at first but LEGO actually shows you how to put it all together in the EN instructions so it's pretty straight forward.

8882 Power Functions XL Motor- This is the motor the EN was designed to use and the engine will run best using the XL. This will actually go in the engine itself, in the cab.

8878 Power Functions Rechargeable Battery Box 8887 Transformer 10v DC adapter- If you are going to be running the EN a lot this is actually not a bad value compared to buying huge numbers of AAA bateries. Alternatively if you only plan to run it occasionally you can substitute the rechargeable battery and charger for 88000 Power Functions AAA Battery Box and 6 AAA batteries. The battery box will go in the tender (that little green car behind the engine.

8884 Power Functions IR Receiver- This will receive the signals from the remote allowing you to control the train. This will go inside the engine as well.

8879 Power Functions IR Speed Remote Control- This is what you will use to control the EN and will be sending signals to the I.R. receiver. This is the controler you want to use. The cheaper one LEGO sells will still allow you to start and stop the EN but you will not be able to vary the speed of the train and as soon as the train is out of range of the remote or you let go of the controls the train will stop. With the 8879 remote you can vary the speed and can set the train to run and it will maintain that setting when you set the remote down or if the train is out of remote range.

You may also want to look at lighting your EN with the 8870 LEGO® Power Functions Light. It's not necessary but gives the engine some nice front lights to play with. Instructions for adding this are also in the Emerald Night instructions.

If you're not very experience with LEGO trains I would highly advise against trying to use the old 9v style motor to motorize the Emerald Night. That motor is no longer produced by LEGO and can be expensive to buy on the second hand market and the Emerald Night was never designed to use it. Many LEGO train builders have converted the EN to use it successfully but it's not something for the beginner to try.

Hope that helps you out a bit. Please feel free to ask if you have any more questions.

Cale

[kat180]

I think the rechargeable battery is something he can invest in later down the line when he actually has a decent track set up, so its great to hear the AAA Battery will work fine.

I really appreciate the help - I was about to just buy the three PF the woman at Lego told me too so I'm glad I decided to check again. Would have sucked on Christmas morning to not be able to get it up and running!

Thanks again for taking the time to explain all that! :D

Edited December 14, 2011 by kat180

[JopieK]

I think the rechargeable battery is something he can invest in later down the line when he actually has a decent track set up, so its great to hear the AAA Battery will work fine.

I really appreciate the help - I was about to just buy the three PF the woman at Lego told me too so I'm glad I decided to check again. Would have sucked on Christmas morning to not be able to get it up and running!

Thanks again for taking the time to explain all that! :D

Well, I think the AAA-battery box will be a very good option indeed!!!

[clcwong]

Well, I think the AAA-battery box will be a very good option indeed!!!

Yup...if you are not running tons of cars or long run...a AAA battery box will be great for you =]

I also haven't invest in the rechargeable battery yet..

Just for some more information if you really wanna try out some cheap option...

try to search Emerald Night in youtube, and you will see some other option in powering the EN

But to be honest, better stick with the XL-motor =]