Thanks again for your advice. Well, I typed up a letter with all the details, put it in the box and dropped it off at UPS over lunch. Also, emailed the letter to Mike Reagan at Lionel, where I ask for a replacement. He responded pretty quickly, asked about the transformer I was using (MTHZ1000) and then we went back and forth. He asked if I would send the transformer to them for testing. I responded that this problem had happened with two different MTHz1000 units at different times, and didn't seem to arise with my LC and LC+ engines, so I can't believe it is the problem. He responded that each time they have tested it after repair it worked fine using their Lionel transformers and that mine is the only one he knows of that has been back four times.
So, I guess I am willing to play along, but my questions are (apologies in advance for my ignorance):
1. If the problem is another fried board, what physically has to happen to fry a board? I assume exceeding the maximum voltage? A bad motor? ???
2. What might cause a severe enough voltage spike to create a problem? What transformer problems? What track problems? What internal engine problems? Keep in mind none of the incidents occurred when there was a derailment, or the like. The engine was just moving along at a slow speed each time, this time with 15-16 volts showing on the AC meter. I have a track bus wire set under the table and have it feeding eight different points on about 80 feet total of fastrack. All accessories and five remote control switches are wired up to a separate transformer on a separate wire bus set.
3. I know there is some kind of difference in the AC current put out by the MTH versus the Lionel transformers? The reason I went with MTH was that I thought if I ever wanted to get into the MTH locomotives that use the command control system I needed the MTH type of transformer (Pure sine wave vs chopped). Is there a reason the pure sine wave AC output would create issues with Lionel electronics?
4. Carl, I didn't do lots and lots of examination of all the wiring, especially after I smelled the odor of fried electronics. Both your and Marty's suggestions seem plausible.
Again, thanks for your input.
