@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:Mike,
Melgar's right on the money here. Do not operate it with the white battery installed. If you do there's a good chance you'll scramble the software in it.
If that happens is it the end of the world? No. There will be no harm to the electronics. You will need to have the software updated though to correct the problem if it happens.
Engines fitted with ProtoSound 1 are unique beasts. They're not command controlled like ProtoSound 2 or 3 models. They're really conventionally-operated units like the rest of your fleet of 50 year old engines, but they have an unusual start-up process to get them moving.
Most conventional O Gauge locomotives power up and react in this way:
Neutral -- Forward -- Neutral -- Reverse -- Neutral -- Forward -- etc.
Every time you cycle the throttle, down to zero and then up, or push the reverse button on the transformer, they transition to the next state.
PS1's follow this sequence instead:
Setup -- Neutral -- Forward -- Neutral -- Reverse -- Neutral -- Forward -- etc.
You're loco is stuck in 'Setup' because you aren't applying power correctly when you first push the throttle up. PS1's are quite finicky about this.
The means for doing this is different between older PS1's and newer ones. You have a newer one so it should be less finicky.
Here's how I would do it (once you've changed the battery):
- With the engine on the track, move the throttle up smoothly to above 1/2 of full range.
- Wait a couple of seconds then lower it to about 1/4. The sounds should quiet and you'll hear a clunk that kind of sounds like an old Buick dropping into drive after its gear selector is moved to 'D'
- Push the 'Direction' button. It should begin moving forward immediately.
Note: These are not the steps to use with an older PS1. For the older ones the steps are almost the opposite., i.e. don't go over 1/2 of full scale (10 VAC) and don't push the direction button. (see Vernon's posting immediately below this one, but be aware that the directions he's posted, although they come directly from MTH, from my hands-on experience with these don't seem to fit the vintage of your model).
You may have to try this several times in order to get the hang of it. Patience is important here, just like with most things in our hobby.
I pains me greatly to hear comments like some of those in this thread above. You do not have to upgrade to any newer electronics. Comments to the contrary often come from folks who don't have the patience that I mentioned.
There is no need to spend significant money to get this thing rolling.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
Mike
Thanks Mellow Mike
It's running now with a new 9V battery. Apparently I did no harm to the software despite my previous attempts to run this with a dead battery. It is now operating as you described above for the PS1.
Mike
