Diagnosis needed!

In my limited opinion, I think you have a battery issue. The MTH batteries can not be properly checked with just a simple Volt Meter, especially a digital one. Those rechargeable batteries should be checked with a proper battery "load testing meter". I would replace the battery with a new, fully charged (charged for more than 12 hours) MTH battery. I have experienced the similar issues, and it has always been corrected with a new MTH battery.

I agree with Hot Water.

Test the battery by starting the engine up making sounds and immediately turn off track power. If sounds don't persist for 6-7 seconds, change or replace the battery until they do persist for 6-7 seconds.

This and a whole lot more is all in “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at OGR’s web store!

Replace battery with 9V Alkaline for test,  If engine works fine, replace battery with rechargeable or go BCR route.

Hot Water and Barry,

You are correct. It was the battery. Engine can be addressed successfully and runs fine now after the battery was replaced. I understand the concept re load testing the battery, but now wonder if the DCS system does this when it advises that the battery is "OK"?

Thank you!

Hudson5432 posted:

Hot Water and Barry,

You are correct. It was the battery. Engine can be addressed successfully and runs fine now after the battery was replaced. I understand the concept re load testing the battery, but now wonder if the DCS system does this when it advises that the battery is "OK"?

Thank you!

Well, that's a new one on me, i.e. I did NOT know that the DCS system even had the ability to advise the condition of the battery in locomotives.  I'd like to learn more about THAT, please.

Hot Water

I'd like to learn more about THAT, please.

From page 167 of The DCS Companion 3rd Edition:

Checking the Battery 

The DCS menu command INFO (refer to Part II - DCS Is An Operating System for Your Trains!, 5. DCS Menus, Advanced Menu, INFO earlier in this book) provides a readout titled “BATTERY” which indicates the status of a DCS engine’s battery as being “OK”, “LOW” or “HI.” This can mean different things based upon the nature of the battery, or battery substitute, in the DCS engine. 

A PS2 engine with a battery will read “OK” when the battery is sufficiently charged and the circuit is trickle-charging. It will read “LOW” when the battery is less than fully-charged and the charging circuit is charging the battery normally. A reading of “HI” indicates that the battery’s voltage is higher than expected, and the charging circuit is inactive and not charging at all. A “HI” reading may simply be due to the normal variation of a few tenths of a volt among batteries, and typically is not indicative of a problem. However, if an engine has been in storage for several months and consistently has a “HI” readout, its battery should be considered suspect. 

PS3 engines with Supercapacitors and PS2 engines with a BCR should always read “OK” as soon as the Supercapacitor or BCR is fully charged. This typically takes 1-20 seconds for a PS3 engine’s Supercapacitors or 20-60 seconds for a PS2 engine with a BCR, after the engine starts receiving power. When using DCS, it is not necessary to wait for a PS3 engine’s Supercapacitor to be fully charged before operating the engine. 

The most effective battery check for a battery that's installed in a PS2 engine is to first start the engine up, making sounds, in either DCS or conventional mode. Then, immediately turn off power to the tracks. If engine sounds do not continue for 6-7 seconds after power is turned off, the battery needs to be charged. 

Another test of the battery is to attempt to operate the engine conventionally. If the PS2 engine remains in neutral in conventional mode and sounds cut out when the direction button on the transformer is pressed, the battery needs to be charged. 

A PS2 engine’s suspect battery can be confirmed by changing the engine’s horn or bell sound level via the DCS Sound menu (refer to Part II - DCS Is An Operating System for Your Trains!, 5. DCS Menus, Sound Menu earlier in this book), turning track power off and then back on after 30 seconds, and noting if the lowered volume is still present. If it is, the battery or its related wiring is most likely the issue.

This and a whole lot more is all in “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition!" This book is available from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at OGR’s web store!

Press the menu key, then scroll to the ADVANCED menu and select it.
Then scroll to INFO and select it.
Then select an engine from the list.

And you will see;
TRIP OD
ODOM
BATTERY
CHRONO

information.

Oman posted:

Press the menu key, then scroll to the ADVANCED menu and select it.
Then scroll to INFO and select it.
Then select an engine from the list.

And you will see;
TRIP OD
ODOM
BATTERY
CHRONO

information.

Thanks. THAT is what I was looking for.

Hot Water,

THAT is what I was looking for.

Did you miss this in my post?

The DCS menu command INFO (refer to Part II - DCS Is An Operating System for Your Trains!, 5. DCS Menus, Advanced Menu, INFO earlier in this book) provides a readout titled “BATTERY” 

Barry,

Obviously I did, what with your 6 paragraphs.

Obviously I did, what with your 6 paragraphs.

I wasn't aware that providing additional detail was a bad thing. I'll endeavor not to offend you in that regard in the future.