Early MTH PS3 whistle blows and headlight blinks when started up in conventional

Well...? I don't know where the techs are...

I would not power it up again. The amp draw is way too high. Something is wrong. Maybe the relay is stuck or something like that. You need a service tech now. At the least, a wire is touching?

Yep .......I totally agree with Joe on not powering up that Daylight again .😨 7 -7.5  amps , flashing headlight  , horn blasting and buzzing engine  ,yikes.

Was this engine new and first time started up on conventional  ? .......or have you had the engine for awhile and running on command with no problem before this happened ?

Beautiful engine , I would hate to see it self destructing.

You have a pinched wire somewhere.  The board can take a short overcurrent, otherwise you will let the magic smoke out and fry the board and wiring.

Ok, I will open up the engine tomorrow. The engine has run in the past, I remember running it on the same DCS system quite a bit. Thanks for your help so far!

Well, I’ve opened up the engine and tender 3x and the engine is working great!
I put electrical tape on a bare spot on the black wire that goes to the tender through the wireless drawbar(which didn’t seem to change anything), also put electrical tape on the black wire that grounds the trailing truck because I accidentally pinched it in between the frame when putting the engine back together, and while I had the engine apart, I manually spun the motor drive shaft probably 30 revolutions each way.

I don’t know what I did, but I guess it worked! Thanks guys!

Actually I’m not certain it’s working correctly. I’ve lost communication with the engine 3x each after about a minute or two of operation, I just keep getting “Check track” on the DCS remote. Also, on the fourth try, after about 5 minutes of running or so, the engine was randomly starting and stopping while sparks were flying from the underside around the center rail like crazy. Does this sound like a damaged ground wire?

STOP RUNNING THE ENGINE UNTIL YOU DO A COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE WIRING!

Things will only get more expensive if you keep running without a positive repair!

110 ft. main line - I sure hope you wired the main line in a 'star' configuration.  Your best bet is to get the locomotive to a certified MTH tech.  Sounds like you are all thumbs when you take it apart.  That locomotive is too expensive to do  self repairs. 

bruce

I guess you don't care if you burn up your engine boards and or harness which would almost be the cost of a new engine JUST B ECAUSE YOU KEEP STARTING  IT UP!!

when you were warned by several MTh tech's to stop before the smoke fly's !

Alan

@Engineer-Joe posted:

Well...? I don't know where the techs are...

I would not power it up again. The amp draw is way too high. Something is wrong. Maybe the relay is stuck or something like that. You need a service tech now. At the least, a wire is touching?

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Yep .......I totally agree with Joe on not powering up that Daylight again .😨 7 -7.5  amps , flashing headlight  , horn blasting and buzzing engine  ,yikes.

Was this engine new and first time started up on conventional  ? .......or have you had the engine for awhile and running on command with no problem before this happened ?

Beautiful engine , I would hate to see it self destructing.

@Jon G posted:

You have a pinched wire somewhere.  The board can take a short overcurrent, otherwise you will let the magic smoke out and fry the board and wiring.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

STOP RUNNING THE ENGINE UNTIL YOU DO A COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE WIRING!

Things will only get more expensive if you keep running without a positive repair!

@bruce benzie posted:

110 ft. main line - I sure hope you wired the main line in a 'star' configuration.  Your best bet is to get the locomotive to a certified MTH tech.  Sounds like you are all thumbs when you take it apart.  That locomotive is too expensive to do  self repairs.

bruce

@Alan Mancus posted:

I guess you don't care if you burn up your engine boards and or harness which would almost be the cost of a new engine JUST B ECAUSE YOU KEEP STARTING  IT UP!!

when you were warned by several MTh tech's to stop before the smoke fly's !

Alan

Hey Matt ,       I know you keep trying to make sense of the Daylight's issue.    I too sometimes feel the same insane urges of fighting with some problem without the necessary equipment to resolve an issue.    Remember...... one of the signs of insanity is expecting to get results from doing something over and over and over and not achieving your goal for some reason 🙃😩.

It can be frustrating ...... but......releasing the Daylight to the experience and knowledge of these techs with their repairs can be a big  positive thing .    How great it would be to see that frustration end and that engine performing as great as it looks.    Good luck Matt.

Yes, I’ve decided to pack up the engine and send it to a tech. Thanks for your help, everyone!

Normally a High current like that on PS-2 is PV short.  Positive voltage DC.  Motor lead, Heater element and coupler are the primary source.  Lights also.  So pinched wire.  Getting the horn or bell is DC getting on the chassis and triggering it.  So wires, motor terminal solder joint, diodes that make PV from motor power, etc...  G