Interior light on Proto 3 Steam issue

This is normal.  Rule 17.  Also your headlights are low in neutral and bright when in motion.  Depending on model the IL are low in the cab and not seen easily.  Try a dark room.  G

I am familiar with rule 17, this isn’t it.  Previously the light was bright enough so I could see the figures in the cab and when the train would pull out and light would go off.  But now it’s so low it’s like it’s not even on.  Every other light works fine except for this one.  In the grand scheme of things this is a very minor problem to have but it was working correctly previously hence my concern.  Anyone else have any ideas?

Photos or a video would help. Also, your description (PS3 #4501) is too vague. What’s the MTH stock number?

Engine 20-3643-1

i took a video of the issue.  What I just noticed is the LED apparently also pulsates during the engine chuffs like the firebox glow.  See the attached video.  Again any help is appreciated.  Thank you.

The video doesn’t do it justice but that light is very low compared to what it was when it would illuminate the entire cab.

If you are in conventional, that might be making the lights go goofy. The video does show as if it shares the same power off of the firebox glow as well. Is your smoke on? Try with the smoke off. I know proto 2 locomotives used to act in a simmilar way with the smoke unit on. 

Running it on DCS.  I’ve literally tried everything.  Smoke on off, all lights on and off, increasing transformer power, it’s very frustrating.

Board may be damaged and the current limiting resistor damaged or the control Fet or buffer.  I would swap in working LED set to make sure not a bad set of leds.  G

That’s what I’m afraid of.  Something happened while running it and now it’s all screwy.  I actually sent it back once to MTH for a defective electro coupler and now this is happening.  I also notice then sometimes when I do sound effects it repeats them.  I’ll press the forward whistle and it plays it twice, etc.  ugh looks like it may be going back to MTH for another 5 month fix.... blah!

DJ Haney posted:

I also notice then sometimes when I do sound effects it repeats them.  I’ll press the forward whistle and it plays it twice, etc.  ugh looks like it may be going back to MTH for another 5 month fix.... blah!

This probable isn't a defect in the engine but rather a result of how your layout is wired. I see this happen on layouts where blocks are not used as the engine can actually received the forward signal twice even though you only pushed the button once.

Truthfully, doubled commands are almost always the layout and not the locomotive.