MTH Proto 3 Aerotrain will not move on conventional track

Did you try a factory reset using the DCS system?  If that doesn't do it, also try a conventional reset using the transformer.  You'll need a modern transformer that has both whistle and bell controls.  The conventional reset is one whistle and five bells in a 1/2 second cadence, 1/2 second on, 1/2 second off.

Thank you gunrunner!  I will give the factory reset a try.

If sounds come on immediately at power up, you have a bad supercap. But it could be you are describing symptom in accurately.  If you have it started up with sounds and turn power off does it play shutdown sounds?  If not, caps bad or bad solder joint.  If it does play sounds, conventional reset as John stated.  G

Gunnerjohn and GGG - Many thanks for the excellent suggestions, and I'm happy to report that the factory reset (something I always seem to forget) took care of the problem and the Aerotrain is running beautifully in conventional mode.  Question for GGG:  curious, what exactly is a "supercap?"  Not a term I'm familiar with.

Again, thanks guys!  This Forum has been a lifesaver!

firsttimer

@firsttimer posted:

Gunnerjohn and GGG - Many thanks for the excellent suggestions, and I'm happy to report that the factory reset (something I always seem to forget) took care of the problem and the Aerotrain is running beautifully in conventional mode.  Question for GGG:  curious, what exactly is a "supercap?"  Not a term I'm familiar with.

Again, thanks guys!  This Forum has been a lifesaver!

firsttimer

Faster charging, higher rated capacitors. Somewhere between an old capacitor and it's cousin the battery lies the new supercap.

A SuperCap is an Electric Double Layer Capacitor (EDLC).  The link takes you to a description of how they work.

Basically a supercap is just a very high capacity capacitor.  They can store 100 times or more the energy in the same size package as an ordinary electrolytic capacitor.  However, they're somewhat picky about their environment.  They don't tolerate heat well, they only come in low voltage ratings.  They're widely used for temporary electric storage in place of batteries.

PS-3 no longer have a battery like PS-2.  The Super cap replaces it and it is soldered on the board.  Same effect if it goes bad though.  No power for conventional operation direction change and memory.  G