MTH PS3 2 diesel engines dead

Carl,

I recall the AC6000 did run yesterday, so maybe the Update killed it.

Most unlikely.

 

Both of these engines have 2-rail/3-rail switches and, possibly, DCC/DCS switches. Make certain that these switches are in their3-rail and DCS, respectively, positions.

 

Hi Barry,

 

Thanks for the immediate reply.  Yes I've checked the 2-3 rail and DCC/DCS switches as well.  If not the update, wonder if the sound file uploads did anything, I know you are not ment to upload ps2 files to ps3 engines, that I ensured I didn't do either.

Actually you can use a  PS-2 3V sound file in the PS-3.  I would try to reload the sound file and chain files.  G

Hi GGG, oh thanks.  No my DCS Loader software cant find the engine either, Critical error "Cannot find engine" "Check that The address may be set to 0 or out of range."

 

Also I've heard some people have been experiencing issues with the DCS 4.30 software.

Carl,

Also I've heard some people have been experiencing issues with the DCS 4.30 software.

The loader can't see  the engines. It's not the DCS software.

Thanks Barry, yes I realise those engines are dead, even in conventional mode the relay just clicks.

 

The question I have now, is what would have caused the damage?  Yes, I mistakenly left the AC6000 on the track when upgrading the TIU to 4.30, as the instructions I were following only said disconnect the track and tether the remote to the TIU for the Remote update.  Admittedly the AC6000 was working fine before the update.  The SD70ACE after replacing the new empty board and after uploading the chain files and sound files sounded a bit distorted on the speaker, but then after a shut down started up sounding fine, but a few days later didn't start up and has been dead since.

 

I'm just concerned if these are faults caused by maybe another faulty component, maybe smoke unit, etc. in the SD70, or maybe the TIU update caused some power surge to the track in the case of the AC6000?

 

The way forward now, I guess I need to ask my dealer to send me 2 new ps3 boards - seem to recall they're not that expensive, any idea on current US prices?

Hi guys, just wondering, if these two engine's boards are damaged, what should I be especially aware of when uploading a different sound file to an engine:

 

1.  Must I just upload a sound file, or also the original engine, or else the new engine's flash code files that match the new sound being loaded?

 

2.  What if the upload was done on a track with other rolling stock or even lighted passenger cars on the same track, will that cause damage to the board?

 

3.  And if I received an error when uploading the sound file on first attempt, and I try again and it uploads fine, would that have cause any memory issues on the board to not work a few start-ups later?

 

4.  Would it be worth doing a full remote and TIU factory reset - remembering both engines do not even start-up in conventional mode hence I'm thinking the boards are damaged.

 

I'm just asking these questions incase these are damaged what I should be aware of when uploading files to engines.

1. Flash Code is engine features, sound file is sounds.  So leaving original Flash is ok, as the other engines flash program may control lights and features differently.

 

2. No, but in general best to be by itself.

 

3. No.

 

4.  Can't hurt, but not going to resolve this.

 

G

Hi GGG, thanks your answers exactly as I thought.

 

So I'm wondering what could have damaged the boards, realise I have to replace them, can't think of anything else, checked that plugs are seated nicely onto boards, and all wiring ok again.  Just scared to order two new boards, pay a lot to get them into the country and down the line I upload a sound file and something goes wrong again.

 

I can't think of anything else that could have killed / shutup the boards, although this SD70ACE has been a problem engine out the box, came with a faulty board.

 

I've uploaded sound files to 2 steam engines before and they're still running fine today.  I'm only using a 80 Watt rated at 16 V power supply, as we run 220 V AC, this thing steps down to 16 V DC, but have no issues running trains, as I run 2 trains max together with one maybe idling, and one train with 6 lighted passenger cars.

 

 

Did you have shell off?  The 40 pin connector can be damaged, a pin could have rolled over if you or someone else did not install the 40 pin properly.

 

The wires that run along the bottom and side of the board set can get rubbed and expose some wire that can touch chassis.

 

Connector pins on molex plugs can be exposed, etc....  Hard to say, but I don't think the sound file load did this. G

Carl John DE Campos,

I have had an engine that will not recover or add to remote so try this it works for me every time.
At the tiu remove the fixed 1output you will need a set of alligator clip jumper wires connect one set to red and power roller on engine now connect a jumper wire to the black lug on tiu and other to one of the wheels with flanges.

Now turn transformer power on so tiu is powered now use remote and try adding an mth engine this works for my problem child engines all the time.
once the engine adds push the startup button  now scroll to advanced push thumb wheel now scroll to reset engine push thumb wheel now select feature reset push thumb wheel engine sounds will be loud.
now shutdown that engine remove all power and jumper wires re add wires to tiu 1 fixed output and put engine on tracks and start it up and enjoy.
this might not work if main boards are bad but worth a try.
this works whenever an engine won't add or remote says engine in remote strange!!
now GGG explain this to me engine refuses to add to remote while on track yet will add connected directly to tiu??
is it maybe because the tracks are one continuous loop or?

St Paul

Hi ST Paul, thanks so much, I will definitely try this procedure as last resort, and get back to this post on my results, let's hope this works for both my engines, especially the AC600 as it's brand new.

 

Thanks GGG, I've double checked those pins and all wires are ok.

Hi St. Paul, nope connecting engine direct to TIU didn't seem to work either, boards both must be bad.

 

When I programme or upload files to engines, I use a straight piece of track connected directly to Fixed TIU 1 out, with no globes in the circuit, and this is where the engine so-called went bad, should I include a globe in the circuit - I recall with older TIUs they suggested it, I have Rel L.

hello Carl John de Campos,  to bad it didn't work for you but keep it in mind if you should have issues with another engine.

I have a rev L tiu and I tried eliminating the light bulb at all outputs it wasn't a happy camper all kinds of errors added them all back on issues went away.

so yes add the light bulbs see if it clears up your issues.  

 

am not sure if because I have an older tiu in super mode with the newer tiu L that this may be an issue possibly barry might chime in on this.

 

I re read your post add the light bulb so it is powered on and try re-adding that engine direct from tiu again sometimes you have to hood wink dcs not because its a bad system but rather like any electronic device you have to out fox it sometimes.

 

St Paul

Hi St Paul,

 

Thanks for the advise.  Still no luck, tried with the bulb, engines both still dead, but will keep trying as we have to out-fox this system.  MTH have offered to replace both boards, but I will keep trying to get these two going, nothing seems fried on the board itself, but you never know.

St. Paul,

Now turn transformer power on so tiu is powered now use remote and try adding an mth engine this works for my problem child engines all the time.
once the engine adds push the startup button  now scroll to advanced push thumb wheel now scroll to reset engine push thumb wheel now select feature reset push thumb wheel engine sounds will be loud. 
now shutdown that engine remove all power and jumper wires re add wires to tiu 1 fixed output and put engine on tracks and start it up and enjoy.

This may work for you, however, it is in no way any kind of a legitimate workaround for permanently correcting an engine that won't add.

 

If the engine adds with its pickup rollers and wheels directly connected to a TIU channel output but will not add when on a track, the problem will typically not be cured by a Factory Reset.

 

Much more likely is that the problem is due to the layout's wiring or a track anomaly.

Thanks St. Paul and Barry,

 

Pretty interesting why connecting a engine directly to the TIU would make a difference, I guess it depends on the track / wiring / multiple TIU configuration.  My programming setup is just straight 1 TIU, and wires into a straight piece of track, with or without a globe.

 

I'm going to do a full factory reset on TIU and Remote, although I doubt that will help, when I did that initially I could simply just Ad all my other engines and the two diesels weren't found, so seems like they're dead for whatever reason and MTH are sending two new boards.