Protosound problem.

[daan]

Hi Guys,
I was just wanting to post a message about how wonderfull the new protosound locomotive is. I really like the sounds, couplers and all other stuff, but after 2 hours it got problems.
I installed a new 8.4v 160mAh NiMH battery, fully charged outside the locomotive. After a few runns, where I tried all the nice features, the engine started to blow the horn by itself. It also gave 3 bells instead of 2 when I entered the reset. The engine sound didn't come off. I reprogrammed into feature 18, to reset to factiry settings, but it didn't work either. I thought I had it working again when I removed the sound activating buttons and installing a 9 volt unrechargable battery (as was in the manual). The 2 bells rang, the idle came up and it switched through the forward neutral and reverse again.
Then when I just tried it, it does start up in reset, but even after waiting over a minute to switch into the run mode by interupting the power, it stays in reset.
Sounds all sound great, no sound shut off when pressing the dierction button, nothing special indicating the battery is bad. I have the new battery in the recharger now (not in the locomotive, but an electronic charger) and I hope it will be solved by this, but I guess there is something wrong in the processor.

Do you guys did have something like it going on? The engine was completely new, ran perfectly for about 2 hours, and suddenly it just stopped acting as it should be acting.

Just hoping there is someone having an idea??

[spankybird]

OK Dann, know that you have built one of your own transformers, I would like to know what the following to try to help you.

1. What transformer are you using?

2. are you on 50 or 60 hertz?

Maybe the charging unit in the train is bad.

It

[daan]

#1 A Märklin 0-16 volts pure AC transformer.
#2 50Hz.

Battery is in the charger again, try to see if it helps.. If the charger doesn't work inside the locomotive, it is said that it should sound the horn a few times.(??)

[spankybird]

It's been a while since I looked at info on PS1 engines. I will check on the horn thing.

There was a problem with MTH on 50 Hz. I don't konw if that has been fixed or not.

[daan]

What makes me wonder. How does the system work anyway. Is it a battery powering the PS1 board where the battery itself is charged through the tracks? I guess when the charging cirquitry doesn't work under 14 volts or on 50Hz, the battery could be empty in no time. I didn't run on high speeds, mostly tried the special effects and freight sounds, couplers and crew announcements, so that power comes from the battery. The one I'm now recharging was pretty empty too..
I hope it was the battery, then I only have to make a charging plug on the underside of the locomotive, or try to get the loading system working. I emailed MTH with that question too..

[spankybird]

Daan,

The battery supplies power under a certain voltage. I think it's 12 volts, but will have to check. There may also be a problem with you running on 50Hz. So yes, it will be draining the battery.

[daan]

Thanks Tom, There is a slight rememberance about the 50Hz thing, now you talk about it. That should also explain why the battery acted up, if it was the battery. I'm now waiting on the reply mail from MTH, otherwise I'll buy the reset-kit. A normal MTH Z-type transformer was on my whish list anyway, so this could be a good excuse to get one.
(just to be on the safe side.)
If it really has a problem with the 50Hz, it probably is something small, like a capicitor not flattening out the DC current completely. I'll also try to get an answer on that..
Thanks.

[daan]

Problem solved, but not with the new battery..
When I first ran the locomotive without cars behind it, having the cars here and there on the layout. Some of them where lit, and there was the solution. With a strength test I needed all the power I could get, I removed the lit cars. That was where the problems began..
As soon as I put back a lit car and powered the engine up, voila, reset was going well, forward and backward moving was okay again and the special functions all worked normally. Seemingly that small light is needed to filter out incorrect signals I guess..
When writing this there is something in my memory about lights used in command control units (or DCS) to stabilize the signal.. Guess I'll have to wire a light under the layout for the same purpose on y layout then..