MTH Protosound help needed

[Anonymous]

I have a MTH Conrail SD-80MAC with Protosounds from the 1998 catalog, it usually ran just fine. I am currently building a layout and using an old Lionel ZW to power it. However now everytime I try to run it, it starts up fine, but then when i press the direction button or lower/raise the voltage it doesn't go foward, it just starts up again. I replaced the protosound battery and it still does this. My other Protosound equipped engines all run just fine with the ZW, any ideas?

[spankybird]

Hi metsno1fan,

Welcome to the CTT forum.[#welcome]

Did you charge the new battery before installing it in the engine [?] You can also TEST the engine with a standard 9 volt dry cell and see if it cycles. I do not believe the problem is with your ZW but you may have scrambled the chip in the engine.

What you are seeing is a problem from low voltage from the battery. So if you are having the same problem after replacing the battery with a fully charged one, then the chip is scrambled. [:(]

MTH does sell a chip (with battery and chip puller) to unscramble your board if that is the problem. It sells for about $25.00 (item number 50-1023) [^]

tom

[Anonymous]

Thanks, is there anyway to charge a protosound battery? or do I just have to buy a new one?

[spankybird]

Any ni-cad 9 volt charger will charge it. YOu also could place it in the engine and have the engine idle at 18 volts for 6 to 8 hours.

I perfer to use the charger myself. If you use the engine idle, be sure to turn off smoke unit if it has one and also becarful not to have the engine drop out of neutral. At 18 volts it would be flying.

tom

[iguanaman3]

QUOTE: Originally posted by metsno1fan

Thanks, is there anyway to charge a protosound battery? or do I just have to buy a new one?

Nicad batteries wear out after a few years and won't hold a charge. If you are using the original battery it needs to be replaced. NIMH batteries are best for proto 1 systems. It would be best to check your engine with a plain alkaline 9V and if it still won't get out of neutral you need the unscrambler kit mentioned above. It includes a new battery.

Neil

[spankybird]

I agree that any ni-cad battery over 5 years old need to be replaced. Most only last 4 years or so. The new one, either ni-cad or NiMh need to be charged first.[:D]

When ever I replace my old batteries, I also put in the MiMh batteries. Just do not use an Eveready. They do not have enough power.[:(]

tom

[CSX FAN]

I went through my PS1 engines and started charging them up. I found that any battery with a number code on it was bad. The A series batteries were going also.

Jamie

[Anonymous]

Check this web site www.jandwelectronics.com you will never have to deal with batteies again. They work great!
Pat Prowell