I have an HO layout, just a simple outside loop that switches to an inside loop with a few staging tracks. I am running The Dynamis system DCC. I have 2 locos that are DCC equipped, no sound. They both run smooth and I run them by them selves, not both at the same time. When the U.P loco runs around the loop once or twice it will stall on a section of track, turnout,straight track, curve, just about anywhere. whehn it stops, the display on the Dynamis has 2 icins that show up : a stop sign (which i fully understand), and next to it a little lightening bolt that says "short". Now, i hit the stop button and loco resumes down the track until it hits another place where it abruptly stops, sometimes on the same place as before and sometimes not. the same icons appear on the Dynamis screen. Then again, the loco will run right over these "trouble" spots without stalling, make a few rounds and then stall. I have read the manual on the Dynamis and it says that when the "short" icon appears, there is a possible short somewhere on the track...hmmmmm... i have checked, and checked, replaced track, removed the turnout and replaced it with a straight peice and it still stalls!!! bothe locos stall in the same places and random places as well (if that makes since). If i have left out any info needed please let me know. Thank you for your time amd reading this lengthy problem
Because it happens only to the one one engine, and because it happens randomly, the fault is resident in the engine. So, you have bare wire contacting metal that it shouldn't. You'll have to look at the wipers, wires to the decoder, and then wires from the decoder to other accessories and the motor to see if a bare spot is worn, or too much pared back for the soldering job.
One other possibility is the metal truck frame, if it has them, contacting the main frame and allowing current to carry over to the other rail via a path that is available.
Other than that, I'll have to defer to more knowledgeable folks.
It sounds like a loose wire to me, too. Take off the shell and see if there is anything obvious. Sometimes, a stranded wire is soldered in place, but one strand is loose and can brush against other parts of the engine.
One trick that might work is to wait for a dark (and stormy) night, and run the engine entirely in the dark. Watch for small sparks that will indicate a momentary short.
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HackSaw wrote: I have an HO layout, just a simple outside loop that switches to an inside loop with a few staging tracks. I am running The Dynamis system DCC. I have 2 locos that are DCC equipped, no sound. They both run smooth and I run them by them selves, not both at the same time. When the U.P loco runs around the loop once or twice it will stall on a section of track, turnout,straight track, curve, just about anywhere. whehn it stops, the display on the Dynamis has 2 icins that show up : a stop sign (which i fully understand), and next to it a little lightening bolt that says "short". Now, i hit the stop button and loco resumes down the track until it hits another place where it abruptly stops, sometimes on the same place as before and sometimes not. the same icons appear on the Dynamis screen. Then again, the loco will run right over these "trouble" spots without stalling, make a few rounds and then stall. I have read the manual on the Dynamis and it says that when the "short" icon appears, there is a possible short somewhere on the track...hmmmmm... i have checked, and checked, replaced track, removed the turnout and replaced it with a straight peice and it still stalls!!! bothe locos stall in the same places and random places as well (if that makes since). If i have left out any info needed please let me know. Thank you for your time amd reading this lengthy problem
Does the other loco quit too?
Since they both run ok BY THEMSELVES, I don't think the problem is in the loco.
Check the amp draw on the locos seperately, then together. The current draw may be too much for the breaker in the DCC unit. Or too little current capacity in the power supply.
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