Hello,
I have a decoder Installed in a new engine, engine new out of box, but probably sitting around a year or more, not really broken in, this loco runs fine except every once it awhile it just stops, no lights and its like i pulled the plug and is powers up, like it lost power, sometimes i have to give it a push to get it going , it has happened in different sections of my layout, any one got any idea why a loco would just cycle power like this, I’ve cleaned the track and the wheels are clean .
Thanks,
Is it dying on frogs, etc?
Richard
My frogs are powered it dies crossing on a turnout and Also ona straight piece of track.
I would evaluate those sections of track. DCC sound locos are more sensitive to power interruption than others. That's why with the Tsunami's we add extra capacitance. It could be that the power is momentarily lost as the loco moves the track some and cuts off(momentarily) the electrical supply. I've had to rework turnouts and solder track connections for just this reason. This is also one reason some say you need a wiring bus with track feeders.
Also check to make sure all the wheels are picking up power and getting it to the decoder(no loose wires, etc)
Loose rail joiners may be the problem, together with inadequate power feeds to the track.
It would help too if you told us the brand and type of locomotive; i.e., steam or diesel, Bachmann or Atlas, GP or SD, etc.
Hi Guys, thanks for the replies. Its and Atlas GP 38 2 Classic loco, I have a DCC bus with several power districts, my bus wire is 12,2 and literally every section of track has feeders, all rail joiners are also soldered. However i did notice a section that the loco stalled on a turnout there was a section that was getting power from rail joiners after the frog, it’s possible if i add a feeder there it may help, I tested my voltage and even in those areas running a tester across the track shows a solid 16 volt.
important to note- it does seem to do this when the locoi is movign slow, going a a decend spped no issues. i tried bringing my start voltage up a bit, but that should not make the lococ look as if it lost power and reset, its like I pulled it off the tracka nd put it back on.
Of course, if you have dirty track or dirty wheels (or both) the power isn't going to get to the engine's decoder and motor. If you haven't, be sure to clean both. As noted by an earlier forumite, sound decoders are much more sensitive to dirty track / wheels than standard decoders or DC engines.
My track is spotless clean and the engine is new.
You must be very frustrated given how much effort you've put into doing the layout.
Don't forget to trace the power pickup to board, even new locos can have lose wires, etc. But, if it stops at just certain track sections, then it's probably the track/turnouts, etc and a loss of power from the loco having pressure/movement on the track. Which makes tracing it with a meter practically impossible.
Ward:
Just because an engine is new doesn't guarantee that the wheels are clean. Try cleaning them and see if that helps. I had an Atlas S2 that can from the factory with some sort of oil on the wheels and had to clean them a couple of times to get it to run well.
Joe
I would start all over with this locomotive.
Check the power pickups to be certain that the connections are tight and secure.
Check the wiring at the decoder. Are all the connections tight and secure.
Ckeck the gears to be certain they are lubed and that the lubrication is not gummy.
Check the wheels to be certain that they are clean.
Check all moving parts to be certain that they are not binding.
If other locos perform well on your layout, then this specific locomotive is suspect.
You may need to upgrade the QSI chip.
Rich
Alton Junction