I have a layout powered by a MRC prodigy advanced squared system. My diesels all run fine. Most are MTH and a few BLI. I have an MTH 4-8-4 J HO that is giving me fits. It runs fine with sound only. When I hit F8 and enable the steam generator the sound hesitates and cuts out intemittently (chuff sounds and smoke). If I hit f8 again amd shut down the smoke the problem goes away. I have a BLI K4 that runs fine without difficulty. My layout is 2 track with a short one track section. The second track is electronically isolated. It's about 24' by 8'. Using PECO streamline flex track and peco electrofrogs. Using a voltmeter I cannot detect any significant voltage drop. Feeder are a little unorthodox in that they are peco track joiners with wires presoldered. I hate to solder! Ihave not soldered the joints. My Bus wire is pretwisted. Any help?
Bob C.
Wow! Twenty nine views and no one has any idea? Does anyone from the magazine moderate this forum. Surely one of you learned gentleman can help? Trying to contact MTH is problematic at best. My work does not allow for time on the phone and they are only available during certain hours. They do not respond to email.
I questioned my LHS about MTH, thinking about a purchase. The answers I got from him did not instill confidence in MTH. The MTH parts policy seems to be they don't ship out any major parts, and almost everything is major to them. IT seems shipping it back to them for repairs is what MTH wants, then their turnaround times aren't that great, if it's out of warranty, expensive, and shipping to have it returned somewhat excessive. I'd guess the chip is bad, but MTH probably won't ship you a new one. Not much help, I know. Sorry.
Rich.
Eisen:
It sounds like a problem with the smoke gererator circuit and a return to MTH is probably in order.
Joe
Well, Bob, based on what I read on this forum, not many people on here have MTH engines, so that likely explains the lack of responses.
Sheldon
GreybeardThe MTH parts policy seems to be they don't ship out any major parts, and almost everything is major to them.
And my policy is I do not purchase from companies who cannot provide parts.
Jim
I've heard this. It does help. I'll stop belly aching and send it in. Just have to tough it out trying to contact them. Shame. I find their locomotives solidly built with great sound.
Thanks all. I appreciate your help. Sorry if I sounded impatient.
Your work doesn't allow you to take a lunch break? Why can't you just call MTH during your lunch break. Ever time I've called MTH for tech support they answered the phone, and were friendly and helpful. Only takes a few minutes of your time.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
No Michael. I'm a solo physician in a large practice and do not have time for lunch. I work straight through. I have emailed them and sent a request on their support site. No answer. I think that's ridiculous. I've been treated better by others.
It almost sounds like the smoke unit is causing a voltage drop in the system. If the voltage or amperage drops too low, the sound will go apesh*%#. You might want to check your feeders and track connections. It also could be the MTH draws more juice than the other locos you have, and your DCC system can't handle it. From what I've read, MTH's system does draw a lot of current.
Mike C.
It sounds to me like you're overloading your Prodigy DCC system's Amperage output with the MTH locomotive's smoke generator, and your system is shutting down to protect itself.
Use the quarter test - set a quarter on the track at various places and verify that the system circuit breaker trips. Try this at various places around the layout. Do not press on the quarter. If there is any spot where it does not trip, you need to beef up the power feed, there is too much loss in the wiring, making the quarter not cause enough of a short to trip the breaker.
Also, 8 amps directly to the track is not really recommended for HO scale. You could have a derailment that does not press tightly against the rails, causing a 'short' of as low as 2 ohms, which would mean the current flow is around 7.5 amps - less than the 8 amps, so the breaker won't trip. Which is over 100 watts of power. Which WILL melt things - think how hot a 100 watt light bulb is. You should break the layout into seperate power districts with their own circuit breakers to restrict the current in any one area, even running doubleheaders and so forth you shouldn;t need more than 3 amps or so in any one area of the layout, plus if a short occurs in one section, the others would keep going.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks. I will remove the booster. I do have it running to a circuit breaker first. Is that still dangerous? I will try the quarter test. Appreciate everyone's help.
Eisen Thanks. I will remove the booster. I do have it running to a circuit breaker first. Is that still dangerous? I will try the quarter test. Appreciate everyone's help.
If you have breakers, that's fine. You don't want to connect an 8 amp booster right to the track unless you're in a alrger scale where each loco may need 2 amps.
rrinker If you have breakers, that's fine. You don't want to connect an 8 amp booster right to the track unless you're in a alrger scale where each loco may need 2 amps. --Randy
An overlooked point in using circuit breakers is that the circuit breakers must trip before the booster circuit breaker does. Otherwise, the circuit breakers are worse than useless because if they are close in trip time, results become unpredictable. I've learned this from our HOn3 module setups.
The quarter test should always trip the circuit breaker for the section it controls, and not the master. If the master trips first, the timing of the circuit breaker needs to be adjusted. If neither trips on the quarter test, the wiring has too much resistance.
just my experiences
Fred W
Well. Don't know when I'm going to get to test as I live in the North East. No power due to an ice storm. Estimates of days before it is restored. Very bummed!