Hi Guys - Have any of you ever experienced a buzzing sound coming from the speakers of a BLI Blueline Steamer? I just used my M1A for the first time yesterday and it has an annoying humming or buzzing sound most of the time when running it. It sounds like the buzz or hum you get from from not having the proper ground on a sound system (car, home audio, etc). It does it with and without the motor decoder installled. I also noticed that if you disconnect the drawbar but keep the wire harness connected that the buzzing will sometimes stop. But if you touch the draw bar (connected to the engine) to the tender's drawbar pin - the buzzing starts again. Seems like a classic grounding issue. Anyone experience this? I know this is an older model but I had heard they were quite good.
Thanks,
Scott
With or without the motor control decoder installed, indicates to me that you're running it from a DC power pack? If so, what brand of power pack. Possibly being caused by too much AC ripple voltage causing the motor to buzz.
Sorry I should have added I am using an MRC Prodigy Advance System. All other engines have no issues on the same track... Because of BLI's odd choice to have their BlueLine Engines come without motor decoders the sounds will still work with a DCC system even with the motor decoder removed.
If you are trying to run the loco without installing a motor decoder - that's the source of the 'buzzing' - it's the motor, with no decoder, trying to respond to the DCC signal. Digitrax and Lenz let you actually run a loco like this, usign address 00, but MRC does not. DO not leave the loco sitting ont he track liek this, it will burn up the motor. Put a decoder in it before messign around any more.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Nope - I have a decoder in the engine and it's making that sound - here is a link to a Youtube Video showing the problem: http://youtu.be/w9LktqcptDE You will probably have to copy and paste the address link. I talked with BLI and it looks like I will have to send it to them for repair. Figures... I had the thing for a year and never got to use it - the first time I take it out of the box - it doesn't work right...
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GraffenI had a BLI loco that made a high pitched buzzing sound, they replaced the sound board! I always test my new equipment, as some of them are bound to be lemons.....
Now ya tell me! LOL. Thanks... that's what it looks like will probably happen here too..
I know this is an old thread but I just picked up another Blue Line BLI M1b and it has the same issue! It has this really annoying buzzing feedback coming from the speakers. Their fix for my first one (which I recently sold) was to rig the draw bar to insulate the engine from the tender. Not really a fix if you ask me. Any ideas what could be the issue here? I'd prefer not to have to send this to them for a fix that I don't really want to pay for. If the board needs to be replaced I'll order one and do it myself. Depending on the cost I may just toss the board and replace it with a Tsunami or WOW sound board.
If insulatign the drawbar fixed the problem, then what's wrong is that the drawbar is tied to one rail on the tender and the loco frame is tied to the opposite rail, so you have a short, but not a very solid one, so nothing shuts down.
Also, a lot of people seem to hear the turbogenerator as a buzz or whine - turn off the headlights and see if the noise you are hearing goes away. If so - it's the generator, which would be on if the lights are on, and it is sort of a low volume continuous hum or buzz.
Ok thanks Randy. I tested this again and even after turning the lights off the buzzing feedback remains. I fashioned a drawbar out of insulated wire and now it's not making the buzzing sound. I'd like to use the supplied drawbar though and actually fix the problem though. Whats a good way to fix the short? By making sure the trucks on the are isolated not passing current to the tender frame? I assume the only thing that should be drawing power are the wipers on the trucks which connect to a feeder wire and nothing else?