Tom, no extra decoders other than Loksound 4.0 removed from the Atlas S-2 (with no way to wire it in). I replaced it with 5.0 since the sound of traction motors is so cool. Plan to disassemble engine to attempt to work around decoder wiring in anticipation of motor replacement.
Stay tuned!
John,
If you have a spare decoder laying around, you could try disconnecting the Loksound and temporarily hardwiring another one (motor-only would be fine) to see if the issue persists. Then you can confirm if it's the motor or the Loksound decoder. I did that with my brass 0-8-0 switcher and the current spiking happened with either decoder. That way I knew the motor was the culprit.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Thanks to all who replied so far. I think Tom may have the answer. I just could not understand how a motor could be fine most of the time and then mess up. I really don't have a convenient way to measure amps apart from my RRampMeter which is integral to my layout. The Frog Juicers (3) draw about .07 amps total with no engines on the track. The HH600 normally draws what my other engines do, and a bit lower than my Alco S-4. I may replace the motor but hard-wired the Loksound micro so it may suffer in the process! I tend to clip the leads as short as practical in a tight installation. But as it stands, I am not enjoying running this otherwise sweet engine. I appreciate all the input. I have three Stewart/Bowser Baldwin switchers, a Walthers FM switcher (also with a Loksound now), the Atlas S-4, and a little Bachman 44 tonner with Loksound 5.0 (a fun engine to operate). So, I have alternatives to the HH for now. When (and if) the problem is solved, I will update the post.
John in South Carolina
Do you have your Loksound set up for dual-mode or DCC-only?
I had a can motor in a brass Alco Models 0-8-0 that would operate @ 0.18 to 0.38A @ speed step 030 then spike to 0.9A or > for short periods of time. It turned out to be a bad motor. I replaced it with a coreless motor and it now maintains a steady current draw of 0.03A.
The Atlass HH600/660s are sweet little switchers. Are you able to measure the current draw of the locomotive on a section of track that isn't connected to a Frog Juicer?
trnjThe current draw goes from .09 amp to .85 or .90 (this reading includes current from my Frog Juicers).
That's a big jump. I don't know what Fro Juicers due to current flow. As it behaved similarly with a different decoder, I would suspect the engine or wiring and not the decoder itself.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
trnjI changed from the QSI decoder a while back for better sound and control. This engine seemed to have a similar issue then.
That would make me tend to believe it's something with the engine, not the decoder(s). Could be something like a short circuit that's enough to affect the engine's functioning, but not enough to trip the DCC system's short circuit indicator. If you can't see any obvious issues, perhaps consider removing the lightboard and doing a 'hardwire' installation of a decoder.
I installed a Loksound 5.0 Micro in my Atlas HH600 and it works as well as all my other ESU decoders, most of the time. But every now and then, a headlight goes out and then comes back on (no wiring or track issues) and the engine will simply not start moving (never at the time the light issue shows itself). The current draw goes from .09 amp to .85 or .90 (this reading includes current from my Frog Juicers). If I leave it alone it will suddenly lurch forward and be O.K. At other times reversing the engine will work. I can run this engine for 30" or more with no issues and then this strange behavior occurs and may not again for another length of time. Would this be a decoder issue or would it more likely be a motor problem? No binding during the "normal" period at all and no current surges. Aggh! I changed from the QSI decoder a while back for better sound and control. This engine seemed to have a similar issue then. I have never had a bad ESU decoder and I have had several from the old 3.5 days. I cannot imagine that the motor would be doing this so randomly. It does not get too warm nor does the decoder. I am about ready to sideline this engine for good but I really like its looks and usually its performance. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance for any help.