I have had this TT for over 4 years and it has worked great, no problems.
Today I tried to delete some track numbers I don't use. I gor an ERR 1 in the display. The contacts are clean, engines still run across the TT but the TT does not move. There are 2 rectangular buttons at the top right of the controller, I pushed the bottom one of these and got the ERR 1 message. The directions does not say what these buttons are or what they do.
I looked on line and it seemed that if cleaning the contacts did not work, the controller was toast. This was a gift from my children and I would really like to get it working.
Thanks for any help.
Is this an error message specifically on the turntable controller or is it a DCC error? The wording of error messages can be obscure, but knowing what they are might give someone a clue.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
If the post contacts are clean and the little prongs are clean, make sure the prongs are bent up far enough to make contact. I find the prongs need a little extra cleaning effort, I put my finger under each one and really clean it well with a Q-tip making sure no bits of Q-tip, either foam ones or fluff get left behind. My layout is in a really clean environment and I only clean my track maybe once a year, however, the TT contacts I have to constantly clean.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
The Err 1 message is on the TT controller. My layout is clean. I did as you suggested with the Q tip. It still shows Err 1. As I press the up or down arrows I get the cal, prog, del etc message for a split second then it reverts to Err 1. I have emailed Walthers but no reply yet. Any idea what the 2 rectangular buttons on the top right of the controller do? I very hesitantly have tried bending up the contacts, I have never touched them before.
If it isn't a component that is defective inside the circuitry, it has to be a dirt/corrosion/friction/binding/bad contact thingie.
The tines and contacts are clean and make contact. Check.
The cords haven't been moved, bent, stepped on, kinked, yanked, twisted, partially torn, crimped. Check.
All cables and wires are still connected, ends seated and tight, no bent pins. Check.
The final drive housing is clear of debris, cat/dog hair, lint, bits-o'-greenery, your hair, mouse turds... Check.
No cracked gearing that is visible? Check.
Idler wheels, if they exist (don't have the DCC version, just the 'indexed' earlier version) turn freely, aren't jammed up with any of the above detritus. Check.
It has a decoder in it...? Has it been reset properly? Check.
Is the reference point optical eye hole clear? Check.
Okay, I'm stumped. Time to call Walthers' Tech Guyz.
I can't access my layout right now and I can't remember what those buttons do. I use my DCC controller and have not touched the TT controller in a long time.
Have you tried a complete reset and started over? Anytime there is a mechanical connection involved it is easy to get a hiccup.
There were a few issues with certain models that I have read about online and the response from Walthers was not the best. If you have exhausted all other options take it to a electronics repair guy for a look. As frustrating as this is a solution is likely possible.
I came across this, it may be a solution, I would talk to Walthers first.
https://www.walthers.com/cornerstone-turntable-control-box
What is the model# of your TT?
Thank you for the replies and help. It is a Walthers Cornerstone 933-2850 HO 130'
Here is an old thread on the subject.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/261021.aspx
Wow, it looks like I have been lucky. I have had this TT for at least 4 years and it has always worked perfectly for me.
My problem started when I had a few unneeded numbers that I had to scroll through to get to the one I wanted. I tried deleting them and I pushed buttons on the controller and I think it was when I pushed the one unmarked on the top right of the controller that I got an Err 1 in the display and I have not been able to get anything else to show in the display since
So, do the instructions say you can/should do a reset at times of trouble? Have you done so. and then tried to re-programme the routes?
I got a reply from Walthers. They said pretty much the same as was suggested here. They don't make this TT anymore and it can't be repaired but I could buy a newer one!
I can't do a reset because all I can get is Err 1, if I try and go to res it reverts to Err 1.
I am not going to buy another TT from Walthers so I will have to figure out another way to make this one run. Thanks for your help.
If you know an electronics expert, open it up and have a look, My father-in-law has fixed things that most consider unfixable like some of my wifes high end medical equipment from her Vet hospital.
A lot of todays cars are full of mini computers and the dealer will charge you $1800.00 for wiper control part or someting similar and if you just take it to an electronics repair place a $75.00 bill may be the cost, cheaper than a new part. Been there done that more than once. In fact on my Honda Civic, I fixed the problem myself by just touching my soldering iron to some bad solder joints that I found were a problem in the light control module. That was a $700.00 part at Honda. Learned of the fix by Googling the problem.
Your problem has come up on a few Face Book groups along with ways to get around the problem, I suggest that may be worth some investigation. Jason Shron and Rapido are on some of the Canadian groups and make the groups good for a chuckle.
I don't live that far from you by the way.
ERR 1 is the message we get when the power is interupted through dirty contacts under the TT. So a broken wire on a plug or in the control unit may give the same code as would a bad solder joint. Get out the magnefying glass.
I have fixed my kids video games when poor handling caused a cracked solder joint. It worked intermittently so we opened it up turned it on and hit it with the hair dryer to warm it up and the joint expanded enough to close the circuit. Took a while but found the cracked one.
The TT is fixed!!
I talked to Bill at Central Hobbies in Vancouver and we went over all the same things to try without success. Bill had me check continuity on the wires from the 8 pin plug at the controller to the 8 contacts in the TT pit. They were all good so he felt it was the controller. He said he had a DCC TT conversion kit that used the same controller.I installed the new control box and it works.
I wonder why Walthers never mentioned this kit. I didn't need the Printed Circuit Board as my TT was already DCC.
I just wanted to let you know what has been happening and thank everyone for their input.
Because Walthers wants to sell you another TT to cure your ills!
Glad Central Hobbies Bill could fix you up. That's a frustration.
oldline1
Those guys at Central Hobbies are the best.
Glad to hear you found a solution, can you post what the exact replacement is as the problem seems to come up a lot on FB and I would like to offer help to those, if possible.
Can you take the old controller apart to see if the problem is visible?
williamsb The TT is fixed!! I talked to Bill at Central Hobbies in Vancouver and we went over all the same things to try without success. Bill had me check continuity on the wires from the 8 pin plug at the controller to the 8 contacts in the TT pit. They were all good so he felt it was the controller. He said he had a DCC TT conversion kit that used the same controller.I installed the new control box and it works.
Rich
Alton Junction
It was a Cornerstone DCC Turntable Conversion Kit 922-2852 HO scale.The controller was the same as my TT. I didn't need the Printed Cicuit Board.
I had taken the old controller apart (quite easy). I couldn't see any poor solder joints or anything burnt, but something in it obviously failed.