Bad board on PS2 challenger?

If you turn off track power while it's making sounds in conventional mode, how long do sounds persist?

It stops right away. That's why I tried a different battery and that did make a difference.

Dan

Dan,

and that did make a difference.

So now how long do sounds persist?

As soon as you turn off the power the sound stops.

Dan

I did check the voltage on both batteries and they where 8.3 and 8.5.

Dan

Dan,

I did check the voltage on both batteries and they where 8.3 and 8.5.

Did you test them under load with a battery tester or just with a meter?

Just a meter. I figured the one I removed from the other engine that was working should have been fine. No?

Dan

Not necessarily.

Put a new alkaline in as a test, if you don't have a new rechargeable to use.  Trying to charge a 13 year old battery won't work. I imagine it you but a bulb on it, it would go out immediately.

This could be your motion issue.  G

I found a good battery and got the engine to move in conventional but DCS still can't find it.

It's time to attempt a Recover Engine.

From page 39 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

Under DCS 4.10 or higher, to recover a PS2 engine that has a DCS ID# that's outside of the normal range, proceed as follows

• Set the engine on a piece of track controlled by TIU #1. The Recover Engine feature only works with TIU #1. You must not have any other engines powered up on any track connected to TIU #1 while attempting to recover an engine

• Apply power to TIU #1

• Power on the DCS Remote 

• Press the Menu button and use the thumbwheel to scroll to SYSTEM. Press the thumbwheel to select it

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to RECOVER ENGINE. Press the thumbwheel to select it

• The remote will display "Attempting Recovery of Lost Engine, Please wait!!!"

• If the remote is able to recover the engine it will display "Engine Recovered" and return to the Engine Setup menu. The newly recovered engine will be automatically Factory Reset by the remote. Refer to section DCS Menus, Advanced Menu later in this book for an explanation of the Factory Reset command

• Turn TIU #1 off and then back on

• The engine may now be added to the DCS remote using the ADD ENGINE command as described in section DCS Menus, System Menu earlier in this book

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Barry, I have to assume you mean Fixed TIU #1? I did try this and could not recover engine, thanks for the advice. BTW I just ordered your book 2nd edition, should have a while back.

Dan

I have to assume you mean Fixed TIU #1

What I mean is that the TIU itself must be numbered TIU #1. You can use any channel as long as the TIU itself is getting power andits DCS ID# is #1 (it blinks once on power on).

OK, I understand. I only use one TIU so that's not a problem. Got a new BCR and that didn't help and now it's back to not working at all.

Dan

Charge up the BCR for a couple of minutes at 12 volts and then turn off the transformer to see if the engine sounds continue for at least 7 seconds, just to make sure the BCR is chargiig up.

Dan, fyi, a battery must be tested under a load, and the load of the meter is not enough.  If you happen to have a Harbor Freight near you, some of their very cheapest meters have a battery test function which is useful. 

Barry, I've never used the Recover Engine function.  WIll it work with an engine that has never been added to a DCS system?

Dan, a suggestion based upon what it took for me to get a loco--a 5-volt loco about 2003-- into my system.  Remove loco from track.  Disconnect FIXED 1 from the track.  Connect FIXED 1 to the loco with jumper cables, red to the rollers and black to the frame.  Do not power any other TIU channel.  Try "add engine."

I have one of those Challengers from 1995, which I upgraded to PS2.  It is an excellent running loco.

Robert,

 I've never used the Recover Engine function.  WIll it work with an engine that has never been added to a DCS system?

Yes, it will.

I think whatever the problem was it finished the job. The BCR held a charge for at least 20min. after I shut off power (checked with a meter at 8.85 volt). I have a test track hooked up to fixed 1 and it still couldn't find the engine (recover or add). Going to a service center Saturday to get the ball rolling on the warranty repairs.

Dan

drodder, you got the test wrong.  It's how long the sounds will continue after the power is cut, not how long the BCR or battery holds a charge.  Battery tests not under load are virtually useless.

I used a double strip of LEDs in my cars, and now feel that they are too bright.

I put the BCR in a PA and when I shut off the power the engine ran the entire shutdown. I didn't time it but it did run the whole thing every time. I read that the BCR should hold a charge up to 2 hrs. I put my meter on it with no charge, put power to the track and watch it charge. It got up to 10.25 and then dropped down to 9.37 and bounce a little right around that point. I then cut the power and it dropped to about 9.2. All this while still in the engine. I'm not an electrician but I think I got what I need to know. The first MTH battery I did this with didn't ramp up just jumped to 9.2 and died after power was cut off, dead unit. The second MTH did ramp and hold, That battery still said 7.9 the next day. This was out of the same PA and it also ran the entire shutdown after power was cut off. Right, wrong or otherwise that's what I did. I also check my meter and even thought it cost me $70 is doesn't have a battery load test selection and I have looked in the instructions yet to see if that can be done with it, maybe.

Dan