Got an mth dap w stern pacific AA and can't get to run in protosound - sometimes it runs, sometimes it doesn't. It is new, old stock. Has new capacitor battery.
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How about an MTH model number? If it's simply Protosound, it only runs in conventional. If it's Protosound 2 or 3, it will run in conventional or command.
20-80001. It is protosound - and it doesn't work.
Sometimes it just makes static noise. When i do get it running, sometimes the sound just stops. Trying to do anything like reverse, blow horn or whistle it simply just stops.
its a neat looking engine with the passenger consist and all. I sure would like some way to make her run.
What are you using for a transformer?
Time to crack the case and check all the connections.
All Protosound 1 (PS-1) engines have a very vexing feature that isn't well documented or mentioned. To get a PS-1 unit to run you must charge the battery or the battery replacement capacitor first. You charge the battery / capacitor by putting the engine on the track and raising the voltage to at least 10 volts and letting the engine sit for about a minute to charge. Sometimes a capacitor will charge in 30 seconds but I always wait a minute. You only need to charge the battery / capacitor at the beginning of your operating session.
Second, and this is very important, when starting the engine do not raise the track voltage over 10 volts. This is the procedure assuming the battery or capacitor is charged:
1. Slowly advance the conventional throttle handle so that there is 8 or 9 volts on the track. Sounds may or may not start.
2. Slowly turn the throttle to off.
3. Slowly advance the throttle again. The engine should come out of neutral and start moving forward. You can now run the engine at more than 10 volts.
4. Follow the same procedure to reverse the engine.
PS-1 engines have a built in feature that prevents them from running away if the throttle is rapidly advanced beyond 10 volts at initial startup. If you advance the throttle beyond 10 volts when the engine is in neutral it will not run and you get funny sounds.
NH Joe
I had an issue with a very old MTH Train Master Proto 1 engine that was made in 1996, where the engine would not run when using a MTH Z-1000 transformer. It was suggested by someone on this forum, that I try using my old Lionel ZW and upon using the ZW everything worked great. So try using a different transformer to see if the engine works better.
