Conventional Control of PS2/PS3 Engines

No, that's not how it works.

PS2 and PS3 upon first power- listens for a watchdog signal for a short time and then if no watchdog- start in conventional.

They do not sit there- waiting for long periods waiting for a watchdog.

30-1115-1 is a PS1?? Delivered OCT. 1997 https://mthtrains.com/30-1115-1

30-1573-1 Pennsylvania 0-6-0 Imperial B-6 Switcher Steam Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 2011 Volume 1

So, the 2 engines would be extremely different in operation.

On the PS3 engine, I would suspect the drawbar is just not seated between engine and tender

The PS1 engine (30-1115-1) should give the 2 dings on powerup- standard PS1 behavior not in any way is this a DCS engine so no watchdog- and again that's not how watchdog works anyway.

@Vernon Barry Thanks for reaching out.  The Pacific has been upgraded to PS2.

Then given 2 engines both do this behavior- either the tether on the upgraded engine or the drawbar PCB connector on the PS3 engine are not seated, or they are not getting power for the symptoms of just sitting there.

They are not waiting on a watchdog signal- endlessly. They do check immediately upon power, but do not hang there and wait until a signal is received.

I would try a different track and/or power source.

@Vernon Barry  Thanks again, I will dig into this deeper after York.

Prior to trying to run them, were they being run under DCS?  I have had engines that were run under DCS; when I tried to run them conventionally, they wouldn't move.  Had to delete them from DCS to get them to run.  I know that this isn't "supposed" to happen, but it's happened to me several times.

And running them using an old transformer without fast circuit breakers and TVS diodes is playing Russian roulette with the electronics.

@Mallard4468 posted:

Prior to trying to run them, were they being run under DCS?  I have had engines that were run under DCS; when I tried to run them conventionally, they wouldn't move.  Had to delete them from DCS to get them to run.  I know that this isn't "supposed" to happen, but it's happened to me several times.

I agree that this can happen and reported it- but the symptoms appear to be different.

@Scott Jackson posted:

I have an issue that is driving me crazy(ier).  I am using a pw ZW engine to run my layout.  I have several Rail King steam locomotives that exhibit an irritating characteristic.  (30-1573-1 and 30-1115-1, for example).  They used to start up once the BCRs charged and ran conventionally.  But they decided (weeks apart) to not go through their start-up sequences and now just sit there dark and mute.

Again, even a direction locked PS2 or PS3 still would start up in conventional, lights on, and makes sounds, just no movement.

Conventional mode is how we tell people to test engines- these are not passing that test. Could be a number of things, but again, no lights, no sounds, appears "dead"- these are not good signs.

Have either of them run at all since this incident?  If not, you could have inadvertently blown something using the old ZW as they don't have fast blow circuit breakers as mentioned above by Mallard. Let's hope this is not the case but please don't use any transformer without modern circuit protection!

I do use zero delay Airpax circuit breakers.  I do not have a tiu (yet) but have one coming from Mr. Muffin once they are off the boat.  I will be looking for new power supplies at York - Z-4000 or ZW-C for the layout, and maybe a GW-180 for here on the test bench.

Maybe the BCRs are bad.

Charlie

@Choo Choo Charlie posted:

Maybe the BCRs are bad.

Charlie

Even if the BCR was bad, the engine still would startup and have lights and sound in conventional.

So no, it's not the BCR, it's not lack of a watchdog- we are not passing the most basic of basic tests- powering an engine under conventional. Even many broken and damaged engines might at least power lights and make sounds.

Did you clean your pickup rollers and wheels?

@bluelinec4 posted:

Did you clean your pickup rollers and wheels?

Ditto.  If you had an amp meter in line you could see if there was a small current draw.  G

@GGG I have both a voltmeter and an amp meter in line with the hot lead.  The track is clean, along with the pickup rollers and the drivers.  Just from what I have read above, I suspect my locomotives are coming up in RESET mode.

What kind of current draw?  If they are dark and mute that indicates no power.  If a PS-2 5V the board could be dead.  But Pickups that look good can have corrosion in between roller pin and roller.  To me it sound like power not getting to the engine.  But bad tether on steam can also be an issue.  Not a watch dog thing in conventional.  Lights should come on, followed by sounds.  G

@GGG I swapped the ZW for my KW.  Now, everything works.  I will be looking for a Z4000 or ZW-C or ZW-l at York.  Along with a newer transformer for here on the test bench.

Thanks to everyone with their suggestions!