DCS will not recognize Proto 3 engine...

Did it run in DCS the first time or just conventional?  G

Make sure the DCS/DCC switch is in DCS mode...

I've had customers bring engines in saying their board is dead, flipped the switch and remote then finds the engine.

Jim

Battery/BCR is important.  Set the unit on the tracks, and power for several minutes, to allow the BCR to charge, or replace the battery.  Old school DCS.   

Mike, with the DCS/DCC switch it's a PS/3 and has no battery.  The supercaps are integrated into the board.

I have an early P-3 A-B-A set, 20-20310, Rio Grande PA's.  It was running fine then just stopped.  Fried the mother board due to poor assembly around the smoke unit.  Long story short, $350 later it runs fine.  Take it to a qualified tech. 

@GGG posted:

Did it run in DCS the first time or just conventional?  G

Hi:

It ran great in dcs mode.

Thanks

@Jim Sandman posted:

Make sure the DCS/DCC switch is in DCS mode...

I've had customers bring engines in saying their board is dead, flipped the switch and remote then finds the engine.

Jim

Hi Jim, no switch is good

Thanks Mike and john

@WALMART TOM posted:

I have an early P-3 A-B-A set, 20-20310, Rio Grande PA's.  It was running fine then just stopped.  Fried the mother board due to poor assembly around the smoke unit.  Long story short, $350 later it runs fine.  Take it to a qualified tech. 

Know of any in the NYC area Tom?

Thanks

@thesubwaypusher posted:

Hi Jim, no switch is good

It was worth verifying...  Bummer.

Hope your local shop is able to get it running - hope it's not the boards.  They aren't easy to get right now, and cost plenty too.

Jim

Somebody on the forum should be able to recommend a good tech in your area.

Pretty sure there's a couple of DCS guys that are members of the NJ-HR train club, they're in the NYC area.

@thesubwaypusher posted:

"I don't keep multiple locomotives on the track because any extra room is consumed by non-powered rolling stock, and, I have had certain engines take off in sync with my inputs to the engine I happen to be running."

Thank you very much, Chris

So when you run one DCS engine another starts and moves at the same time? That's not good. 

Have you tried operating these on a test track not hooked to your layout? 

@thesubwaypusher posted:

I don't keep multiple locomotives on the track because any extra room is consumed by non-powered rolling stock, and, I have had certain engines take off in sync with my inputs to the engine I happen to be running.

This is almost always because you have multiple engines with the same DCS ID number.  This can happen if you have more than one remote and add engines at different times.  You can remedy this pretty easily by checking what engine numbers are in each remote and eliminating duplicates that aren't the same engine.

Thanks guys- 

I solved the problem with the more than one engine moving on command by simply storing only non-powered stock on the siding.

So Trainland placed the engine on its test track and their remote there was a nogo also. I am going to have to send it in. The locomotive is part a an ABA set. Do both have to be sent? I recall running the head-out engine on its own and it ran well. And no, the engine on the rear is not recognized by my DCS either.

Chris

@WALMART TOM posted:

Somebody on the forum should be able to recommend a good tech in your area.

The TrainDoctor in Tinton Falls is a MTH National service center and has the parts in stock.

Great, I will contact him as soon as I get a chance. Thanks buddy!

I had an issue with an MTH train that, on occassion, would not be found by the DCS system. And eventually was never able to be read by the DCS. After much head banging and scratching, I came to find, one of the wires from the switch SHOOK LOOSE. I was able to GERRY RIG it. And now it works fine. 

@thesubwaypusher posted:

Thanks guys- 

I solved the problem with the more than one engine moving on command by simply storing only non-powered stock on the siding.

So Trainland placed the engine on its test track and their remote there was a nogo also. I am going to have to send it in. The locomotive is part a an ABA set. Do both have to be sent? I recall running the head-out engine on its own and it ran well. And no, the engine on the rear is not recognized by my DCS either.

Chris

What is the item number? 

@Pg3ibew posted:

I had an issue with an MTH train that, on occassion, would not be found by the DCS system. And eventually was never able to be read by the DCS. After much head banging and scratching, I came to find, one of the wires from the switch SHOOK LOOSE. I was able to GERRY RIG it. And now it works fine. 

Thanks dude, I opened it up and checked for loose wiring but everything was secure.

@BobbyD posted:

What is the item number? 

Hi Bobby, it is 20-20353-1. Bought new on ebay from a very reputable seller. Thanks.

@thesubwaypusher posted:

And no, the engine on the rear is not recognized by my DCS either.

Chris

This A-B-A has the cord so the trailing A is just a slave and will not run on its own. 

@Pg3ibew posted:

I had an issue with an MTH train that, on occassion, would not be found by the DCS system. And eventually was never able to be read by the DCS. After much head banging and scratching, I came to find, one of the wires from the switch SHOOK LOOSE. I was able to GERRY RIG it. And now it works fine.

A big thank you to you guys who responded to my issue. As I said, I did check the wiring carefully, but apparently not carefully enough. This kind poster put the idea in my head that I should probably check again, paying particular attention to the dcc/dcs switch wires. Once again, I glanced at them and they seemed fine, but upon close examination, one of the wires had broken off the switch and stiffly stayed in a position where it was difficult to see that it no longer made contact. Bright light and reading glasses allowed me to notice it and once I soldered it back, my ABA came back to life!

:-)

@thesubwaypusher posted:

A big thank you to you guys who responded to my issue. As I said, I did check the wiring carefully, but apparently not carefully enough. This kind poster put the idea in my head that I should probably check again, paying particular attention to the dcc/dcs switch wires. Once again, I glanced at them and they seemed fine, but upon close examination, one of the wires had broken off the switch and stiffly stayed in a position where it was difficult to see that it no longer made contact. Bright light and reading glasses allowed me to notice it and once I soldered it back, my ABA came back to life!

:-)

I am 53. I wear reading glasses. And need the HUGE magnifying glass with a SUPER BRIGHT Goose neck light on the work bench, AND I STILL have trouble seeing those little wires. LMAO

Glad you found the issue. The aggravation is still better than sending the engine out.

Glad to hear you got it solved.