Engine Shorting Out

Well, I don't see this as a DCS issue, I'd open the shell and see what's going on.  Sounds like something has shorted internally.

Have you checked the obvious, something picked up and shorting the roller to the wheels?

John,

I don't see this as a DCS issue, I'd open the shell and see what's going on.

It's not, however, this is the "MTH DCS and PS2/PS3" Forum, so he came to the right place.

Many of these engines have the front coupler wire routed up around the front flywheel.  If you remove the shell, it should be easy to see.  Just hold it down with a small zip tie.

Dave

I didn't say he was in the wrong forum, but merely offered the opinion that this wasn't a control issue, but rather a physical issue with wiring, etc.   He would get more exposure perhaps in the 3-Rail forum, but that's not my call.

What is the PS2/PS3 Engine in the description mean?

Obviously something has shorted internally

Yes I have checked the obvious.

John,

He would get more exposure perhaps in the 3-Rail forum, but that's not my call.

That may be so, however, there's a lot more focussed PS2 and PS3 knowledge here than on the main forum.

Like any there engines, PS3 engines have issue that are similar to those of other engines. However, they have their own idiosyncrasies, as well,

Thanks, did as you suggested saw the wires routed up around the front flywheel, but didn't see any breaks.  Repositioned the wires and put back on track without hood.  Still shorting out but still can't tell where.  I even tried, one at a time, lifting the front / back wheels off of track and it made no difference.

If your engine has an accessible 8-wire connector/harness going to the motor and track pickups, you might try removing that. If the short goes away with both trucks on the track, you might have a short on the board. If you then try your one-truck-at-a-time test, it might help isolate which truck wiring to focus on. 

Ok, found the 8-wire connector/harness.  Disconnected and still shorted out.  Lifted, one at a time, front and rear trucks, still shorted out on both trucks

Interesting.  Well, I guess it's still under warranty so there's always that route!

Since it sounds like you studied the wiring already, the next thing I'd try is to apply power using alligator clips or whatever.  That is, apply power without the roller spring tension and with the trucks free to move/wiggle vertically relative to the chassis (rather than pressed up against the chassis when on track). 

If it's shorted out on both trucks, it sounds like the wire from the pickups is shorted to the frame.  Look for a pinched wire.

If you are sure you got the power feeds disconnected then it is the pickups and power feeds.  Ensure the insulators are in place, no bare wires from the center pick up near the frame or ground wire.  I have not worked a PS-3 diesel yet so I am not sure of the connector configuration.  But if power connector is removed from board and still a short, you work backwards from the connection towards the trucks.   Some configurations have the trucks connected in parallel with a speed nut so lifting one or the other doesn't isolate them, unless you do it by ensuring the center pick up wire is disconnected at both trucks.  G

this may sound crazy but try putting a new fully charged battery in it!  I have exactly the same problem with a circa 2000 MTH PS-2 Premier 2-8-0 Consolidation.  Discovered the battery is totally dead, no sounds as soon as you turn off the power.  Put in a newer battery and now it is working better, at least not shorting out.  This engine would blow the CB on the transformer shortly after starting up in conventional or within about 15 secs after turning on DCS power.  I had this issue when I first got the engine but it went away after charging the battery.  I checked the engine and tender and could find no reason for a short. 

If I remember correctly the batteries can go into a reverse polarity when they are badly discharged.  

It's a PS-3, no battery to go dead.

Oops, missed that small detail!!