Hi All,
I'm hoping for a little advice or help with my first ERR install. I don't have the part number for the engine handy, but it's a conventional K-Line Virginian FM Train Master that I bought new at a train show several years ago. It always ran fine, but I thought it would be a good candidate for an upgrade to cruise and railsounds.
I worked on the install on Saturday and I thought everything went well. I got the cruise commander in along with the railsounds board. I had it on the track for a little bit and everything seemed to be working as expected. Came back after dinner a few hours later and started it again. It made it half way around the upper loop when it suddenly stopped moving, but the lights and sounds were still working. I shut off power as fast as I could and inspected the track and cars. No derailments and no track obstructions that I could see.
Now when I try to use it, it just takes off. I use a CAB1L and when I hit the DIR button it will stop, but then when I turn the knob all I get is a quick "buzz" sound. I coupled a lighted caboose to it and notice that when the buzzing happens, the lights in the caboose blink, as if there's some kind of short somewhere.
I have disconnected everything from the cruise commander thinking maybe I messed up on the wiring when making the connections. Right now, I only have the common, hot, motor 1, motor 2, the antenna, and the program/run switch connected. I verified that I have all the connections correct, but am still having the problem.
I have also double-checked to make sure I had the switch in the Run position. I have also tried doing a reset with no luck.
What I have noticed is that the R4LC board doesn't look right. There is some hazing (for lack of a better term) around some of the soldering. I have attached a picture. Does that indicate a blown or faulty board?
If so, I can get another one but I'm mystified as to what caused it and am worried I did something wrong, but don't know what.
If the board looks normal, then I am completely out of ideas and will probably have to find someone who is willing to look at it for me.
Any help is appreciated. Thank you!