How much is too much? DCS engines CHRONO and ODOM

I don't put much stock into the Chronograph - it keeps adding up time as long as power is on the track even without the engine powered up.

The Odometer on the other hand is a good metric.

I'll be interested to hear others comment on this topic.

Paul

I had no idea!  "Chronograph - it keeps adding up time as long as power is on the track even without the engine powered up."  Well that's NOT very helpful.  I assumed that the time would count ONLY with the engine in motion.  

John,

Well that's NOT very helpful.

Actually, it's a valid indicator of how much the engine's electronics have aged over time. Everything electronic has a "life" and this is one way to describe the level of use of the engine's electronics, albeit while not under any kind of a load.

Regardless, since the electronics aren't rated as regards their expected useful lifetime, the chronometer reading is mainly only good for purposes of comparing engines.

I agree with Barry, The mechanics of these engines are reliable and are the least of my worries.  The electronics will be the first thing to give you trouble and cost the $$$.

My highest chrono reading is 290 hours with 4950 miles. (on a PS2 5v board)

Barry, Do the electronics still add time & mileage if the PS2 battery is dead? My guess is no because this information is recorded when the engine is shutdown.

Do the electronics still add time & mileage if the PS2 battery is dead? My guess is no because this information is recorded when the engine is shutdown.

Hmm... that's a good question.

Some (though not necessarily all) settings are saved only when the engine's track power is turned off. However, the Odometer and Chronometer aren't settings, rather, they are automatically updated when the engine is powered-up and/or moving.

In order to know if these updates will "stick" after cycling power if a battery is dead or weak, you'd have to experiment a bit.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

Do the electronics still add time & mileage if the PS2 battery is dead? My guess is no because this information is recorded when the engine is shutdown.

Hmm... that's a good question.

Some (though not necessarily all) settings are saved only when the engine's track power is turned off. However, the Odometer and Chronometer aren't settings, rather, they are automatically updated when the engine is powered-up and/or moving.

In order to know if these updates will "stick" after cycling power if a battery is dead or weak, you'd have to experiment a bit.

I checked this out years ago and the odometer and chronometer doesn't update with a dead battery with PS2.

Joe, I kinda figured this too. I have purchased R-T-R sets with dead batteries that would still move (some did not until a new battery was installed). They showed a fair amount of ware on the drive-train but low usage on the DCS remote. (R-T-R sets with dead batteries are great deals because they are usually listed as broken and sell cheap)

Now is there a difference between the 3v and 5v boards? If my memory is correct, the 5v will still move with a dead battery and the 3v did not and neither would record miles & time. I have a couple engines apart right now, I'll test this weekend.

H1000 posted:

Joe, I kinda figured this too. I have purchased R-T-R sets with dead batteries that would still operate but had dead batteries. They showed a fair amount of ware on the drive-train but low usage on the DCS remote. (R-T-R sets with dead batteries are great deals because they are usually listed as broken and sell cheap)

Now is there a difference between the 3v and 5v boards? If my memory is correct, the 5v will still move with a dead battery and the 3v did not and neither would record miles & time. I have a couple engines apart right now, I'll test this weekend.

Neither will move in conventional with a dead battery. 

3V or 5V PS/2 will run in command mode with constant track voltage without a battery.  As Joe says, no go in conventional for either of them with no battery.

I've had some units (I think 3 volt) that didn't move until the battery was replaced. All other functions worked great in DCS mode but they simply would not move forward or reverse until the battery was replaced.

I also have some BCR 3v units that refuse to move unless you wait the 60 seconds for them to charge.

All other functions worked great in DCS mode but they simply would not move forward or reverse until the battery was replaced.

Possibly so, however, a weak battery cannot cause that behavior. You can operate a PS2 engine successfully under DCS with the battery removed.

We got off track!

What do YOU consider to be "high" mileage or "high" time usage?

I think how the owner maintains the locos and how clean their operating environment is or how electronically "efficient" their layout is makes this notion almost impossible to quantify.  Regular maintenance, proactive maintenance, dust, dampness, running on a floor vs on a table of some kind, pets, etc. all cause me more concern than an odometer reading, per se. 

Some miles are easier than others.

I think the chrono time is not that significant unless it's REALLY a huge number.  A few hundred hours on an electronic package should be a non-issue, I'd put more credence into the mileage figure, that actually is when the engine is getting the wear & tear of running.

Of all the used engines I've purchased online, I actually fear a new old stock engine with little or no time on them. I have three that cooked as soon as power was applied after years of sitting with no use. I would not hesitate to purchase an engine under 1500 miles, and also, would not leave an engine sit in a box more then a year without charging it and running it.

I asked this very question a year or two a ago in a different way, as I was considering buying something used. On the other hand, it makes one wonder about purchasing a new Tinplate engine that is 10-12 years old, NIB, and deeply discounted by the dealer to make room for incoming products. Before firing it up I would install a BCR, but one would still be thinking about the boards.

Puts a whole new meaning to track charging low batteries. Wonder what happens when plugged into the chargers? Hopefully does not add to the hours.

Joe Gozzo

Trainlover160 posted:

Puts a whole new meaning to track charging low batteries. Wonder what happens when plugged into the chargers? Hopefully does not add to the hours.

Charging through the charging port does not run the chrono on PS/2 or PS/3.

John C. posted:

I had no idea!  "Chronograph - it keeps adding up time as long as power is on the track even without the engine powered up."  Well that's NOT very helpful.  I assumed that the time would count ONLY with the engine in motion.  

Have purchased new and used MTH engines, have a few used ones where the previous owner must have had them sitting on powered tracks for weeks without moving when you see the hours vs miles! One is an early 2001 Proto 2 engine where the harnesses are actually soldered directly to the boards and it is one of the best running engines we own.