PS 3.0 Engine Lighting Issue

Did you press the HDLT button on the remote?

I was able to fix a similar issue with one of my engines by reloading the chain file.

WARNING: I am not a PS-3 expert.  I have no idea whether this might be a solution for your problem.  In fact, it might cause even more problems.  Proceed at your own risk.

@Sean's Train Depot posted:

I am new to MTH electronics, so wondering if anyone familiar with them can point me in right direction.

My PS3.0 (400E Blue Comet) engine has an issue with all the lighting (which are Leds).  None of the lights (headlight, marker, number board or Firebox glow) come on.

I have reset the engine, tried to turn them on and off with the DCS remote but no luck.

Wondering what circuit controls the lighting and where should I look first?  Since all of them are out, it's not a wiring issue to the lights themselves.

The rest of the engine works fine, all other DCS commands work and runs great, including smoke.

Thanks!

This sounds like it could be a couple different things. A reload of the chain file like 700E said could help. There could also be a loose connection on the inside. I saw this on a RK engine recently. Brand new from MTH and the lighting had a loose wire which caused no lights to come on. I would check those things and see what happens.

If the engine functions completely accept lights it may be a loose harness connector.  Or the PCB Ground source for the lights.  They all use common ground, and the Fets control positive voltage to the LEDs.  So if the common ground is gone, no lights.  Broke wire, bad solder joint, or the connector not fully seated at the board.

If steam, the ground come through the drawbar along with other signals from the tender board.  So if other functions not working on engine the drawbar connections are also in play. G

@Sid's Trains posted:

This sounds like it could be a couple different things. A reload of the chain file like 700E said could help. There could also be a loose connection on the inside. I saw this on a RK engine recently. Brand new from MTH and the lighting had a loose wire which caused no lights to come on. I would check those things and see what happens.

Thanks Sid, so what is a chain file?  Do you use the MTH loader program to load this file?  And where do you get it?

I will look for a loose wire connection first.

Thanks!

@Sean's Train Depot posted:

Thanks Sid, so what is a chain file?  Do you use the MTH loader program to load this file?  And where do you get it?

I will look for a loose wire connection first.

Thanks!

The chain file is the coding for PS3 locomotives. It is loaded using the MTH loader software. You can find the chain files on the MTH website under the service tab for the engine you are looking at.