Lost control of sound and tender coupler on Lionel Steam engine with TMCC and wireless tether.

Sounds like the serial data is no longer getting to the tender.  You can trace out the serial data, it should be going to the IR transmitter on the drawbar.  You can also use a digital camera (cell phone camera) to look at the IR transmitter straight on, you should see a purple glow if it's active.  Of course, make sure the drawbar sensors are aligned, if they're not seeing each other, you'll get the same effect.

You "may" have not actually disconnected a wire, occasionally adding the ERR Cruise to the serial data line upsets the IR link  My solution is to buffer the serial data to the IR transmitter with a simple buffer circuit to give it more drive.

It also couldn't hurt to do an R2LC restore.

Assuming you still have the IR tether system on your loco, reset your loco with the 74 code using this procedure:

https://www.lionelsupport.com/...oreTMCCfunctions.pdf

TRW

Hay John,

Can I safely assume that the green wire is base, orange is collector, and red is emitter. ( Still learning) NPN transistor? Now, I'm not sure, but isn't the collector (in) and the emitter (out) supposed to be a negative source? If that's the case then isn't the collector supposed to be -5 volts dc? As mentioned I'm still learning about these things.

Steam Forever

        John

The reset is a good idea, I falsely assume folks have taken that step.  Assuming you have taken that step, then we'll talk about the buffer.

As for the transistor, what I show is a classic emitter follower non-inverting 1:1 gain buffer using the NPN transistor.  Here's a couple of shots of the basic configuration of an emitter follower using NPN and PNP transistors so you can see the difference.

I have added a base resistor to minimize any possible loading of the serial data, as that's the problem we're trying to solve.  Also, the R_E in this case is the RailSounds board, the series resistor is for "accidents" with the output line, and I wasn't sure if the IR isolator that receives this needed more resistance.  Of course, the 100 ohm resistor also limits what we draw from the R2LC 5V power as it's a very small regulator and has limited current capability.

PAPERTRW's R2LC reset idea did the trick .

Thank you everybody--especially GRJ who mounted the Chuff Generator on my motor after I had destroyed 2.

This project took over a year as I waited for the Super Chuffer II.

Now it is complete and it couldn't work any better. I also installed a 20 ohm resistor in the smoke unit and replaced the wick. It smokes like a house on fire.

GRJ, there is no room in this engine for anything else. Wire management is a real challenge.

Wire management is always a challenge, it's the hardest part of many installs.