Have a Lionel SD-70M TMCC engine with electro-couplers that open on their own and think it occurs going over switches at my club. I believe the switches are gargraves and maybe ross. Regardless, I was told to put 50 volt, 1 microfarat capcitors on the couplers' wires. It occurs from maybe a spark from the wheels touching the center rail of a switch and that causes the couplers to misfire and/or open prematurely.
Will that solve the issue?
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I am interested in this topic also.I have two legacy engines that constantly fire open the rear couplers for no reason.I have had to open up the engine and unplug the electro coupler.Nick
I've been told by Jon Z. at Lionel that the Legacy models already have noise protection and adding this cap may damage the circuit. I don't know if this applies to all Legacy models, that's what he said when I recommend a 1uf cap for this issue some time back.
I'd start with a new coupler, maybe this is mechanical. Obviously, Nick's issue is likely electrical, since unplugging them fixes it. 
If your engines use a R2LC or R4LC you can add the cap if the problems is electrical noise that firing the coupler. Nick's problem seems to be electrical since unpluging the coupler allows the coupler to remain closed. The newer board uses DC to fire the coupler and adding a cap will produce the magic smoke. Also if you don't want to replace the couplers, take a look at the fix I posted here,
https://ogrforum.com/t...26#23392856552487826
Bill
I have added the caps to a couple of engines that had the problem, with good results. 1 microfarad, 50 volts non-polarized.
For TMCC, I've added them to a number of them, both mine and other folks. I agree with Bill, as long as the coupler is triggered from the R2LC or R4LC, the caps are warranted. It's the newer Legacy boards that do not appreciate caps.
Boxcar Bill:
The newer board uses DC to fire the coupler and adding a cap will produce the magic smoke.
****
Magic smoke. Now thats funny! (of course unless its coming from your engine or acessory, then its 
or 
You don't realize that all things electronic run on magic smoke? If you ever see the smoke released, you know that item is dead! 
You don't realize that all things electronic run on magic smoke? If you ever see the smoke released, you know that item is dead!
Well I knew it was smoke and mirrors that made the magic in those flyboxes, in the Collins avionics equipment we engineered!
Appreciate the replies with the help. This forum always comes through with knowledgable folks. I'm running a TMCC engine from 2004 that has a R2LC board so the caps are going to be installed inside the engine on each coupler.This is the only engine that I brought down to our club that exhibited this behavior.
As for the magic smoke, I don't like it when it is emitted from an engine and it smells bad. I did prefer the magic smoke from about 35-40 years ago that when you inhaled it, it made you feel real good!
Why would a 1uF nonpolarized cap cause a dc driver for a solenoid to burn out? Charge current too great?
Hi
we had some that came back to us and one of my Owen engin.
It had couplers that were opening on there Owen and found a Bair wire that only in secretin spots it would open.
Had wraped with elect tape solved the problem.
My instructor in the Army always told us if you release the magic smoke you've got to much time on your hands.
Its funny...I can instantly feel suction from my wallet when I get my share of majic smoke LOL.
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