MTH Proto 1 Horn runs for 30 seconds

Try a different transformer. 

Thanks, good call.

I ran it on my other layout using the Lionel LW transformer and the horn worked fine.  Now, the question is, is there anything I can do so it will work properly on the layout with the MTH-1000?  Another oddity, the Bell Button on the MTH-1000 also sets off the horn but, it still runs constantly.

Thanks, in advance, for any other information you can provide.

Tom

You can try a 10uf 50V non-polarized cap across the Z1000 transformer, that sometimes helps.  The issue is the chopped waveform of the Z1000 vs the pure sine wave of the Lionel LW.

Z-1000 half throttle waveform

Pure sine wave transformer waveform

Thanks for the additional info.  Unfortunately, capacitors and the like are way outside my pay grade.  Not something I could possibly get involved with on my own and it's very difficult to find anyone or a hobby shop here on Long Island that services things like this.   Fortunately, it's not the end of the world to just have to avoid using the horn.

Thank you again for taking the time to help.

Tom

If you get interested in trying this, here's what you need.  CAP ALUM 10UF 20% 50V AXIAL, just wire it directly across the transformer output.

Now that sounds like something I can handle.  Thank you for the link to the capacitor.  I'll order it up and give it a try.  Question:  Any chance this will cause a different problem with another engine?  So far, I haven't experienced horn or bell problem with any other engine.

Thanks again for your help and guidance.  I'll let you know how this all works out.

Tom

It's a cheap experiment, if it causes any issues or doesn't address this one, just remove it.

Thanks again.  I ordered the capacitor last night.  Well worth giving it a try.  Will definitely let you know how it works out.

Tom

PS. I am getting ready to post an other question and have a sneaky suspicion that you will also be the one who might be able to help with my Rail King/MTH Doodlebug.

Hey John,

Thanks so much for the suggestion, here's an update.  I installed the capacitor this morning and first tried two other locomotives I regularly use, one MTH and one Lionel.  Both ran flawlessly.  I then put the MTH locomotive with the horn problem to the test.  There was a great improvement in the horn operation.  Just so you know here's what happens:

At a higher throttle, it still takes its time shutting down; upwards of 20 seconds or so, though, a vast improvement over how it was.  When operating at moderate or lower speeds it will sound for about 3 to 5 seconds, which is perfectly fine by me.  The best part, though, is anytime it seems to hang up a bit, I simply back down on the throttle and the horn basically shuts down.  This particular locomotive has phenomenal glide so, even climbing an incline, you never even notice the back-off of the throttle.  As far as I'm concerned, this is a home-run!

Thanks again for sharing you wisdom and knowledge.  It was the perfect, inexpensive fix and greatly appreciated!

Tom

I'm glad it all worked out for you.  It's not a "perfect" solution, but it will frequently work.  The "perfect" solution is a pure sine wave transformer, that eliminates the issue.