Just getting out my trains for the first time in 12 years. Very discouraged by the apparent death of my only PS2 engine with no more than 10 minutes of run time in it's life. It was purchased just after PS2 came out and I was waiting to get DCS until they had the kinks worked out. Kids came along and everything was boxed up and hasn't been out in over a dozen years. I tested the RK Virginian E-33 Rectifier (MTH 30-2518-1) when I bought it back around 2000, but I never ran it more than a few times around the track. Getting it out of storage (in cool, dehumidified basement wrapped in all original packaging/box) I first replaced the battery with a brand new, and freshly charged MTH protosound rechargeable battery before sitting it on the track. I have a Christmas tree loop powered by a KW attached to an ICC TPC 3000 and original Cab1 at the moment. The TPC is version 1.3 with the ability to do some Cab1 button functions that simulate the conventional command transformer machinations that activate the horn, bell etc with less fuss.
I brought the track power all the way up with the Cab1's red rotor and the TPC and the E-33's lights and sound came on. I was able to ring the bell with just the Cab-1 and the horn worked too. I then shut track power down and did the same thing again and the E-33 started up and shut down just fine. I still was playing with the non-movement features/sound so I hadn't tried to run it yet. I shut the track power back down. I went to use the TPC's Protosound startup feature where you select the track on the Cab-1 then Aux-9 which immediately fully powers the track to start the engine sounds/lights then you select 4 or 5 to set track power to 1/2 or 1/3 before pressing direction to start the train moving (under conventional control). I don't think the PS2 board "liked" the immediate full track power being applied rather than ramping up. It sat there without sound or lights - nothing. Or maybe it was just a coincidence. A caboose sitting on the track did have it's lights come up. So the track is getting power. I put a different locomotive on and it came up and ran fine as well. Taking the shell back off the E-33 there was a smell to the circuit board but I can't really describe the smell. I've tried placing it back on the track a few times but it shows absolutely no signs of life.
My guess is something on the board is fried. I'm open to suggestions as to what to do next, including boxing everything back up and aborting a return to the hobby if things are going to continue to die this easy. Is it possible to get a new PS2 board? Or should I think about some type of upgrade? PS3? I have 3 or 4 1950's era lionel locomotives plus 2 TMCC diesel engines and a TMCC Lionmaster Challenger. I was thinking about getting Legacy so I can move to WiFi control and an iPad. With just one other DCS Proto1 engine (which did come back to life just fine yesterday after changing it's battery first) and no DCS remote or TIU yet, perhaps I should cut my loses on DCS.
Open to suggestions. I've taken apart a laptop before and changed out a fan and have soldered before as well. So I'm comfortable in that arena so long as I'm following instructions. I have no skill in terms of diagnosing electrical board failure at the component level though.
