MTH ps2 FEF 844 triping breaker

The PS2 board should be tested in a PS2 board fixture. Keep trying to operate it and you surely will kill the board if you or the previous owner hasn't already.  I always use the Z-4000 transformer to check the amp draw on a new or used engine first, by rolling up the voltage slowly to make sure the amps don't go more than 2 amps maximum. 

Fisrt thing is disconnect the tether and put the engine on the track. If it still trips the breaker there is a short in the engine. Rule out the simple stuff first.

Pete

the FEF mth engines had a ps 2  5 volt board and were know to fail! i would disconnect the 4 pin smoke connector which connects to the ps 2 board then try to power up if powers up and not excessive amps being drawn then you problem is in the steam heater and or fan driven smoke motor. if the engine still runs ok then that's your only problem but if it still draws excessive amps with the smoke unit disconnected then your 5 volt board has a short in it and it is not repairable. i have this exact engine and i replaced my bad board with a ps 2 3 volt board which are no longer available !

Alan

If you’re popping breakers in conventional power up, you’ll surely pop them in DCS.....don’t do it....do as mentioned, as a conventional test, try loco alone, then add tender.......

Pat

Its tripping on just the engine. Guess its ERR cruise commander time.

Just the opposite. The main boards are in the tender. You have short between the pickup rollers and the tether connector. Maybe a pinched wire, maybe an auxiliary board.

Pete

The PS/2 board is in the locomotive for the 20-3044-1 model.  If that's what you have, it's quite possibly the board, that's the 5V troublesome model.

Time for a PS32 replacement board.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

The PS/2 board is in the locomotive for the 20-3044-1 model.  If that's what you have, it's quite possibly the board, that's the 5V troublesome model.  Same story with the 20-3078-1 model from 2002, same board, same problem.

Time for a PS32 replacement board.

Thanks for the help everyone. I'm just going to convert it to TMCC. Got a mars light simulator and railsounds from John. Its going to be a beautiful engine when done.

GRJ, I have that loco in a Rail-King version, circa 2003, with board in tender.  (Was 5-volt; now a 3-volt for last 8-9 years.) Poster didn't give a model number

@Coalguy posted:

Thanks for the help everyone. I'm just going to convert it to TMCC. Got a mars light simulator and railsounds from John. Its going to be a beautiful engine when done.

Be sure to purchase the AMAZING super chuffer, and chuff generator!.....it chuffs, it chuffs, and yes, it even chuffs!.....yours for the amazing price of one easy down payment.....act now, supplies are limited, operators are standing by!...( did I do good John??) 

Pat

Your commission check is in the mail Pat.

@harmonyards posted:

Be sure to purchase the AMAZING super chuffer, and chuff generator!.....it chuffs, it chuffs, and yes, it even chuffs!.....yours for the amazing price of one easy down payment.....act now, supplies are limited, operators are standing by!...( did I do good John??) 

Pat

Already got it waiting for the railsounds and motion relay I bought today from John