Proto-sound 1 engine issue

The PS1 smoke unit has ZERO connections to the board in any way, shape, or form.

That implies:

#1 possible that MOVEMENT somehow moves something inside the loco causing a short

OR

#2 the combined load of the loco,  multiple smoke units, and lighted passenger car lighting is maxing out your power source.

I was also beginning to think it might be maxing out my power source. I am using a Lionel 180 watt power brick on this loop of track that is about 14’x28’. I had a lot of passenger cars too. Tomorrow I will have to try with a reduced load.

I’m with Vern on this one, ….only thing I’ll add…….test the locomotive on the track, by itself, take all the cars off that track, and verify locomotive operation by itself,…..remove the variable ….This is where a panel amp meter would be your friend. Knowing the total amp draw will allow you to make consist adjustments…..

Pat

There are four smoke units, and at lower track voltages they can easily draw an amp each.  That combined with the starting load of your consist, and it's easy to see how it could trip the breaker.

That sounds reasonable.  I will try without the other cars and go from there. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Let me guess, the passenger cars do not have LED lighting, right?  That alone can account for a few amps, depending on how many cars you have.

Let me tell you about LED lighting...

That would be correct

Mystery solved.  The four smoke units, the two engines, and the passenger cars probably exceeds the capacity of the transformer breaker.

Agree.  G

I got it running good now with the smoke Units on!

Add a few more passenger cars and you'll trip the breaker again.

Yep,

The original passenger consist I was having trouble with was a Lionel Heavyweight set with multiple lighted BP mail and baggage cars.  The set in the video is an MTH set and running it with the Centipede, I did not have any problems.  I have a couple of questions, the loop of track I was running the Centipede on is powered by a Lionel 180 watt power brick. Another OGR Member suggested getting a Panel Amp Meter so I can see when I am approaching an overload?  What  is max number of Amps it can handle safely?  Thanks again for everyone's input.

The PH180 has a 10A electronically controlled circuit breaker.  It is capable of 10A continuous operation, but any sudden power surge may go over and trip it.  Other transformers with thermal breakers will tolerate much longer overload conditions before the breaker trips.

I've tested a PH180 with a 9A measured load for over an hour and it never missed a beat.  When you get near a circuit protection rating, sometimes it's not an exact threshold, I doubt there's anything wrong with the PH180.

I had a consist of a dozen MTH Premier SuperLiners, each car drew a bit over half an amp, so the whole consist was pulling close to seven amps.  Didn't leave much margin for anything but a simple engine, something with multiple smoke units would surely trip the breaker.  Now those cars have LED lighting, each car consumes around 35 milliamps, and the whole consist pulls less than half an amp of power.