I'm just curious if anybody else has had the experience of a PS3 engine starting up by itself? My understanding was that it was a PS2 flaw and supposedly corrected with PS3.
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I have two PS3 engines, a C45accte and an E6 ABA that will do this on a regular basis. When they do I hit the start up button on the remote to ensure they start normally, or the shut down button if I don't want to run them at that time.
Rick
John C. posted:I'm just curious if anybody else has had the experience of a PS3 engine starting up by itself? My understanding was that it was a PS2 flaw and supposedly corrected with PS3.
Just the opposite, Ps-2 engines very seldom miss the Watch Dog Signal. ( The dcs signal looking for engines on power up). However proto-3 are now hit and miss... some start up , other don't.
Or do you mean taking off on their own with no control?
I just had it "take off!" like a rocket for the very first time last night! I was lucky I had something as I was running another train on the opposite side of the basement. Fortunately, I heard and was able to snatch it up off the rails before it crashed full speed into some parked cars in my lower yard!
I'm going to start turning off power to where engines are sitting after the TIU recognizes them after initial start up.
I have an MTH PS-3 SD-70 ACe diesel engine and so far it starts up by command only, it's my only PS-3 engine, part of the Norfolk Southern heritage series engines. I have used it with conventional control first because of layout construction, the only odd behavior was that I had to hit the horn button a couple of times to get it to start up in conventional, and it did not do that every time.
Lee Fritz
Lee,
the only odd behavior was that I had to hit the horn button a couple of times to get it to start up in conventional, and it did not do that every time.
That's not odds at all and is most likely because it won't accept DCS commands until the engine's Supercapacitor is fully charged. This typically takes less than 30 seconds after it initially receives track power.
I have a N&W J, PS3 that started having this problem just a few weeks before the warranty expired. You turn on power to the track, and look out!! It speeds forward with no sound. The first few times I could get it working right with the remote. Later, the remote had no effect, whereas my other locos are fine. I called MTH support, and it is at their repair facility right now under warranty. No work yet on the status other than they have it.
What is the engine number.
You turn on power to the track, and look out!! It speeds forward with no sound.
Had that happen on a PS3. Cure is a conventional reset--not factory or feature resets. Hasn't recurred, but this loco will start up in command mode often when the track is powered up.
RJR posted:You turn on power to the track, and look out!! It speeds forward with no sound.
Had that happen on a PS3. Cure is a conventional reset--not factory or feature resets. Hasn't recurred, but this loco will start up in command mode often when the track is powered up.
It is interesting MTH service didn't tell me to do that over the phone. Thank you!
They did for me. That's how I learned of the procedure.
I heard of many things on PS 3 engine but from what I have read and heard most of the time a conventional reset makes the PS 3 engines work ok' s ok again!
Alan
RJR posted:You turn on power to the track, and look out!! It speeds forward with no sound.
Had that happen on a PS3. Cure is a conventional reset--not factory or feature resets. Hasn't recurred, but this loco will start up in command mode often when the track is powered up.
What is a conventional reset? I am aware of factory reset and feature reset. I don't own any PS3, only PS2. Some day I may own a PS3.
Oh well. It isn't like I don't have any other locomotives to run until it gets back. lol
Im with the others, haven't looked into a conventional reset.
Keith, it is a reset accomplished without a TIU in the circuit, so there is no DCS signal. HAve transformer connected directly to track. Apply power--not more than about 13 volts, and hold loco so it can't fly. Press whistle button on transformer once and then bell button 5 times, at half-second intervals. If you get the timing right (not easy), you'll get 2 toots; if you don't get 2 toots, try again. What happens is a loco can get locked in conventional forward, neutral, or reverse. This unlocks it.
RJR posted:Keith, it is a reset accomplished without a TIU in the circuit, so there is no DCS signal. HAve transformer connected directly to track. Apply power--not more than about 13 volts, and hold loco so it can't fly. Press whistle button on transformer once and then bell button 5 times, at half-second intervals. If you get the timing right (not easy), you'll get 2 toots; if you don't get 2 toots, try again. What happens is a loco can get locked in conventional forward, neutral, or reverse. This unlocks it.
Thank you! Yes the timing sound like it is tricky like resetting a PS1 locomotive. It's probably in the book, but I'm glad I sent mine back since the warantee is expiring.
I haven't seen it in any book, but haven't looked. An MTH VP was on duty that day in service and answered the phone when I called. Never had the problem with any of my 22 PS2's; only 1 of my PS3's.
Thanks for passing along the tip!
This has been discussed before. Seems PS-3 stores information differently than PS-2. So an engine locked conventionally does not unlock with a DCS Factory or conventional reset. It works fine in DCS, but if you shift to conventional ops it could be locked in neutral, or a direction. The procedure is in the manual under conventional ops.
There are quite a few other things that can be wrong too. The conventional reset doesn't solve them all. But it is the first step. G
I hadn't checked the status of my PS3 Railking N&W J 611 at MTH warranty repair since last week, so I was surprised when my wife told me the mailman had dropped it off yesterday afternoon. Actually, they had it for only about 4 weeks, it went by quickly.
Yesterday was a big day as that was the day our son-in-law-to-be closed on the house, so they wanted us to see the house after work. In their price range, it needs some work before moving in. We also had Bible study, so I did not get home until 10:30 to open the package from MTH. As predicted on this topic, the only thing listed on the repair ticket was Factory Reset. I did not take the time to clear space on the puny temporary layout to try it out, so that will have to wait. Maybe tonight.
Once again, Thanks to all for this timely topic and comments!! 
PS: Yes, our last daughter at home will start to move her art stuff and collections to the house, and move in herself after the wedding. I did get into her room to get the overall measurements, 11' 4" x 11' 4". I will have to wait until she gets some stuff moved out to get proper window and door measurements, then it will be permanent layout planning time!! 
Maybe I can break ground on my upcoming 60th birthday!!
