PS3 Question

Paul,

Is there a way for the volume settings to remain after resetting levels for engine sounds/bell/whistle? I have to change them everytime I start up the engine to get the desired effects.

Actually, the settings should "stick" from power down to power up. PS3 engines use a super-capacitor, instead of the battery that PS2 engines had, for this purpose.

When you turn off track power while the engine is making sounds (not just by pressing Shutdown), how long do sounds persist?

HI Barry:

Typically when I'm done (or going to bed) I simply hit "shut down" while the train is circling the room. It coasts to a stop within 15 seconds. I then turn off the remote and then turn off the Z4K.

Should I be "turning off" the engine/transformer in a different manner to save the sound settings?

Thanks,

Paul

No, but it will test whether the super capacitor is working.  PS-2/3 boards need power after AC power is removed to store data.  When a battery is dead for PS-2 or Capacitor fails on PS-3 the symptoms you are seeing exist.  Removing AC power is a test of the circuit.  G

Thank you Barry and GGG for the help. What I found is that if I shut off the engine by putting it in neutral and killing the power, the settings hold. If I turn off my engine by hitting "shut down" while the train is moving, the settings do not hold.

Mystery solved. Thanks again.

Paul

That is an interesting find. I have never shut down an engine while it was moving so it could be the motors are trying to stop the engine and suck the supercap dry too fast to store the settings.

That seems to make sense Russell. For whatever reason I enjoy hitting shut down while the engine is running and watch it run for another ten seconds then coast to a stop as it shuts down.

Paul

does it still run for 10 secs?  I have to test that with PS-2.  I do know the LED lights stay because they run off the 5V power buss on a ps-2.  The track powered positive voltage DC buss (motors, smoke and regular lights) shut off.  I suspect something is not right with your engine. G

GGG:

When the train is moving and I hit "shut down" the engine still moves for around 10 seconds before stopping and shutting down.

When the train is stopped and I cut power the sound is still on for around 10 seconds. Engine seems to be running fine.

Paul

This is interesting, I tested this with a PS-2 5V board and it did the same thing.  Motor and smoke stayed on when shutdown from motion.  G