Using 2 SCIIs, 1SCI and 5 ASCs. All devices are completely reliable accept for the SCII which controls switches 30 thru 35.
On power up, it will perform perfectly for 15 or 20 minutes of periodic switching. When it stops working, it will red flash when a switch is called for but not throw the switch, or not red flash at all indicating it is not getting the command. Sometimes, hitting the cab button several times will get a response. Sometimes, after a minute or two of inactivity, one of the switches will work once or twice. Almost never get all six switches to throw in sequence.
I have: Expanded the internal antenna using copper foil, cut a small notch in the case and moved the antenna to several different external locations. Added a wire from my common bus ( which is the signal distribution channel for the entire layout) to the common terminal on the SCII as recently suggested by a couple of the forum members. Wrapped a known good earth ground source twice around the SCII. Ran a temporary wire from the output tap on the Command base directly to the com. power terminal on the ASCII. (no response).
My first response to these problems was to suspect the CAB1 batteries. The batteries test good, and always produce red flashes from the Command base.
Are there any known failure modes for this unit. Is there a circuit board which might be faulting on an intermittent basis
which might need to be replaced?
If a solution is not forthcoming soon, I am going to pull the unit and replace it with an ASC controller. I would rewire switches 30 thru 34 since the ASC only handles 4, and hope that the ASCII can be placed in a location where it will reliably
control the other two switches. If not, I will have to invest in 2 ASCs, that is assuming I can find them. They are not listed
on the Lionel website as far as I can tell.
Whatcha think guys? Is there any hope for this turkey?
