Basic Train Engineer (Aristo/Crest) Thermal Trip

M

Malcolm B

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Can anyone help ? I'm sorry I rarely post but do read quite a lot.
I use a Basic Train Engineer as the controller on a portable layout, for young children to operate at various local train events.
The thermal trip keeps on tripping out whatever voltage or current I supply to the receiver. I normally use a Gaugemaster controller to supply between 9 and 12 volts input. The output drawn is normally no more than 0.5 amp, sometimes 1.0 amp.
The unit will operate for about 3 minutes and then trip out. It will restart again as soon as the transmitter is operated but then trips out within a few seconds.
I have been in contact with Bachman UK, who cannot help and with Aristo in the USA, who can supply a secondhand one, which may not work (their comment !).
Any ideas would be appreciated and yes I know I should really 'Bin it'.

Malcolm B
 
In good condition it should be rated upto about 2.5 amps (and rather more than 12V).
It is now an old system and unfortunately your last comment sums it up.
Also - for your use it was probably fine, but for more modern locos with electronics inside, some dont like the pulsed wave output. It tends to blow the circuits.
 
Thanks Alan. I thought that might be the reply.
I just wish I knew what the thermal trip looks like. Maplins sell them but they don't look like anything on the circuit board.

Malcolm B
 
Malcolm
I presume you have tried different power supplies ?
Checked soundness of all connections ?
Is the polarity correct on the input supply ?
There may be something on girr.org website
 
Hi Andy,

I have tried different power supplies and various voltages from 9 to 24 volts. Also checked all connections and polarity. I have checked using different engines from a 12 volt 0-4-0 Aristo to a 24 volt 0-6-2 LGB. They all work for a few minutes and then the circuit breaker pings out.
I'll try the girr.org website tomorrow. If that doesn't work I suppose I could always use my very big hammer!
Malcolm B
 
Hi Malcolm
If you have tried different power supplies, different locos and there is nothing shorting the track intermitantly............then unfortunately the receiver is up the swanny.
 
Tony said:
Where is this thermol trip is it in the reciver or in a power supply ? and does your reciver have a fan ? if not have you tried cooling it ?

Tony
Click to expand...
Hi Tony the little basic receiver is not like the black jobbies that we use. It is just a little orange box that only handle 2 amps with ease. It has no flexibility in using other tranmitters etc......just.....very basic. They are not too reliable either..
 
I'm glad I read this thread. I was offered one of these with 3 recievers very very cheap as its very old but unused stock. Another bloke told me that for what I want ie run 2/3 trams that are very simple with no electronics that it would be very good but another blokes tells me that it will cause problems with led lighting. I wanted to be able to run them with some realism ie powered from the overhead but able to be on the same track at different speeds etc. Anyway during my procrastination someone else grabbed it...
They do come up on Ebay and go for a song so I guess I'll keep an eye out there. Do these use surface mount components or are they normal "legged" components, if they are the normal style of components then a little patience and a modicum of soldering skill and one could replace components that are suspect.
Maybe its my Scots ancestry but I don't like throwing things out simply because they are old or no longer fashionable.
 
Hi Trev
The basic little orange receiver and hand held transmitter could be mended by a person with good electronics repair skills, I am sure, but I am not sure that it is worth it. The black transmitter and receivers are another issue and are easier to change components on, well, the receivers are. Gizzy has had a bit of experience delving into the transmitter and would be able to give a more experienced input to this.
I use three receivers with one transmitter and have had a problem with only one receiver but I do leave them out side practically all year round.
A little bit of corrosion on a board goes a long way! :impatient::(
 
Yes, I may go with the black model. I have discovered that the non plug and play boards are only AU$37 and my system will be old fashioned with simple motors and directional led headlights so I will have no need for all the bells and whistles, just a basic radio control, speed and direction is all I'll need. I was originally thinking of using a real tram controller modified....
 
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