LGB Heidi and MTS 3 , strange occurance

[steinman]

I've had my LGB Heidi for a few years now, a great loco smooth runner at slow speeds and fantastic sound , however Heidi's lights have never worked . A couple of years ago PhilSt looked at her for me , and guess what on his layout and on the NWGscale layout the lights worked fine, so back Heidi came but when tested here - no lights, so back she went to phil's who played around with the CV's , Heidi once again lit up like an Xmas tree at Phil's but once back here - no lights. So its just something I've accepted . We assumed it was somethng to do with the fact he has Massoth and I have MTS 3

Now my MTS 3 , for some strange reason, (and I've asked on here before but nobody seems to know why) every so often cuts out and when I reset it every loco on the track has had its address reset to number 5 ! very, very annoying espcially if I've six or seven locos on the track at the time and I have to reset them all :wits::wits::wits::wits:

However I don't think this has ever happened when I've been testing Heidi , until tonight when Heidi was on one track and my whizzy cranks (chipped by Phil) on the other , the MTS3 cut out, I put the power back on, and both loco's had reset to No 5 :wits::wits:, as I couldn't be bothered to reset either of them tonight I left both loco's running whilst I pottered around, then as the light faded I pressed No 9 to light up the Whizzy and guess what, Heidi lit up as well , strange or what !! She's still out there trundelling round with her lights blazzing away (basically I darn't turn off the power in case this was her one and only illumination display.)

Here's a poor pic of Heidi forming part of tonights Blackpool illuminations

PS I blame Fred

 

[stockers]

Very odd and interesting. I think we need a real MTS expert here. Not many 'real' ones around I think!

 

[Loco]

Re:LGB Heidi and MTS 3 , strange occurance

What address did Heidi have before the reset? My MTS3 has the known bug with address 3, any loco on that address will have flickering lights, I guess that is not the case. If you are brave, program the old address and see if you can reproduce the issue.

 

[steinman]

Re:LGB Heidi and MTS 3 , strange occurance

What address did Heidi have before the reset? My MTS3 has the known bug with address 3, any loco on that address will have flickering lights, I guess that is not the case. If you are brave, program the old address and see if you can reproduce the issue.

Yep Heidi was set to address No 3

 

[whatlep]

Re:LGB Heidi and MTS 3 , strange occurance

What address did Heidi have before the reset? My MTS3 has the known bug with address 3, any loco on that address will have flickering lights, I guess that is not the case. If you are brave, program the old address and see if you can reproduce the issue.

Yep Heidi was set to address No 3

Where is this known bug documented? It's the first time I've heard of it. FWIW, my MTS3 has always worked fine with loco address 3 (see pictures from today!).

Two obvious thoughts occur:
1) What speed step setting was the chip set to via CV29 and what controller are you using?
2) Have you asked Massoth about the problem via their online forum (see their website)?

 

[stockers]

Re:LGB Heidi and MTS 3 , strange occurance

1) What speed step setting was the chip set to via CV29 and what controller are you using?

I think that may well be the issue Peter.

 

[steinman]

Re:LGB Heidi and MTS 3 , strange occurance

Hi Peter
1. LGB 55015 controller, no idea about speed steps setting , but as I've had the loco from new I assume that it would be set to factory settings , and surely the fact the loco has changed address from 3 to 5 wouldn't mean the speed step settings would change.

Anyway I'm well pleased that she now lights up, at least until the next time my MTS3 cuts out, although this is one loco that I won't be resetting any time soon .

 

[whatlep]

Re:LGB Heidi and MTS 3 , strange occurance

Hi Peter
1. LGB 55015 controller, no idea about speed steps setting , but as I've had the loco from new I assume that it would be set to factory settings , and surely the fact the loco has changed address from 3 to 5 wouldn't mean the speed step settings would change.

Indeed. If it's factory fitted and unchanged I'd have the same expectation as you. That said, a mismatch between controller speed step setting and chip setting is a "classic" source of headlight problems and changing the loco ID won't remove any mismatch.

I think I'd be more concerned about the MTS3 cutting out and investigate the possible sources for that. I'm assuming that you've measured the current draw (between transformer and central station) to check that there isn't an overload?

 

[Loco]

Re:LGB Heidi and MTS 3 , strange occurance

The MTS3 loco address 3 bug if memory serves me right, was reported on the German Massoth forum. Not all centals have the bug, mine does, it affects only loco adress 3 (which all new locos have by default), and it affects the loco as if it was set to the wrong speed step, regardless of what the speed step is. There is a new software available for the central, and I believe Massoth will do the upgrade. I have not bothered to upgrade it, I always program new locos to other addresses.

 

[KeithT]

Re:LGB Heidi and MTS 3 , strange occurance

My system is MTS3/2
I have a starter set diesel set to 3, for no reason the lights have stopped working. otherwise it operates normally.
Also, I have a trackcleaner which has been fitted with a non-standard chip and relay also on 3, the running lights and cleaner motor operate on 9 but not the flashers.
A short time ago during one of our rare spells of summer sunshine (!) the MTS3 cut out. I am told it had probably overheated after being left in direct sun.