maybe it the loco?

G

gscalerookie

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went to run the temporary oval layout. no movement for the train. nce eb1 circuit breaker flashing indicating a short. power cycle the nce 10a power cab. same thing. removed everything off the track and now i have power, back to normal.. i guess its the loco and tender? im unsure. is there a way to track down the short since i know it only happens when the loco is on the track. is there a way to test the loco and tender? its a lgb steinz starter set and i added the power tender. i also upgraded both to the massoth dcc decoder.
 
Sounds like you may have crossed the wires making the loco left to the left rail and the tender left to the right rail, this will cause your short. Tricky to test out whilst coupled. Though with DCC the decoder shows track in + and -, so long as you match that from Loco and Tender all should be well. Perhaps easiest fix would be to swop over just the Tender track feed wires to the tender and see if you have a short on track.
 
Always halve a problem...

So, remove the tender. - Does the loco run?
To confirm, just put the tender on the track. - Are you OK now?

If both OK on their own, then it must be a problem with any wiring between the two.

If the tender causes the problem on its own, then that is where you need to look.

PhilP.
 
dunnyrail said:
Sounds like you may have crossed the wires making the loco left to the left rail and the tender left to the right rail, this will cause your short. Tricky to test out whilst coupled. Though with DCC the decoder shows track in + and -, so long as you match that from Loco and Tender all should be well. Perhaps easiest fix would be to swop over just the Tender track feed wires to the tender and see if you have a short on track.
Click to expand...
The loco and tender have been running great. Unfortunately I left both on the track and we got rain for a day or two. After the rain this is what is going on
 
gscalerookie said:
The loco and tender have been running great. Unfortunately I left both on the track and we got rain for a day or two. After the rain this is what is going on
Click to expand...
Hm sounds like some wet may have got into the loco, this could well trash the chip. Best result in such circumstances is to let things fully dry before turning on again as the dampness can cause a short. You may be lucky and only some damp still causing the short. Leave indoors for a few days to fully dry out then try again.
 
dunnyrail said:
Hm sounds like some wet may have got into the loco, this could well trash the chip. Best result in such circumstances is to let things fully dry before turning on again as the dampness can cause a short. You may be lucky and only some damp still causing the short. Leave indoors for a few days to fully dry out then try again.
Click to expand...

Live steam locomotives LAFF at rain!
 
dunnyrail said:
Hm sounds like some wet may have got into the loco, this could well trash the chip. Best result in such circumstances is to let things fully dry before turning on again as the dampness can cause a short. You may be lucky and only some damp still causing the short. Leave indoors for a few days to fully dry out then try again.
Click to expand...
And don't try using things like WD40 to drive moisture off, just let the natural drying process take it's course.
 
dunnyrail said:
Hm sounds like some wet may have got into the loco, this could well trash the chip. Best result in such circumstances is to let things fully dry before turning on again as the dampness can cause a short. You may be lucky and only some damp still causing the short. Leave indoors for a few days to fully dry out then try again.
Click to expand...
Will do. Would it be wise to put another train (expensive) on the track that hasn’t seen any rain to test?
 
gscalerookie said:
Will do. Would it be wise to put another train (expensive) on the track that hasn’t seen any rain to test?
Click to expand...
I would try the separation of the loco and tender first, not sure your problem is controller related.
 
gscalerookie said:
loco doesnt work, tender works but kinda stutters. have to get it up to 20 steps before its really moving. how do you test the loco? or do you just replace the decoder and keep it out of rain
Click to expand...
So controller is ok, good. Loco chip could be trashed, you could test the loco without the chip by connecting a 9v battery to the motor wires if you do not have a 12v controller. Tender stuttering sounds like either dirty wheels or skates if it has them. Not sure but it could be that loco feed was taken from the tender, which could mean that there is no power getting to the chip. Is it a Stainz, as they are a bit of a challenge apart to get to the motor and put back together. How was loco a d tender connected? Really tricky to diagnose all this from across the pond!
 
Powered Stainz and tender, should both pickup, and both run independently..

On the tender:
Check the skates have not got stuck. - They should spring back when pushed up.
Clean the tread/tyres of the wheels, where they run on the track.
Clean the rear face of the wheels, where the carbon-brushes rub.
Check the brushes have not worn a lip on the side, and are not moving freely to press on the rear of the wheels.

Tender should now run on its own..

You have cleaned your track, since it got wet, I assume? - I believe you can get something called a 'Swiffer' in the States? - A pad on a long handle, basically.. With a little Isopropyl Alcohol, this will remove the black 'gunge' from the track, without bending.


Your loco may (if you are very lucky) still just be wet inside..
I would leave it somewhere warm and dry for five days, then try it again. - ONLY have the loco on the track when you try it.
Oh! The cleaning from above may help, but it does look like the decoder has been damaged, sorry.

PhilP.
 
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