Recent Posts

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81
RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Problems with speaker pins on LM-3S
« Last post by CPRail on October 07, 2025, 01:28:50 PM »
No, I cascaded one down to use to power my turntable (no sound needed there!) The other had further issues, so it's now my "space" tester module for planning installs. I bought them used for a good price, so it wasn't worth it to ship them to Ring (I'm in Canada).
82
RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Problems with speaker pins on LM-3S
« Last post by sieggs1 on October 07, 2025, 12:59:26 PM »
Hey Ian,

Thanks for the response.

I'll take a reading with my multimeter and get back to you. It's discouraging to hear that the older modules can blow out speakers. In this case, it seems as though the pins are dead.

Did you end up returning your modules to Ring Engineering for replacements?

Rob S.
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Problems with speaker pins on LM-3S
« Last post by CPRail on October 07, 2025, 08:30:39 AM »
Hey Rob,

I've had two of the older LM-2Ss have bad pins, so bad they blew out speakers - twice! All because I thought I did something wrong with the hook-up, not that the module was bad. Expensive mistake.

Have you connected a multi-meter to the pins to see if they are putting out any juice?

Pics of the install can help us diagnose the issue, so if you have any, please attach. The gurus on here are super helpful in these kinds of issues!!
84
RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Problems with speaker pins on LM-3S
« Last post by sieggs1 on October 07, 2025, 05:12:40 AM »
Hey all,

I have installed a used LM-3S in my old Athearn blue box GP-35 diesel. I have all the light functions working including a PBM-2.

The one thing I cannot seem to get working is the speaker. I have a single, wired speaker that will NOT work when plugged into pins 1 and 2 of the 6-pin connection on the LM-3S. I have another GP-35 with the SAME speaker plugged into another LM-3S module that functions beautifully.

Has anyone ever had specific pins on an LM-3S fail? Doesn't sound right. I tried another speaker and it still didn't work.

I changed up the sound files on the buttons on the HC-3 for the locomotive and I can't get it to play any sounds.

I did have to flash new firmware for this module and the new version was confirmed in the controller.

Is there some kind of reset I need to do to get this to work? I don't see any physical damage to the pins and I have confirmed the speaker works with another module.

Any ideas?

Thank you,

Rob
85
General Discussion / Coffee Grounds/Walnut Shells for Ballast
« Last post by carpediem4570 on October 07, 2025, 03:12:45 AM »
Greetings All:

I drink a lot of coffee.  Grind my beans.  Consequently, I have a lot of coffee grounds.

One day, I dried out the grounds and put them in a glass jar with the idea of using it for track ballast.  Has anyone ever tried this?

Oh man; I just had another idea.  Coal load for the tender.  What say you?

I look forward to your responses.

 Kind regards,
Max
86
RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Atlas/Dapol Track Cleaning Car with Railpro?
« Last post by gregeusa on October 01, 2025, 11:20:21 PM »
yeah, run it at 9 volts and check the current draw, then run it briefly at 12v and note the current.
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Atlas/Dapol Track Cleaning Car with Railpro?
« Last post by CPRail on October 01, 2025, 04:03:49 PM »
Ahh, that would explain why I read a reference to hard-wiring the pickups.

I gotta crack this thing apart in the next day or so and see what I'm working with here!
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Atlas/Dapol Track Cleaning Car with Railpro?
« Last post by gregeusa on October 01, 2025, 03:17:11 PM »
no, if run OVER 9v the solder may melt... assume 12v (typical HO DC voltage) now you are running the motor 50% in excess of design voltage, remember motors are usually nonlinear at the extremes...

I would guess the copper "springs" (look at the pictures) to the axles have too much resistance and create heat....

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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Atlas/Dapol Track Cleaning Car with Railpro?
« Last post by CPRail on October 01, 2025, 03:05:24 PM »
I saw that too. One has to wonder for a 9V max system, just how much current is running through there that it can melt rosin core solder which has a general melting point of ~ 360° F (182° C)??
90
RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Atlas/Dapol Track Cleaning Car with Railpro?
« Last post by gregeusa on October 01, 2025, 02:59:16 PM »
Interesting, it's stated that running over 9v will melt the solder on the pickup springs in the truck.

The implication is the current will go up enough the melt the solder, so, right off the bat, not a great design.

I'd put a diode chain in series with the motor lead to reduce the voltage the motor sees... that should keep the current levels below the "melt solder" levels.

(can you say poor design by Atlas?)

Greg
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