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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Lights causing LM-3S to overheat?
« Last post by CPRail on January 21, 2025, 03:09:28 PM »
Ask and you shall receive Tim!

According to the Athearn Parts List, the P/N for the board is 90616. I've attached a photo of the board as provided by Athearn. Based on the install photos, I'm 99% sure that I cut off the 8 pin plug receptacle.

The loco as originally supplied by Athearn would've had all 4 front light bulbs connected to the front H/L connections and two bulbs connected to the rear H/L connections.

Hopefully the photos show what you are looking for. Let me know if you need any other photos.
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Consistent loss of radio signal
« Last post by Lackawanna810 on January 19, 2025, 10:03:56 AM »
Hello Tim,

I can answer your questions now after further testing.

I took my entire system to another part of my house for testing. The issues remain the same. When I check in the locomotive on the HC, sometimes the system recognizes the locomotive and sometimes it does not. It even has issues when I try logging into the engine by typing in the password.

These are S scale (not AF) locomotives. I know the power supplied to the track from the PWR-56 is sufficient because when I put an American Models DC powered engine on the track the motors run just fine and the engine will run away if not caught.

I saw to it that the LM is mounted properly. The top side is face up. I even tried reversing the 8 pin plug and also tried to run the chassis without the shell.

The headlights light up properly in whichever direction I try to run the engine.

Am I missing something?

Ed

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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Error Calibrating Motor Zero Current
« Last post by Coupe633 on January 18, 2025, 11:35:38 PM »
Tim, yes this was a hardwire install as pretty much every locomotive is in my fleet. I sent it back to Ring and wait their determination. Hopefully in the next week I will have a response and will post it.
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Lights causing LM-3S to overheat?
« Last post by G8B4Life on January 17, 2025, 09:38:22 PM »
Hmm, a bit odd, they are Athearn globes and plugged into an Athearn board that is designed for them yet you are getting overtemp warnings from the setup. Looking around I can't find any really good pics of the motherboard but I'm guessing it's the 9 pin version (like this: https://drupal.tcsdcc.com/installation/ho-scale/1075) and not the 21 pin version.

Aside from checking your connections to make sure you've not got anything touching where it shouldn't be (stray stands etc) the only thing I can think of right now is maybe you shouldn't be using 2 globes per output with that motherboard. Perhaps a photo of the board and what you've done will help.

- Tim
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Consistent loss of radio signal
« Last post by darryl.trains on January 17, 2025, 09:35:46 PM »
Now that is something I never realized ?  I usually install with the printed side up in case I want to know exactually is there but didn't know that was a proper way to do it. I have a couple engines that were just a tight fit and had to install everything sideways. Since there were no issues, I lucked out?  Still learning all these years !
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Consistent loss of radio signal
« Last post by G8B4Life on January 17, 2025, 09:08:05 PM »
The side with the logo etc. This is the side of the PCB that has the transmitter on it. I only bring it up as it's not impossible that someone, somewhere could hardwire an LM in upside down. Not that it wouldn't work but I suspect it wouldn't work as well as it should; and I do believe I have read somewhere words to the effect of installing the correct  way up.

- Tim
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Consistent loss of radio signal
« Last post by CPRail on January 17, 2025, 08:13:54 AM »
Which way is UP on a LM?
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Lights causing LM-3S to overheat?
« Last post by CPRail on January 17, 2025, 08:12:44 AM »
Morning All,

Below are answers to all the questions:
  • The lights are the same as came with the loco - the little 1.5v bulbs with the miles of wire that Athearn used to stuff in their locos.
  • They are wired in parallel.
  • I'm not sure what gregeusa is asking about full input voltage and pwms. The LM is plugged into the Athearn board and the lights are activated using the RP recommended wire colour.


 
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Error Calibrating Motor Zero Current
« Last post by G8B4Life on January 17, 2025, 07:30:29 AM »
I missed this post. Sorry Coupe633. Did you get this sorted yet?

It's definitely not an error I've seen before. From the error message it sounds like an issue with the motor but then you say it suggests returning the LM to Ring for repair which kind of puts paid to that thought. I'm guessing this was a hardwire install?

- Tim
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RailPro Specific Help & Discussion / Re: Consistent loss of radio signal
« Last post by G8B4Life on January 17, 2025, 07:20:05 AM »
Welcome.

You haven't given us a lot to go on. Loss of radio contact is usually from a loss of power (dodgy wiring from the pickups to the LM or quite dirty track and wheels) or it can be from RF interference.

Does the loss of radio contact occur in just one place or all over the place?
Is this small scale (H0) or large scale (LGB)?
Are the LM's mounted the correct way up?

- Tim

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