Large Scale Central

Train Engineer revisited

General Discussion
#1

Maybe this summer is tooooo hot!

On our club layout we had trouble with Aristocraft power supplies. Despite good customer service we are still having trouble. The new ones don’t seem to like the heat.

The same may be true for Train Engineer. By 9 a.m. I can’t run my trains on my home layout because power is no longer getting to the tracks. I’m going to see if I can figure out how much power is being delivered by the MRC transformer to the Train Engineer. I know power is going out of the transformer but I don’t know how much.

Has anyone else had trouble with Train Engineer in the heat?

#2

How heavy (gauge) of wire are you using from the power supply to the train engineer and from the engineer to the track? The hotter it gets, the resistance goes up in wire goes up. wire that is fine in 50 to 60 degree heat can be too small when it gets into the 90’s.

#3

I used the wire from the pack to the Train Engineer that came with the Train Engineer which may not be large enough but I think it’s permanently installed. The wire to the tracks is 10 gauge .

#4

So far mine has been working fine. I also use the the wire supplied. Then I use the outdoor lighting wire to the layout.

#5

But you are in New Jersey where it’s cool! Well, not always!

#6
Doug Arnold said:
But you are in New Jersey where it's cool! Well, not always!
Very true but this summer has been hot and humid although hot for my area is 80-90 degree weather
#7

We’re running around 100 or over but it’s “dry.” With your humidity I would really be sweating!

#8

I emailed Aristocraft today about my continuing problems with the basic Train Engineer.

.I purchased it last month and from the time I installed it it failed to power the tracks if the temperature. Although that was a problem I could work arounf it until…

The Train Engineer has ceased to work.

We’ll see if they answer my email I can’t develop a “work around” for a non-working unit. It never blew a fuse so who knows what’s going on!

#9

It may only have been a note to send it in but just hearing from Aristocraft was a nice start!

#10

Doug I run a T/E but it is not the basic one. 107 last Tuesday and trains ran fine. I keep my MRC Monster Gs in the house with the TE so they are in the A/C and run the track wires outside to the track.

#11

Not sure if it’ll help, but once it heats up (even inside), my TEs only run in a single direction; they’ll click to signify reversing, but won’t apply any power to the track.

They’re the first of the 10 channel units, likely about ten years old; meanwhile, the two channel receivers keep on kickin’.

#12

I got my Train Engineer back this week. Aristocraft went over it and found no problems. Now my suspicions rest with the MRC 6200 transformer.

When our desert weather started to warm up last week the transformer took a dump. I will soon be buying a new transformer. Back to using just battery/rc for now. By the time I have my new transformer I’ll have separate wiring and switches for all the sidings.

#13

Tho only problem I ever had with my TEs was cutting out on very hot days. I fixed that with a fan on top of each TE unit. Large computer fans exactly fit the TE unit and are way cheaper. Once I installed fans, I have never had another problem. It wasn’t the transformer.
Paul

#14

I use one I took off from a large old disk drive at work that I use for the transformer and TE, But I have a second one I’ll wire up and use just for the TE. Thanks!

#15

Doug… After you’ve run the fan for a while be sure it passes the smell test…

(http://lsc.cvsry.com/Post/DaveRussellSniff-640.JPG)

#16

We had the water cooler and a couple fans running in the workshop the other day where my wife was quilting. She was in the house for awhile and I went out to shut things off.The smell test was easy because you could smell one of the fans when you opened the door. The fan is retired!

#17

I also noted today that my TEs are up on 1" square strips of wood to allow the fan to push or pull (whatever) air through the unit. Once I put fans on them I have never had another problem in over five years. They don’t smell funny either.
Paul