I recently followed careful recommendations and retrofitted my early Athearn Genesis MP-15AC Switcher MRC decoder with the recommended Tsunami EMD non-turbo TSU AT1000 decoder. All work was meticulously done, but now (unlike the rest of my Atlas, BLI Paragon fleet), only this engine stalls at every switch/turnout. All my other engines glide flawlessly over the turnouts at low speed, and I am aware of the “DCC Compatible” “dead frog” issue, but this is the only engine that loses power at each turnout. Did I accidently “remove” some of the 8 wheels power pick up somehow? Thanks!
PS: I ordered the latest Athearn Genesis MP-15AC switcher with Tsunami Decoder already installed and hope this doesn’t happen with the “out of the box” installation.
I think you can check for the accidental removal of one of the truck power feeds pretty easily without removing the shell.
First, check with a meter to see that you actually have power before and after the frog. Then run the engine slowly forward from the point end of the turnout toward the frog. Note which truck stops on the frog. Now do the same thing except turn the engine around such that the other end is running toward the frog. Note which truck is on the frog. If the same truck is on the frog, then your problem is in the power pickup from the other truck (the one that should be sitting on a powered section of the turnout).
Did that decoder come with a “stay alive” capacitor? I know it’s a snap in, but I’m not sure if there is one on board. They’ve been including a capacitor in their packaging of late, did it come with one?
Place the loco on the track and make it come alive by addressing it. Lift off the front truck, check for operation and then repeat with the rear truck. This will tell you if you are missing a wire lead to the trucks…
Did you solder on your wire leads or just use the caps? Soldering is always superior.
Did you bend or flex the decoder at ALL during installation? If you did, there is a possibility of you breaking a trace.
Dirty wheels? How do you clean them? Is your track clean? Does it pass the white glove test?
Does the Cap look normal? Perhaps it is blown.
Beyond that, it sounds like a blown or defective decoder.
These MP15ACs (I have 5 of them, non-sound) are about the pickiest about clean track and wheels. Just no room to put any weight in. The blackening agent on the wheels may also be causing part of the problems. I used a Trix wheel cleaner to help one run decent. Good luck.