I have an HO layout, just a simple outside loop that switches to an inside loop with a few staging tracks. I am running The Dynamis system DCC. I have 2 locos that are DCC equipped, no sound. They both run smooth and I run them by them selves, not both at the same time. When the U.P loco runs around the loop once or twice it will stall on a section of track, turnout,straight track, curve, just about anywhere. whehn it stops, the display on the Dynamis has 2 icins that show up : a stop sign (which i fully understand), and next to it a little lightening bolt that says “short”. Now, i hit the stop button and loco resumes down the track until it hits another place where it abruptly stops, sometimes on the same place as before and sometimes not. the same icons appear on the Dynamis screen. Then again, the loco will run right over these “trouble” spots without stalling, make a few rounds and then stall[banghead]. I have read the manual on the Dynamis and it says that when the “short” icon appears, there is a possible short somewhere on the track…hmmmmm… i have checked, and checked, replaced track, removed the turnout and replaced it with a straight peice and it still stalls!!! bothe locos stall in the same places and random places as well (if that makes since). If i have left out any info needed please let me know. Thank you for your time amd reading this lengthy problem
Because it happens only to the one one engine, and because it happens randomly, the fault is resident in the engine. So, you have bare wire contacting metal that it shouldn’t. You’ll have to look at the wipers, wires to the decoder, and then wires from the decoder to other accessories and the motor to see if a bare spot is worn, or too much pared back for the soldering job.
One other possibility is the metal truck frame, if it has them, contacting the main frame and allowing current to carry over to the other rail via a path that is available.
Other than that, I’ll have to defer to more knowledgeable folks.
It sounds like a loose wire to me, too. Take off the shell and see if there is anything obvious. Sometimes, a stranded wire is soldered in place, but one strand is loose and can brush against other parts of the engine.
One trick that might work is to wait for a dark (and stormy) night, and run the engine entirely in the dark. Watch for small sparks that will indicate a momentary short.
Somewhere in that loco a wire is grounding. Be it one of the light wires or one of the wires coming from a pickup. I had the same thing happen a Proto 2000 E7. A pickup wire on the rear truck stuck out at an odd angle and would somehow ground against something and would bring the whole layout to a stop. Unsoldering the wire and reattaching it properly solved the problem.
Can you give us some more information please? Which engine? Factory or self-installed DCC? Which DCC chip? What radius are your curves? What #s are your turnouts? How clean are you wheels? Are your wheels in gauge? What type of couplers are you using? If Kadee/clones, is the trip pin above the rails?
Pics are also a huge help.
David B
Does the other loco quit too?
Since they both run ok BY THEMSELVES, I don’t think the problem is in the loco.
Check the amp draw on the locos seperately, then together. The current draw may be too much for the breaker in the DCC unit. Or too little current capacity in th
Thanks to everyone for your input and suggestions. I think i have the problem figured out. I may need a booster. I have tried other DCC locos on the layout and they stall as well. I checked all connections and thery are good. I made sure there wasn’t a screwdriver on the tracks as well. (it has happned). I was discussing this problem with a few other members of the club i belong to and they also suggested a booster. of course, before i purchase one, i will aquire a booster from one of the members and try it. Thanks again.
Give your track and wheels a real good cleaning too. Just having it look clean isn’t enough, make it clean enough that you can’t get anything off onto a white cloth. Do the same with your loco wheels and the wheels of your rolling stock. If your track and wheels are dirty even a booster the size of a car engine won’t help.