Troubleshooting Proto-Sound® Problems
Although Proto-Sound 2.0 has been designed and engineered for ease of use,
you may have some questions during initial operation. The following table
should answer most questions. If your problem cannot be resolved with this
table, contact M.T.H. for assistance (telephone: 410-381-2580; fax: 410-423-0009;
[email protected], 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia MD
21046-1532).
RailKing K-4 Pacific Steam Engine
20
Starting Up
Whistle/Horn
Bell
Coupler
Remedy
Remedy
Remedy
Remedy
Remedy
When I first turn the power on, the
engine will not begin to run. I
have to turn the throttle off and
then on again to get the engine to
operate.
When I press the whistle/horn
button, the bell comes on instead.
I can’t get the horn to blow when I
press the whistle button.
I can’t get the bell to ring when I
press the bell button.
The bell won’t work on a separate
bell button.
When I try to fire the coupler, FYS
starts.
The Proto-Coupler won’t let the
engine uncouple on the fly.
When I press the whistle button,
the bell comes on instead
Reverse the transformer leads.
You may be pressing the button
too quickly. Try pressing the
whistle/horn button more slowly,
taking approximately one full
second to fully depress the button.
You may be pressing the button
too quickly. Try pressing the bell
button more slowly, taking
approximately one full second to
fully depress the button.
Reverse the transformer leads.
Check the wiring of the separate
button.
You are waiting too long between
whistle button presses.
Try lubricating the coupler knuckle
with a dry graphite lubricant. Do
NOT use oil.
This is normal behavior. To
prevent accidental high-speed
start-ups, Proto-Sound 2.0 is
programmed to start up in neutral
anytime track power has been
turned off for several seconds.
Tips on Using PSA
•You can terminate PSA at any time by turning off power to the
track for 15 seconds.
•You do not have to be in Forward to use PSA. At the conclusion
of the full sequence, the train will pull away from the station in
whatever direction you were going when you activated the feature.
•You can use PSA even if you are double-heading with another
engine. If the second engine is not equipped with Proto-Sound 2.0,
you must remember not to leave the throttle at a high voltage level
once you have stopped the engine to run the PSA. Otherwise, the
engine without PSA will begin vibrating on the track as its motors
strain to move the train, since they cannot be automatically disabled
during the PSA cycle (or if an original Proto-Sound engine, PSA are
triggered differently and that engine's motor-disable feature will not
be active when you run PSA in Proto-Sound 2.0).
•PSA can be triggered from Neutral. It will operate the same as if
triggered while in motion except that, at the conclusion of the PSA,
the engine will depart in the next direction of travel, as opposed to
the direction it was traveling before entering Neutral.
RailKing K-4 Pacific Steam Engine
9
Proto-Coupler® Operation
This locomotive is equipped with one or more coil-wound Proto-Couplers for
remote uncoupling action. Because Proto-Couplers are controlled through the
Proto-Sound 2.0 microprocessor, they do not require an uncoupling track section
or modification to your layout to function. You can fire a coupler from neutral or
while in motion. Use the code shown below (and in the chart on p. 7) to fire the
coupler(s).
To fire the rear coupler, quickly tap the Bell button once followed by three quick
taps of the Horn button, allowing approximately ½ second to lapse between each
quick button press. The sound of the liftbar and air line depletion will play, and
the knuckle will be released.
Rear Coupler:
Horn
Horn
Fire
Rear
Coupler
=
Horn
Bell
