My "N" Athearn Challenger stopped running. The Tsunami 750 Heavy Steam is installed and the decoder still produces sound and controls the loco lights when the direction is changed. I emailed the Tsunami guys and got a quick reply and there in lies the problem. I do not have the slightest idea what it is talking about. Here is the reply... "I am worried the motor fuse may have popped which cuts off the power to the motor. Simply take a volt meter to the orange gray wires and set the locomotive to a speed step of 20 or so and verify that it is sending out power to the motor." Any help? Info, ideas?
What they what you to do is check the voltage at the orange and gray wires. Set the speed to about speed steep 20 and read the voltage at the wires. Not sure how you will be able to do that on the Challenger locomotive. Wiring in the tender?
I guess my real question is how does one "unpop" a motor fuse. And where does one find a motor fuse? I have looked at the Tsunami decoder manual, all 79 pages, and do not find any reference to a "motor fuse." I know I'm missing something.
It would be a repair job if the fuse pops. I don't believe they are meant to be a user repair unless you are capable of repairing decoders? In any case, I hope it is a faulty fuse and not a motor drawing too much amperage for some reason...... I would expect them to accept your verification that metering those two wires shows no voltage to the motor, and they would offer to ship you a new one while you return the faulty one...or, I would ask them if they would. :tb-biggrin:
Something that might be good to do loco testing is a roller test stand. Saw the Walthers at a show, Probably have to mount them on a stand so you could adjust the rollers for different loco lengths: Walthers Model Railroad Mall -- product information page for 160-42901 $58.00 on sale today for $42.98 For those where money is no object : Walthers Model Railroad Mall -- product information page for 186-94000 $684.99
The TSU-750 decoders have an internal fuse. Not something the end used can repair. Must go back to Soundtraxx for repair.
Sure, it's a "solid state" fuse (similar to a "chip" for non electronic experts) and you can't do anything but send back to Soundtraxx. Aside this, I'm surprise of the test request: if the fuse is gone.. motor connection is interrupted and... you can't READ more the CVs in programming track mode. As this is a simple "not invasive" test.... have you check it? Hope helps
This same situation happened with one of my GS4s, same indicators. I had already preformed the "test" prior to contacting Soundtraxx. I was instructed to send my decoder in and a new one was returned to me.
