MTHTrains Premier DC-3 Operator's Manual
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MTHTrains Premier DC-3 Operator's Manual

Inspection car with proto-sound 3.0
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Premier DC-3 Inspection Car
with Proto-Sound® 3.0
OPERATOR'S MANUAL
Compatiblity
This engine will operate on any traditional
O-36 track system, as well as M.T.H.'s
RealTrax® or ScaleTrax™ or traditional
tubular track. It is also compatible with most
standard AC transformers. (See page 24 for
a complete list of compatible transformers
and wiring instructions.)
PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL BEFORE USE AND SAVE
www.mthtrains.com

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  • Page 1 Premier DC-3 Inspection Car with Proto-Sound® 3.0 OPERATOR’S MANUAL Compatiblity This engine will operate on any traditional O-36 track system, as well as M.T.H.’s RealTrax® or ScaleTrax™ or traditional tubular track. It is also compatible with most standard AC transformers. (See page 24 for a complete list of compatible transformers and wiring instructions.)

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents Before you Begin ....................................3 Set Up Checklist ....................................3 Lubrication ....................................3 Priming the Smoke Unit ................................3 Configuring Locomotive for 2-Rail or 3-Rail Operation ......................4 PS 3.0 Enhancements ................................5 Conventional AC/DC Start-up/Shut-down ..........................5 DCS/DCC Switch ..................................5 Programming Track (for DCC operation) ..........................6 Loading Engine Firmware ................................6 LED Lighting ....................................6 Modes of Operation ..................................6...

  • Page 3: Before You Begin

    BEFORE YOU BEGIN: By visiting the M.T.H. website, www.mthtrains.com, you will be able to view any additional manual updates that affect your engine. Enter the MTH Item number of the engine you want to check and select the manual icon to download or view it. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the manual.

  • Page 4: Configuring Locomotive For 2-Rail Or 3-Rail Operation

    Add Smoke Fluid Smoke Control DC-3 Rail Inspection Car...

  • Page 5: Ps 3.0 Enhancements

    PS 3.0 Enhancements There are 4 options for operating your MTH Proto-Sound 3.0-equipped engine; -Conventional AC -Conventional DC -DCS [MTH Digital Command System] -DCC When the locomotive is placed on the track and power is applied to the track the locomotive will detect the type of control system being used and respond accordingly.

  • Page 6: Programming Track (For Dcc Operation)

    DCS/DCC Switch Your MTH PS3.0-equipped engine has a DCS/DCC selector switch located on the underside of the chassis as shown on the previous page. To operate the engine in DCS mode, ensure the switch is set to DCS. If you wish to run the engine in DCC mode, ensure the switch is set to DCC. If you inadvertently leave the switch in DCC it won’t hurt anything, you just won’t be able to communicate with your engine with your DCS system.

  • Page 7: Modes Of Operation

    Modes of Operation The following pages have detailed descriptions of the 4 different modes of operation: -Conventional AC -Conventional DC -DCS [MTH Digital Command System] -DCC Conventional AC Operation When using conventional AC power, the engine will respond to changes in track voltage. An increase in track voltage will increase the locomotive speed and a reduction in track voltage will reduce the engine speed.

  • Page 8: Proto-Sound 3.0 Conventional Ac Operating Instructions

    Proto-Sound 3.0 Conventional AC Operating Instructions Activating Proto-Sound 3.0 Conventional AC Mode Features Throttle - To increase or decrease track voltage, and therefore train speed, turn the throt- tle control knob. Turning clockwise will increase voltage and speed, while turning coun- terclockwise will decrease voltage and speed.

  • Page 9: Manual Volume Control

    Manual Volume Control To adjust the volume of all sounds made by this Manual Volume Control engine, turn the manual volume control clockwise to increase the volume and counterclockwise to reduce the volume. Turning the manual volume control completely counterclockwise will turn of all of the engine sounds and announcements.
  • Page 10 Passenger/Freight Announcements (PFA) Your engine is equipped with a sound package of either passenger station announce- ments or freight yard sounds that you can play when you pull into a station or a yard. Each sequence described below will play as long as it is left on, randomly generating sounds, but be sure to allow approximately 30 seconds between the button pushes described below to allow the PFA sufficient time to run through each sequence.

  • Page 11: Pfa

    Tips on Using PFA •You can terminate PFA at any time by turning off power to the track for 15 seconds. •You do not have to be in Forward to use PFA. At the conclusion of the full sequence, the train will pull away from the station or yard in whatever direction you were going when you activated the feature.

  • Page 12: Locking Locomotive Into A Direction

    While the engine is programmed to start with the speed control feature activated, you can opt to turn it off. This means the engine’s speed will fall as it labors up a hill and increase as it travels downward. It is also affected by the addition or releasing of cars while on the run.

  • Page 13: Reset To Factory Default

    Reset to Factory Default To override the settings you currently have assigned to the engine and reset it to its factory defaults, while in Neutral tap the Horn button quickly once, followed by five quick taps of the Bell button, allowing approximately ½ second to lapse between each quick button press.

  • Page 14: Dcs Operation - Digital Command System

    Additional details can be found in the DCS manual that accompanies your DCS system or on the MTH Web site, www.mthtrains.com With DCS, you can have a whole fleet of MTH PS 3.0 engines on the rails and they will remain shut down until you command them to start up.

  • Page 15: Basic Dcc Operation

    Basic DCC Operation: Your MTH PS3.0-equipped engine takes full advantage of DCC’s capabilities. Below are the basic commands you’ll want to know to get started running quickly. Please refer to the Advanced DCC Operation section of the manual if you want to dig into the full capability of DCC.

  • Page 16: Bell/Whistle (Horn)

    Bell/Whistle (Horn) F1 – Bell. To activate the Bell press F1. To deactivate it, hit F1 again F2 – Whistle (Horn) To activate the Whistle/Horn, press F2. To shut it off either let off the F2 button or press and release it F4 –...

  • Page 17: Master Volume

    Master Volume F6 – Master Volume There are 10 volume levels. Pressing F6 twice (toggling on then off) raises the Master Volume one level. The Master Volume loops. That is, if you go past the 10th level it will loop back around to the 1st or lowest volume level. Couplers Your MTH PS3.0-equipped engine comes with remotely controlled Proto-Couplers.

  • Page 18: Engine Sounds

    Engine Sounds F25 – Engine Sounds You can turn the Engine Sounds On/Off by pressing the F25 button. Pressing it once (enabling F25) will cause the Engine Sounds to shut off. The Whistle/Horn and Bell sounds will still be active, however.
  • Page 19 Engine Sounds F25 – Engine Sounds You can turn the Engine Sounds On/Off by pressing the F25 button. Pressing it once (enabling F25) will cause the Engine Sounds to shut off. The Whistle/Horn and Bell sounds will still be active, however.

  • Page 20: Function Chart

    F22 – Coupler Slack When an engine hooks up and pulls a train it has to take up the coupler slack. You can play this sound by pressing F22 twice (toggling on then off). This feature works two ways – While the engine is sitting still, press F22 twice to enable it. Then, when you move the engine, it will play the Coupler Slack sound.

  • Page 21: Long And Short Addressing

    DC-3 Rail Inspection Car...

  • Page 22: Cv29

    To change your engine’s Long Address using PoM: 1. Call up the current engine’s address on your DCC handheld 2. Enter Programming on the Main on your DCC handheld 3. In this step you have to tell the MTH engine that you want it to start looking at long addresses.
  • Page 23 unsure of the engine address you can apply the 55-55-55 reset (send a value of 55 to CV55 to engine address 55). In order for this to work correctly the engine’s address must NOT be 55. The engine will need to be sitting at some address other than 55. Below is the method (55-55-55 Reset) you can employ to return an engine to its factory default short address of 3 (it will also set the engine’s long address back to its default –...

  • Page 24: Proto-Sound® 3.0 Expanded Dcc Functionality

    MTH PS3.0 Expanded DCC Functionality Advanced DCC Operation: This section of the manual provides more in-depth detail on how to set up and configure your MTH PS3.0-equipped engine using the NMRA-standard CV’s as well as the manu- facturer-specific CV’s. It also explains some of the other F Functions not covered in the Basic DCC Operation section.
  • Page 25 Below is the table of Factory Default MTH supported DCC CV’s. This table is specific to the engine in the title of this manual: Factory Default Values for MTH PS3.0 DCC Configuration Variables (CV’s) DC-3 Rail Inspection Car...
  • Page 26 User-Settable F-Function List This feature allows you to take the 28 F-Functions that currently reside in each MTH Proto-Sound 3.0-equipped O-Gauge Engine and change the location of that function. For example: F4 is currently PFA and you’d like that placed down to F28 which is Feature Reset.
  • Page 27 The above list includes ALL F functions that an MTH PS3 engine could have. You are free to change any of the above listed items to any F function position, 1-28. For example, if you your engine came from the factory without a smoke unit but you added one at a later date you could swap out any of the F functions, 1-28, for the Smoke On/Off and the Smoke Volume.

  • Page 28: Advanced Consisting

    Advanced Consisting Advanced Consisting follows the NMRA standards. Any values assigned to CV’s 21-24 are ignored once the consist is removed (CV19 set to 0). Setting the MSB (Bit 7) of CV19 tells the engine that it is facing reverse in the consist Setting CV21 and CV22 determine which F Functions the consist responds to See diagram below for example DC-3 Rail Inspection Car...
  • Page 29 To set this consists up so that: Headlight is ON in the Front engine when going Forward, OFF when the consist is in Reverse The Reverse light and headlight is OFF in the Rear engine when the consist is going Forward, headlight is ON, reverse light is OFF when the consist is in Reverse The Middle engine has no lights in either direction Perform the following: 1.
  • Page 30 To set this consists up so that: Headlight is ON in the Front engine when going Forward, OFF when the consist is in Reverse The Reverse light and headlight is OFF in the Rear engine when the consist is going Forward, headlight is ON, reverse light is OFF when the consist is in Reverse The Middle engine has no lights in either direction Perform the following: 1.

  • Page 31: Programming Track

    NOTE - CV21 is ONLY used when you have some value other than 0 written to CV19. If CV19 = 0 then the values of CV21, CV22, CV23, and CV24 are not used 1. Call up your Middle engine (address 2 in the example) 2.
  • Page 32 So, in the above example you simply add up the values in the “Decimal Value” row – 128+64+0+16+8 +0+0+1 = 217. You would write 217 to the CV you were altering. The above applies to any CV. Also, if you have a CV that already has a value assigned that you do not want to alter but need to make additions to it, for example CV29, you would simply add the additional bits you enabled to the existing value to obtain the new CV value.

  • Page 33: Maintenance

    Maintenance Lubricating and Greasing Instructions The engine should be well oiled and greased in order to run properly. Regularly lubricate all axles and pickup rollers to prevent squeaking. Use light household oil, such as that found in M.T.H.’s maintenance kit. Do not over oil. Use only a drop or two on each pivot point.

  • Page 34: Cleaning The Wheels, Tires And Track

    It is recommended to lubricate the outside truck block idler and drive gears with grease. Use the diagram shown below as a guide and add grease to the points marked. Body Mount Screws Body Mount Screws Motor Mount Screws Cleaning The Wheels, Tires, and Track Periodically check the locomotive wheels and pickups for dirt and buildup, which can cause poor electrical contact and traction and prematurely wear...

  • Page 35: Traction Tire Replacement Instructions

    7. Reassemble in reverse order. One set of replacement tires is packaged with the model. Additional tires are available directly from the M.T.H. Parts Department (Order online: www.mthtrains.com, e-mail: parts@mth-railking.com,Fax: 410-423-0009, Phone: 410-381-2580, Mail: 7020 Colum- bia Gateway Drive, Columbia MD 21046-1532).

  • Page 36: Protosmoke Unit Operation

    ProtoSmoke™ Unit Operation This diesel locomotive contains a smoke unit that outputs smoke through the exhaust stack(s) of the engine. The smoke unit is essentially a small heating element and wick that soaks up and then heats a mineral oil-based fluid that emits a harmless smoke. The smoke is then forced out of the stack by a small electric fan.

  • Page 37: Headlight Replacement

    If you experience poor or no smoke output when the smoke unit is on and has fluid, check the wick to see if it has become hard, blackened, and unabsorbent around the heating element. Remove the body as shown on page 33. Remove the smoke unit inspection cover from the locomotive’s body.

  • Page 38: Troubleshooting Proto-Sound 3.0 Problems

    Troubleshooting Proto-Sound® 3.0 Problems Although Proto-Sound® 3.0 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;...
  • Page 39 Conventional AC Lock-out Solution I can't get the engine to run after I power up The engine maybe locked into the neutral the transformer. It sits still with the diesel and position. Follow the procedure in the "Lock into compressor sounds running.The engine won't a Direction"...
  • Page 40 Conventional DC Start-up Solution When I apply power to the track my engine Check to see if that section of track has power. doesn't do anything. No lights, no sound, no Use a voltmeter or a lit passenger car. nothing. Slide the engine a couple of feet in either direc- tion, you may have a bad track section Have you got that section electrically isolated...
  • Page 41 Conventional DC Lights Solution One of my lights is out. Most likely you had been running the engine in DCC or DCS mode and toggled that light off. Put it back into one of those modes and turn that light back on. The engine will remember that when you run it again in Conventional DC.
  • Page 42 Start-up Solution When I apply power to the track my engine Did you press F3 yet? F3 on your DCC hand- doesn’t do anything. No lights, no sound. held will start your engine up. Check to see if that section of track has power. Use a voltmeter or a lit passenger car, not your tongue.
  • Page 43 Lights Solution One of my lights is out. Check your F keys. F0 is the headlight (also controls the Back-up light) and F5 will toggle the Cab light and firebox light. F19 and F 20 will also toggle Train/No Train & Train Operation. None of my lights are on.
  • Page 44 DCS (Remember, it’s NOT DCC) Start-up Solution When I apply power to the track my engine This is normal. You have to hit the Start-Up doesn't do anything. No lights, no sound, no button. nothing. Check to see if that section of track has power. Use a voltmeter or a lit passenger car, not your tongue.
  • Page 45 DCS (Remember, it’s NOT DCC) If you just filled it with the smoke fluid some- times the fluid can make a seal in the stack. Blow down the stack to clear the air bubble. My engine barely smokes You may have set the smoke to Low. This can be changed from Low to Med to High.

  • Page 46: Transformer Compatibility And Wiring Chart

    Transformer Compatibility and Wiring Chart Proto-Sound® 3.0 is designed to work with most standard AC transformers. The chart below lists the many compatible transformers. Note that many of the operational com- mands described in these instructions require a bell button, so if your transformer does not have its own bell button, you should consider adding one to get the full benefit of the system.

  • Page 47: Dc Power Supply Chart

    DC-3 Rail Inspection Car...

  • Page 48: Additional Features Accessible Of Dcs Remote Control System

    Additional Features Accessible With The DCS Remote Control System (Additional equipment required) While conventional mode operation of a Proto-Sound® 3.0 engine yields wonderfully realistic sound and several train control features, command mode operation allows the user to access a world of command functions never before accessible to O Gauge railroaders.

  • Page 49: Service & Warranty Information

    Service Center (ASC) in your area to obtain Repair Authorization. You can find the list of ASCs on the M.T.H. Website, www. mthtrains.com. Authorized Service Centers are required to make warranty repairs on items sold only from that store; all other repairs may-- or may not be done at the store’s own discretion.

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