E L E C T R I C T R A I N S EMD F40PH DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS Thank you for purchasing the MTH Electric Trains EMD F40PH diesel engine. This 1/4" scale reproduction of the famous EMD roadhorse measures more than 15 inches in length and weighs almost 5 pounds.
Table Of Contents QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION (2 And 3-Rail Models) PROTOSOUNDS™ OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS DCRU™ REVERSE UNIT OPERATION (All 3-Rail Models) HORN OPERATION BELL OPERATION SQUEAKING BRAKE SOUNDS ACTIVATING AND TRIGGERING THE SQUEAKING BRAKE SOUNDS TIPS ON USING THE SQUEAKING BRAKE FEATURE PASSENGER STATION ANNOUNCEMENTS (PFA) ACTIVATING AND TRIGGERING PASSENGER STATION SOUNDS TIPS ON USING THE PFA FEATURES...
QUICK START - BASIC OPERATION The MTH F40PH contains state-of-the art electronics with several built-in automatic features for incredibly realistic operation. Despite these advanced features, the 3-rail F40PH is easy to operate with any compatible standard AC transformer (see the compatibility chart on page 25).
SMOKE UNIT OPERATION The F40PH contains a self-powered smoke unit that outputs a steady stream of smoke through the smoke stack on the roof of the engine. The ON/OFF switch located next to the leading drive truck must be in the ON position in order for the smoke unit to function. See Fig.
SMOKE UNIT MAINTENANCE CAUTION: Operating the engine without smoke fluid and with the smoke unit switch in the ON position can damage your smoke unit wick, causing the wick to become hard, blackened and unabsorbant around the heating element. When this occurs, it may be difficult for the wick to soak up the smoke fluid resulting in poor or no smoke output.
DCRU™ REVERSE UNIT AND PROTOSOUNDS OPERATION(All 3-Rail Models) As mentioned in the Basic Operating section, the engine is controlled by a DCRU™ reverse unit that contains the standard forward-neutral-reverse states found on most reverse units. However, as described earlier, when power is first applied to the track, the reverse unit begins in RESET or what seems like a neutral state.
HORN OPERATION Your EMD F40PH ProtoSound-equipped engine is equipped with a digital recording of a EMD horn. The horn sound can be activated anytime the engine is in forward or reverse by pressing the whistle button on your transformer. The horn will continue to blow as long as the whistle button is depressed.
SQUEAKING BRAKE SOUNDS ProtoSounds is now equipped with operator controlled squeaking brake sounds. Once activated, this easy to use feature plays the sound of squeaking brakes whenever the transformer throttle is reduced from high voltage to low voltage simulating the application of the brakes as you enter curves or slow down for crossings and passenger stations.
Once the brake feature is activated and the engine is running, it is possible that the Note: brake sounds may not occur if the transformer throttle setting is not set high enough before throttling down. We recommend that after activating the brake feature, you run the engine at no less than 14 volts before throttling down to approximately 8 volts or less to ensure that the brake sounds occur.
ACTIVATING AND TRIGGERING PASSENGER STATION ANNOUNCEMENTS Before PFA can be heard the feature must be activated first. Activation is accomplished by holding down the bell button for three or more seconds as described in the Activating and Triggering The Squeaking Brake Sounds section found earlier on page 8. Once the squealing brake feature is activated, PFA will be played the next time the engine enters the neutral position.
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Event 3 (Reverse) The operator now interrupts the transformer throttle again to enter the next reverse unit phase; reverse. In an effort to enhance realism, PFA has disabled the reverse phase so that it doesn’t power the motors and cause the engine to move backward. Upon entering reverse, PFA confirms to the operator that it has entered the reverse state by immediately playing the highlight sound of the conductor’s voice saying “baggage to the right.”...
TIPS ON USING THE PFA FEATURES PFA is a unique feature of ProtoSounds that is completely controlled by the operator. You decide how, when or if you want to utilize the feature. By reviewing following tips you should find solutions or suggestions to the various operating scenarios you might encounter when using PFA.
PROTO-COUPLER OPERATION Your EMD F40PH ProtoSound-equipped locomotive has two coil-wound ProtoCouplers™ for remote uncoupling action. The couplers are mounted on the power trucks. Because the ProtoCoupler is controlled through ProtoSound’s microprocessor, it doesn’t’t require an uncoupling track section or modification to your layout to function. The three simple steps below are required to operate the coupler.
transformer is shut off, the battery may be going bad. Before replacing the battery, you should put the engine in NEUTRAL and leave the transformer throttle at about 12 volts for fifteen minutes. This should temporarily recharge the battery. If the garbled or distorted sounds are reduced, then your battery charge has worn down.
USING “RESET" TO PROGRAM PROTOSOUNDS™ As mentioned earlier, there are several programmable options in each ProtoSound- equipped engine that can be remotely set from any compatible standard AC transformer equipped with a whistle button. For a list of compatible transformers, see the chart on page 25.
Once you have decided on the appropriate volume level, turn the transformer throttle off and on again or press the transformer direction switch to lock in your selection. The volume adjustment will remain set at the level you have chosen until you change it again. Regardless of the engine volume setting, the horn, bell, compressor and Cab Chatter sounds will function normally.
PROGRAMMING FOR HORN IN NEUTRAL OPERATION If you are operating your engine with a separate bell button and want to blow your horn when your engine is in neutral, you will need to program ProtoSounds to do so as the factory setting only allows the horn to blow in forward or reverse.
dings (signifying that the ProtoCoupler option has been turned off). Simply turn the transformer throttle off and then on again to lock in the new setting. PROGRAMMING FOR SQUEAKING BRAKES AND FYS OPERATION ProtoSounds™ is equipped with a RESET setting to turn off the Squeaking Brakes and Passenger Station Proto-Effects (PFA) features.
Program ProtoSounds™ on page 15). Once in Feature 18, press the transformer whistle button and wait for ProtoSounds to sound a garbled bell sound. REVERSE UNIT LOCK-OUT OPERATION ProtoSound’s unique design eliminates the need for a lock-out switch on the locomotive by allowing the customer to lock the engine into any directional state (forward, neutral or reverse) from the transformer.
OIL & LUBRICATION INSTRUCTIONS In order for the engine to perform correctly and quietly, it is important that the chassis be lubricated before operation. Lubrication should include all truck block bushings and pickup rollers to prevent them from squeaking. Use light household oil and follow the lubrication points marked “L"...
In addition to the truck block internal gearing, it is a good idea to lubricate the outside truck block “idler" and “drive" gears with grease. Use the diagram shown in Fig. 9. above as a guide and add grease to the points marked with a “G". Periodically, check the locomotive wheels and pickups for dirt buildup as this can significantly affect the engine’s ability to perform properly.
TROUBLE SHOOTING PROTOSOUND™ PROBLEMS Although ProtoSound™ has been designed and engineered for ease of use, some questions may arise during initial operation. The following table should answer most questions. If you find that your problem can’t be resolved with this manual, contact MTH ProtoSound Electronics (9693-A Gerwig Lane, Columbia, MD 21046, 410-381-2580) for additional assistance.
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I cant get the engine to run after I power up the transformer. It sits still with the diesel The engine is locked out into the Neutral position. Follow the unlocking proceedures in compressor sounds running. the Lockout Section. You are waiting too long to turn the throttle back on after the short horn blast sounds. The power must be turned back on immediately after the short horn blast sounds or the The engine wont lock out into Forward, Neutral or Reverse even after the short horn engine will go back into RESET.
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BRAKE SOUND PROBLEMS REMEDY The brake features has not been activated. See the section on activating the brake feature for more information.The throttle voltage setting on the transformer is either not starting high enough When the transformer is throttled down, the sounds wont play. or ending low enough to trigger the brakes sounds.
TRANSFORMER COMPATIBILITY AND WIRING CHART ProtoSounds™ is designed to work with any standard AC transformer that uses a “Pure Sine-Wave" format. The chart below lists the many Lionel® compatible transformers, such as the Lionel KW or ZW models. In addition, the chart details how the terminals on these compatible transformers should be attached to your layout.
PROTOSOUND RESET FEATURE CHART The following chart lists the available features found in your ProtoSound equipped engine. The default settings are listed for each feature as well as the operation of the feature. You can reset all features to their original factory settings by accessing Feature 18 in RESET and pressing and holding the transformer whistle button until you hear a soft, warbled bell sound.
SERVICE AND WARRANTY INFORMATION HOW TO GET SERVICE UNDER THE TERMS OF THE LIMITED ONE YEAR WARRANTY For warranty repair, do not return your product to the place of purchase unless it was purchased from Mike’s Train House in Columbia, MD. Instead, follow the instructions below to obtain warranty service as our dealer network is not prepared to service the product under the terms of this warranty.
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