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Discussion Boards => Large => Topic started by: gooner_1967 on July 19, 2015, 12:31:49 PM

Title: power pack overload comes on
Post by: gooner_1967 on July 19, 2015, 12:31:49 PM
i need some help.i have a backmann royal blue trainset that iam using on brass track,and when i put the train on the track,the overload light on the power pack comes on.when i take the train off,and just hooked up the wires to the train wheels,it runs fine.the power pack iam using are mrc 2500 and tech 3 model 7500
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: Len on July 19, 2015, 01:11:43 PM
Check the tender wheels, one truck may be reversed 180 degrees, creating a short when on the track. If the cars have lights, check their wheels and wiring also.

Len
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: gooner_1967 on July 19, 2015, 01:23:02 PM
len, i just had the engine only on the track,iam using lionel brass.when i took the engine off the track,and just hook the wires to the wheels,no problem at all.iam not sure if the power packs are strong enough.the backmann steel track that came with the trainset set it still did the same.iam wondering if its a problem with the engine on the rails causing the problem
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: Len on July 19, 2015, 01:40:28 PM
The MRC 2500 should be fine with just the 'Blue Comet' on the track. Even a MRC 1300 will generally run a "Big Hauler" set by itself.

I've seen more than a few of the Lionel 'G' power connector clips go bad. If you're using the Lionel "lock-on" to connect power, take it off. Put the loco on the track and just hold the wires against the rails and see if it runs. If so, either solder the wires directly to the rails, or track down a set of LGB power leads with rail clamps.

Also, if you're using Lionel turnouts, make sure you don't have any reverse loops in your set up. Without gaps and additional wiring, a reverse loop will cause a short, creating an overload to the power pack.

Len
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: A Trainman on July 19, 2015, 02:05:25 PM
gooner_1967,

lay the loco on it's side and look at the pilot truck (the four,small, front wheels) There should be an arrow pointing forward on the bottom, if it's not pointing forward carefully rotate the wheel set and try it again.
The  pilot truck also has electrical pickups attached and if its rotated backwards will cause a dead short.

Good luck and tell us what you find.

Adam
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: gooner_1967 on July 19, 2015, 05:50:45 PM
yes,that did the trick,i downloaded the instructions on the forum here and that's what happen.
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: Chuck N on July 19, 2015, 07:14:53 PM
Don't feel bad, it happens to all of us.

We've been there and done that.

Chuck
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: Len on July 19, 2015, 07:30:35 PM
Good catch Adam. I forgot about the reversable pilot truck on the 'Big Hauler' when I suggested 'shorts to look for'.

Len
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: Hunt on July 19, 2015, 10:47:39 PM
All the ones I have seen over the years  --

Bachmann Big Haulers  4-6-0 locomotive tender from the factory (both Anniversary and standard editions) is  not equipped to pick up power from the rails. All power pickups from the rails are in the locomotive. 
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: RkyGriz on July 20, 2015, 04:59:12 AM
Yeah-it's kind of sad that the tenders don't come from the factory with track powered sound and tender light. That would be cool. I have 4 Annies and they all have the second plug on the back of the locomotive  that's labeled as being for the tender light. Does anybody know why none of the Annies come with the tender and its'  back light already wired and ready to go?
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: Len on July 20, 2015, 12:22:09 PM
Hunt - I'll make a note of that, I was just suggesting short problems common to other scales.  I'm not a 'G' modeler, and just worked on a couple of "Big Haulers" in my shop some time back and forgot about the pilot truck possibly getting reversed.

Len
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: A Trainman on July 22, 2015, 08:40:12 PM
Sometimes its the simple things that cause the most problems, easy to overlook and... "how did that happen?" ???

gooner_1967,
Happy to be of service!
You came to the right place for LS Bachmann answers. There's a lot of knowledge in this forum. I don't participate as often as I would like too but I do try to read this forum every day or so.

Enjoy your train!

Adam 
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: gooner_1967 on August 02, 2015, 06:35:46 PM
Quote from: A Trainman on July 22, 2015, 08:40:12 PM
Sometimes its the simple things that cause the most problems, easy to overlook and... "how did that happen?" ???

gooner_1967,
Happy to be of service!
You came to the right place for LS Bachmann answers. There's a lot of knowledge in this forum. I don't participate as often as I would like too but I do try to read this forum every day or so.

Enjoy your train!

Adam 

i got the train up and running.now i have another problem.the cars dont light up anymore and i even put in new fresh batteries.can anyone help with that
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: Chuck N on August 02, 2015, 06:54:28 PM
We need help. How were the cars lighted, track, battery, solar, esp?

How do you expect us to help if you don't give us some basic information.

It reminded me of a question I once received.  "Should I marry a blonde, brunette, or a red head?"

The more information, the more we can help.

Chuck
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: gooner_1967 on August 02, 2015, 07:04:38 PM
the lights are run by a 9 volt battery.i stated before i put in new fresh batteries.they dont come on anymore
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: A Trainman on August 04, 2015, 08:35:06 PM
gooner_1967,

I know this sounds simple but... did you try the, little, slide switch, on the bottom, near the battery compartment?
Also how many passenger cars do you have? Do they all not light up? Did any light up before?
If they all have a battery compartment than, most likely, they all are lighted by battery power not track power. Also look at the wheel sets to see if there are any "pickups" or wires connected that would use track power to light the cars. If no wires (on the trucks) then you should check and make sure the battery connections are good and clean. also the 9v battery should fit in only one direction, it could possibly be installed with the positive and negative reversed. That wouldn't make the lights not work but the connections may not mate up correctly.   
That's all the simple stuff. If none of this works it gets a little more complicated.
Give us all a heads up to what you find.

Adam
 

Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: gooner_1967 on August 04, 2015, 09:53:59 PM
adam i have 2 cars from the royal blue set,they both run the lights from a 9 volt battery and they worked before.when i moved few yrs ago,i put them in the garage on a metal stand.i got them out few days ago,put in a fresh battery,turn the switch on and nothing happen.i did just found out that when i sent the switch in a certain spot,the lights comes on,but only one comes on,not the other in both cars.so right now i just one light from the cars,the back light also comes on,but only one light inside.i think both swiches has some kind of short in them.like i said,if i set the swiches at a certain spot,they work
Title: Re: power pack overload comes on
Post by: A Trainman on August 05, 2015, 10:15:46 PM
gooner_1967,

Sounds like you figured out the problem, good job! Bad switch, try working it back and forth awhile.
If you live in a humid area, corrosion could form on the switch contacts and also the contacts for the bulb, especially if you left them stored with batteries installed. (electrolysis) If I'm remembering correctly the bulbs in the passenger cars screw in just like a regular light bulb.
I've used an electrical contact cleaner, "tuner cleaner" purchased from Radio Shack, to clean and protect switch contacts in the past. You might try that if you can find an open Radio Shack or electronics supply store, just make certain it's plastic compatible!
If you're not mechanically inclined, you might want to see if you can find a garden railroad club in your area to help you out. Or, you could also call the Bachmann Service Department to see what they would charge to repair your cars. I had a great experience with them in the past.
It sounds like you're on the right track. (no pun intended)
Let us know what you find.

Adam