Tinplate Traditions®
3243R Electric Engine
Operating Instructions
. This Standard Gauge Tinplate Traditions
®
17), and is compatible with most other 3-rail
Conventional Mode operation of this locomotive is
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
Table of Contents
Initial Lubrication 3
Basic Operation 4
Throttle 4
Operation Buttons 4
Volume Control 5
Proto-Sound 2.0 Operation
Activating Proto-Sound 2.0 Conventional Mode Features 6
Passenger Station Announcements (PSA) 7
Tips on Using PSA 8
Speed Control 9
Lock into a Direction 9
Reset to Factory Defaults 10
Automatic Sounds 10
Maintenance
Lubrication and Greasing Instructions 11
Light Replacement 12
Self-Charging Battery Back-Up 13
Troubleshooting 14
Transformer Compatibility Chart 17
Additional Features with DCS Remote Control System 18
Safety Precautions 20
Service and Warranty Information 24
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
) before beginning. Apply oil before operating and after every seven
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
Basic Operation
Throttle – Throttle up the power to your track. Give enough power so that
the engine’s headlight shines brightly. Then put the engine into motion by
either firmly pressing the Direction button on your transformer or remote once
or dropping and advancing the throttle to put the engine in forward.
Operation Buttons
Use the operation buttons on your transformer or remote as described below.
Horn/Whistle - To sound the horn, firmly press the Horn/Whistle button. The
horn will sound for as long as you continue to depress the button. It will stop
when you release the button. The horn has four different endings, depending
on whether you hold the button for less than three seconds, three seconds, four
seconds, or five seconds or longer.
Bell - To sound the bell, firmly press and release the Bell button. To turn the
bell off, press and release the Bell button again. The bell will continue to ring
from the time you turn it on until you press and release the button again to turn
it off.
Direction – Your train is programmed to start in neutral. The first direction
after neutral upon start-up is forward. Firmly press and release the Direction
button to allow the engine to move forward. Just as you must stop your
automobile between forward and reverse, this engine will not go directly from
forward to reverse; it goes into neutral between directions. If the train has
been moving forward, the first press of the Direction button will put the train
from forward into neutral, the second press into reverse, the third press back
into neutral, and the fourth back into forward. To prevent accidental
high-speed start-ups, this engine is programmed to restart in neutral each time
the track voltage is turned off for 25 seconds or more.
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
– To adjust the volume of all sounds made by this
1 ).
Proto-Sound 2.0
Volume Adjustment Knob
Figure 1. Proto-Sound 2.0 Volume Adjustment Knob
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
Proto-Sound 2.0 Operating Instructions
This manual contains the operating instructions for Proto-Sound 2.0 in
conventional mode only. Instructions for accessing DCS command mode
features accompany the DCS Remote Control System equipment.
Because Proto-Sound 2.0 is an all-new system developed by M.T.H.’s own
research and development team, it operates differently from original
Proto-Sound. Most Proto-Sound 2.0 features are automatically enabled, and
the reset state has been eliminated, so there is no need to program features as
with original Proto-Sound. Although the new system is easier to operate than
original Proto-Sound, you should read these instructions thoroughly before
using Proto-Sound 2.0 features in order to prevent harm to yourself or your
equipment.
Activating Proto-Sound 2.0 Conventional Mode Features:
Proto-Sound 2.0 features are activated by sequences of Bell and Whistle
button pushes described below. Please read the full descriptions of each
feature before using it. To use these buttons to activate features rather than to
blow the whistle or ring the bell, you should press the buttons for a shorter
time (1/2 second); you may need to practice your timing to make this work
smoothly.
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
Press the Direction button or drop and advance the throttle once to stop the
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
Tips on Using PSA
You can terminate PSA at anytime 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 PSAs even if you are double-heading with another
engine. If the second engine is not equipped with PSAs at all, you
must remember not to leave the throttle at a high voltage level
once you have stopped the engine to run the PSAs. Otherwise, the
engine without PSAs will begin vibrating on the track as its
motors strain to move the train, since they cannot be automatically
disabled during the PSA cycle. If the second engine is an original
Proto-Sound engine equipped with PSAs, you may choose to
disable it when used in double-heading operations, so you will not
experience competing PSA sounds. To disable PSAs in an
original Proto-Sound engine, see the operating instructions for that
engine.
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.
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
put the engine in neutral, then press the
You will want
Each time you shut down the engine
Two
The engine will
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
Reset to Factory Defaults:
To override the settings you currently have assigned to the engine and reset it
to its factory defaults, while in Neutral press the Whistle button once, followed
immediately by five quick pushes of the Bell button. Two horn blasts will
indicate that the engine has made the change.
Automatic Sounds:
Certain Proto-Sound 2.0 sound effects automatically play in programmed
conventional mode conditions:
• Squealing Brakes play any time the engine’s speed decreases rapidly.
• Cab Chatter plays at random intervals when the engine idles in neutral.
• Engine Start-up and Shut-down sounds play when the engine is initially
powered on or is powered off for five seconds or more.
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
Apply oil before operating and after every seven hours
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
Figure 2. Lubrication Points on the Locomotive
Light Replacement Instructions
The locomotive’s lights are controlled by a constant voltage circuit in the
engine. They are easy to remove and replace when they burn out. Simply
unscrew the bulb that needs to be replaced from its socket and replace it with
another.
Replace the headlamps with M.T.H. MS-0000009 clear lamps.
Replacement bulbs are available directly from the M.T.H. Parts Department
(phone: 410-381-2580; e-mail: parts@mth-railking.com; mail: 7020 Columbia
Gateway Drive, Columbia MD 21046-1532).
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
(as described below) and charge it in any standard slow
(see directions below). Contact the M.T.H. Parts
Screws to remove the shell
(both ends & both sides)
Unhook Wires, Remove
and Replace Battery
Figure 3b. Replacing the Battery
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
Troubleshooting Proto-Sound® 2.0 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; e-mail: service@mth-railking.com, mail: 7020 Columbia
Gateway Drive, Columbia MD 21046-1532).
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
Compatibility
This engine will operate on any traditional Standard Gauge track system,
including M.T.H.’s or original Standard Gauge track. It is also compatible
with most standard AC transformers. (See page 17 for a complete list of
compatible transformers and wiring instructions.)
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
Transformer Compatibility and Wiring Chart
Note that many of the operational commands 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.
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
Additional Features Accessible with the DCS Remote
Control System:
While conventional mode operation of a Proto-Sound 2.0 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. With the addition of the DCS Remote
Control System (including a DCS remote handheld and Track Interface Unit)
users gain many advanced features, including:
• DCS Proto-Speed Control-Establishes desired locomotive speed in scale
miles per hour increments via a thumbwheel control and allows operator to set
maximum speed and acceleration/deceleration rates.
• Locomotive Lighting Control-Independently controls locomotive headlights,
marker and interior lights, and ditch lights.
• Emergency Stop-Single button push stops your trains (but does not turn off
track power).
• One Touch Global Mute/UnMute-Single button mutes or unmutes all
DCS-controlled locomotives’ user-defined actions, including sound, lights, and
smoke.
• Proto-Dispatch Operation-Public Address-like feature allows users to speak
through locomotive speaker during operation.
• Proto-Cast-Allows users to play audio recordings through locomotive speaker
during operation.
• Proto-Doppler Sound Effects Set Up-Users can configure locomotive for
Doppler Operation, including setting distance points for Doppler start, repeat,
and stop modes.
• Independent Volume Control of Engine Sounds, Bell, Horn & Whistle for
each Locomotive .
• Control up to 50 different DCS-equipped locomotives at one time with
multiple TIUs .
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
.
.
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
CAUTION: Electrically Operated Product:
Not recommended for children under 10 years of age. M.T.H. recommends
adult supervision with children ages 10 - 16. As with all electric products,
precautions should be observed during handling and use to reduce the risk of
electric shock.
WARNING: When using electrical products, basic safety precautions should
be followed including the following:
- Read this manual thoroughly before using this device.
- M.T.H. recommends that all users and persons supervising use examine the
hobby transformer periodically for conditions that may result in the risk of fire,
electric shock, or injury to persons, such as damage to the primary cord, plug
blades, housing, output jacks or other parts. In the event such conditions exist,
the transformer should not be used until properly repaired.
- As with all electrical appliances, this product should not be left in operation
when unattended.
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
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Tinplate Traditions 3243R Electric Engine
Service & Warranty Information
How to Get Service Under the Terms of the Limited One-Year Warranty
For warranty repair, follow the instructions below to obtain warranty service.
1. First, e-mail, write, call or fax an Authorized M.T.H. Service Center in your area or M.T.H.
Electric Trains to obtain Repair Authorization. You can find the list of Authorized Service Center s
on the M.T.H. website, www.mth-railking.com. Otherwise, contact M.T.H. (at e-mail:
service@mth-railking.com; 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046; tel:
410-381-2580; fax: 410-423-0009), stating when the item was purchased and describing the
problem. If you contact M.T.H., you will be given a return authorization number to assure that your
merchandise will be properly handled upon its receipt.
2. CAUTION: Make sure the product is packed in its original factory packaging including its foam
and plastic wrapping material so as to prevent damage to the merchandise. The shipment must be
prepaid and we recommend that it be insured. A cover letter including your name, address, daytime
phone number, e-mail address (if available), Return Authorization number, a copy of your sales
receipt and a full description of the problem must be included to facilitate the repairs. Please
include the description regardless of whether you discussed the problem with a service technician
when contacting the Service Center or M.T.H. for your Return Authorization.
3. Please make sure you have followed the instructions carefully before returning any merchandise
for service.
Limited One-Year Warranty
All M.T.H. products purchased from an Authorized M.T.H. Train Merchant are covered by this
warranty.
See our website at or call 1-888-640-3700 to identify an Authorized M.T.H. Train Merchant near
you.
M.T.H. products are warrantied for one year from the date of purchase against defects in material or
workmanship, excluding light bulbs and traction tires. We will repair or replace (at our option) the
defective part without charge for the parts or labor, if the item is returned to an Authorized M.T.H.
Service Center or M.T.H. Electric Trains within one year of the original date of purchase. This
warranty does not cover damages caused by improper care, handling, or use. Transportation costs
incurred by the customer are not covered under this warranty.
Items sent for repair must be accompanied by a return authorization number, a description of the
problem, and a copy of the original sales receipt from an Authorized M.T.H. Train Merchant,
which gives the date of purchase. If you are sending the item to M.T.H., call 410-381-2580, fax
410-423-0009, or e-mail the Service Department at to obtain a return authorization number. If you
are sending this product to an Authorized Service Center, contact that Center for their return
authorization.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may have other rights that vary from state t o
state.
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