TheRailwire

General Discussion => N and Z Scales => Topic started by: alhoop on October 05, 2011, 10:11:07 AM

Title: Walthers 130' Turntable Problems
Post by: alhoop on October 05, 2011, 10:11:07 AM

There is another thread about troubles with the Walthers 130' turntable.
It contains some assertions and guesses, mostly by me. Not to hijack that thread, here are the facts:

The system uses two separate 20 MHZ, 8 bit PIC microprocessors. One is in the control box and the other is inside the bridge.
You must connect 12 to 18 volt AC or DC power for the control system.


If the brushes are not  making reliable contact with the slip rings, the bridge will not move.
 
Proper operation of the brushes and slip rings is extremely critical, if there is even a momentary
loss of communication between the  two microprocessors the system will stop dead  in its tracks and
require a power down and back on cycle to reset the system.

Initializing the Turntable

Begin by plugging in the power pack. With the power pack turned off, press the SET and ZERO buttons
down at the same time. Now, turn on the power and  hold both buttons for four to five seconds.
When the POWER light stays on, the unit is ready to use. Press the ZERO button until the POWER
light flashes, then release. The turntable will move to the zero point.

Al

Title: Re: Walthers 130' Turntable Problems
Post by: wm3798 on October 06, 2011, 03:57:42 PM

Thanks, Al.  I'll try that procedure to see if I can reset the damn thing.

Lee

Title: Re: Walthers 130' Turntable Problems
Post by: alhoop on October 24, 2011, 06:15:40 PM

Any luck???????

I need to buy a used unit  to experiment on. Some claim that the PIC code protection can be broken.
I'd like to see if that is true.

Al

Title: Re: Walthers 130' Turntable Problems
Post by: rogergperkins on October 24, 2011, 06:42:21 PM

I have the programmable Walther's turn table.  I do not have it as securely fixed in place as is recommended.  Occasionally, I find that the rail of some tracks slip into the path of the turn table.  This results in misalignment.  However, zeroing the turn table corrects this problem.  Of course, I check for protruding rail and repair that problem, then zero the turn table.

Title: Re: Walthers 130' Turntable Problems
Post by: wm3798 on October 24, 2011, 11:49:41 PM

No, no luck at all.  Dead as a doornail.  I'm close to cutting some wires and bypassing the indexing altogether.  Walther's doesn't even make this configuration anymore, so there's really nothing to lose to start experimenting.  Either that or I heed their advise and pay $179 for the replacement DCC controller that they still have no idea when it will ship.

Yeah.  I'm first in line, there, Wally.  Thanks for that great product support.

Lee