Hi
Following my successful update and the subsequent elation of having the screen resembling the manual (!!), I got on with designing the layout screen (just the basic shape - no functions or feedbacks etc yet) All has gone well but after a few goes of actually running trains OK, I am now getting an error message saying "overload at device GFP3/1 Channel 1." I have absolutely no idea what this means. I have clicked on "System", then "GFP1" but can see nothing that's any different to the manual pictures. Sometimes when I switch the "Stop" bar off, I hear a sort of "fizzing" noise from inside the controller. The weird thing is I hear the same noise coming from a tunnel mouth (???!!!). The only thing inside the tunnel is a reverse loop electronic polarity switch. This is new and has been working fine. I don't know if this has failed and this is causing a) the noise (but why at the controller as well?) or b) the error message to appear or c) something entirely different. All I know is, I can't drive any trains at the moment. Let's hope it's something simple.

Any suggestions??

Cheers

Steve

GFP is "Gleis Format Processor" - in other words the booster portion of the controller that feeds the track. If you have additional boosters they will also report as a GFP.

When you do a software update to the controller it may do a software update of the GFP as a second or third stage of the update.

The GFP in the controller I would expect to report as GFP1, so if you have a GFP3 that suggests you have two additional boosters. But I don't know why it says channel 1 as they only have a single output.

I would also ask what the story is with a reverse loop polarity switch. You need to tell us the full story of your layout to get any further help I think.

A fizzing or buzzing sound is a sure indicator that you have a track short, and given the comments about the reverse loop switch, that would be my pick for being the culprit.

Alan alludes to possible multiple boosters in his comment, and picking up on that you could trying disconnecting your boosters one by one and seeing if the short persists. The booster that you disconnect that results in no short is the layout section that contains the short.

You've probably been able to run trains OK until the switch has been activated by a train causing the short. Remove the switch and any associated wiring and isolated sections because don't need them - of course we are all assuming you are indeed running a Marklin 3 rail system, but you don't actually indicate what you are running.

I'm assuming you're running a CS3 with multiple boosters as well. Best to describe those for troubleshooting purposes at the start of the query.

Marklin do produce a reverse loop switch under the Trix branding, where one can be required as they run 2-rail.

Yes, but we are talking about a different sound Goofy - not the gentle hum of a transformer.

Greetings from the blind man!!! After all the kerfuffle regarding the error message, I thought I would try connecting a length of track earmarked for my viaduct and noticed that the feeds intended for this length were touching!!!!!!! Simply moving them apart solved the problem - no more error messages and the reverse loop module is working as it should............silently!!!

Thanks for all your input

Steve