Peter,
but for whatever reason, I can’t get the Southern Crescent to respond
From page 175 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:
At times, a TMCC engine may not respond to a command from the DCS Remote. The way to address this is as follows:
• First, while sending a TMCC engine a command from the DCS Remote, observe the Lionel Command Base. If the red LED on the Command Base does not blink at least once when the command is sent, there is a connection problem between the TIU and the Command Base. If this is the case, ensure that the cable between the TIU and the Command Base is tightly connected to both devices, that the correct end (both ends are labeled) is plugged into each device, and that it is the correct cable for the command base to which the TIU is connected. If it is not the correct cable it should be replaced
• Another reason why the TMCC Command Base's red LED may not blink when sending a command from the DCS Remote, to the TMCC engine, could be because the wrong TIU address was entered when the TMCC engine was added to the DCS Remote. The TIU address entered must be for the TIU to which the TMCC Command base is connected
• If the red LED on the Command Base does blink when the DCS Remote sends a TMCC command, the problem may be that the TMCC command is not reaching the engine. Ensure that the TMCC
engine is on a powered track that is connected to one of the TIU's output channels
• If the engine still does not receive the command, it's possible that the wire connecting the Command Base to the outside rails is not getting to the track upon which the TMCC engine resides. This may be because the outside rails are not all connected either through the rails themselves or through the transformer Common wiring if more than one transformer is providing track power. To ensure that the TMCC signal reaches all of the TMCC engines on the layout all of the time, connect a Common terminal from all of the layout's transformers together after ensuring that all the transformers are in phase as discussed in section Transformer Considerations, Phasing Transformers earlier in this book.
If the TMCC engine still does not respond to commands from the DCS Remote, it's possible that the TMCC engine has a TMCC ID# that is different from what was entered into the DCS Remote when the engine was added. In that case, change the TMCC engine's TMCC ID# to some other number as described in section DCS Menus, System Menu, Engine Setup earlier in this book. Then attempt to control the TMCC engine again using the changed TMCC ID#. If it still does not respond the TMCC engine itself may be the problem.
This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", now available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book from MTH's web store site!
CLICK HERE go to MTH's web page for the book!
