I will check into Marty's aux power connection recommendation for my AIUs that are far from my TIU, Which on my layout is AIU4 & AIU5.
I now have 4 AIU's (2-5) connected to track detection and running on the Hikel system. I am able to control all the switches and uncouplers using my Ipad as a local control pannel. There is a bit of a delay on the activation of the switches, some of the time. Not sure if this is network signal strength or the AIU being so far from the TIU.
However, everything works fine. It turned out that I had a bad wire between AIU2 & AIU3, and was using the other part of the same original 25ft wire to test. I have changed the connectors many times, with no improvement, so I removed the wire and placed both pieces in garbage so I don't accidently use it later. Temporary replacement wire is 25ft, soon to be replaced with 12ft wire.
I cannot shorten the length of my AIU linking cables, as the wire goes from the AIU near floor level, to under table, along back of table, then down and under the carpet. I also have a 4ft tether at each AIU so I can remove the AIU from under the train table and work with it sitting on my lap while seated beside the layout. This makes working with teh AIU and all the connecting wires at the terminal block reasonably comfortable. Each AIU is mounted on a 11"x18" board, with terminal blocks for all the inputs mounted to the top and one side of the board.
Thanks for your help, and I will report on any impovements I can make to my Ipad wireless switch reaction time, assuming I can make improvements.
Barry, have you tried to control your switches using the Ipad as a control pannel using the Hikel system? If so, do you ever see a delay in touching the Ipad screen, and the switch activation? On my layout, I get a pretty good real time response at the switch most of the time, although sometimes it takes a few seconds (3 - 5 - 8 seconds) for the switch to throw. The longer response means I press the button twice, so the switch ends up throwing, then going back to what it was before, since I pushed the Ipad button twice.
My network hub is in the train room, so signal strength should not be a problem. I will end up upgrading my wireless network when something beter comes on the market.
Starting to make some progress and should have the last AIU hooked up and running by end of January. Then things should start to get interesting.
Thanks: Joe K
