Barry B. and Gunner John....I've just got to know.....DCS Chrono

Sorry to tell you John It's true   If on powered track: active or inactive the clock is running  I couldn't believe it either when I first found out.

Clem k

John C. posted:

Barry and John:

I'm 100 miles from home and hours away.  On another chat board, the claim was made that the DCS Chrono (running time and miles) for a DCS engine begins to count IF a DCS is parked--not activated--on powered track.  TRUE OR FALSE?

I just can't believe it's true, because if multiple engines are seated around a turntable and NOT operated that often, they would have hundreds of hours of running time.

True, and THAT is the reason that all the tracks around our turntable have toggle switches to TURN OFF THE POWER when the locomotives are not being used!

 I'm hoping to hear/learn that this is FALSE.

It's pretty crazy that this is true.  I actually didn't even know about it until I already wired everything on my layout and luckily have toggle switches at all points where an engine could sit.  Wonder why this is

DARN.  I'm disappointed to learn that.  Mine have about a ga-zillion hours on them.  I have toggles, BUT until today I never heard this.

Yep, if it's powered, the chrono runs.

Guys,

You may not like it, however, it makes perfect sense.

Electronics age when they're receiving power. To not log the time would be to ignore this portion of the life of the electronics. It would make a board appear to be less used than it is.

I have to agree with Barry.

What else would it do? You have the scale miles registered too. That keeps track of actual wear.

If the user could reset or adjust these things they'd be worthless.

Thank you John & Barry:

Barry:  I very respectfully disagree.  I don't think the clock should run if the engine is NOT activated and stationary.  However, from reading between your lines, I'm gathering the board is "working" even if the engine is not activated and stationary.

It would be a HUGE pain in the rear but I guess it would be prudent to "cut" power to all engines when NOT in actual use.  Wow.  

To think that when DCS first came out MTH was saying its easier to wire your layout,  we no longer needed blocks or toggled off sidings. 

John C. posted:

Barry and John:

I'm 100 miles from home and hours away.  On another chat board, the claim was made that the DCS Chrono (running time and miles) for a DCS engine begins to count IF a DCS is parked--not activated--on powered track.  TRUE OR FALSE?

I just can't believe it's true, because if multiple engines are seated around a turntable and NOT operated that often, they would have hundreds of hours of running time.  I'm hoping to hear/learn that this is FALSE.

John, a friend dropped off an MTH locomotive of his with 1.1 miles. And over 200 hours...

Clem K.  That is true, you don't...BUT you'd be very wise to do it!  :-)  LOL  that part was left out.  Mine is still wired the old fashion 2 rail way with Atlas Selectors.

BobbyD posted:

John C. posted:

Barry and John:

I'm 100 miles from home and hours away.  On another chat board, the claim was made that the DCS Chrono (running time and miles) for a DCS engine begins to count IF a DCS is parked--not activated--on powered track.  TRUE OR FALSE?

I just can't believe it's true, because if multiple engines are seated around a turntable and NOT operated that often, they would have hundreds of hours of running time.  I'm hoping to hear/learn that this is FALSE.

John, a friend dropped off an MTH locomotive of his with 1.1 miles. And over 200 hours...

OH MY GOSH!  Wow.  I mean double WOW.  I had no idea.

So for the new guys, is this true for the conventional and legacy users also, or just dcs?  And, where do you get this information, on the cab2 remote?  TW

Conventional and TMCC/Legacy have to chrono capability, so no worries about what it reads.

Just another reason I'm not using MTH products, once bitten twice shy.

You bettcha LOL

Your first clue should be on the ammeter when you turn on track power with engines on the track. Those amps are going somewhere before you hit a startup button.

Who cares? So what the clock is running.  Really your not going to buy a engine because it records how long it's had track power?   Like stated above total miles is the only data that matters.

What Barry said, totally accurate.   At least MTH gives a secondary buyer use information. Does any other do that, NO. 

Train6666 posted:

Just another reason I'm not using MTH products, once bitten twice shy.

You bettcha LOL

I don't understand your reasoning ?  DCS is the only Mfg. that as this feature, so you get information that helps you,  so that is bad ? All the other Mfg. don't give you a clue.

Buy a car without a odometer or or buy one that gives you some information of its past.