DCS fixed outputs

First thing that comes to mind is... Are your engines on toggled "off" sidings and miss the watch dog signal.

You may have tooo much track on fixed 1 and fixed 2 resulting in a low dcs signal.

You may have a faulty tiu. (I3a comes to mind.)

Or and hopefully this is it..The track signal  somehow got turned off. Turn it back on with

Menu/System/ DCS set up/ AON..the AON turns the dcs signal on to all channels

Good luck

"You may have tooo much track on fixed 1 and fixed 2 resulting in a low dcs signal."

Gregg what would you consider as too much track?

 Scott

This is a Rev L tiu that is brand new I'm checking it now,

I was able to change the variables to fixed and both work great. its definitely not too much track. I will play with it more tonight.

I would consider anything over 150 feet too much track on one channel but that's just my opinion

. How much track on each channel???

An easy test would be to hook up a small test track to fixed 1 out and add a engine and do a track signal test. One or 2 sections of track only with only one engine. If the engines start up on power up there's something drastically wrong Also the dcs signal should be a perfect 10. Then try fixed 2

Forgot to mention that some(very few) TMCC engines can destroy the dcs signal. Any TMCCs on the track?

Also perhaps your problem has something to do with how you're powering up the layout?what are you using for a transformer or power supply?

Gregg below is a copy of what I posted from a earlier thread:

"Not sure how odd this is, but I am experiencing the almost exact same problem in one corner of my layout.
 Normally I run lash-ups and I'm finding that when I check signal strength it varies depending on what engines I'm running. Usually the 5v PS2 engines seem to have consistent 9-10 in signal strength while the 3v PS2 combinations normally will get a 1-3 at best. If I check signal strength with any of the engines (5v or 3v) by themselves it remains around the 9-10 range, but as soon as I lash up it falls apart. I have always been checking strength while the engines are running at about 15mph.
 My loop is 30'x44' and about 150' total length of Gargraves track with two Ross #175 double crossover switches. The loop is broke into four even blocks. I am powering the loop with one TIU fed by a Z4000. The TIU is located in the center of the loop with a no.12 wire going out to each block.
 I have tried a light bulb and/or a capcitor-resistor filter in many different combinations and nothing seems to work.
 I have also tried tying all the blocks together as one continuous loop, an saw no improvement.

 I have other loops of equal length that are a continuous loop(no blocks) but have the same wiring configuration ie: TIU in the center and four no.12 drops feeding each loop, and at least one Ross double crossover switch. I have one light bulb at the TIU on those loops. I can get consistent 9-10's with almost all PS2 engines in a lash-up or alone.
 Any suggestions?"

I have a couple of loops of track that are very troublesome, and is quite discouraging. Its been this way since DCS was added some years ago, and Ive never really had the time to get it corrected. I'm trying to get this resolved, but not having much luck.

 Also I forgot to mention that on the troublesome loop I also tried a single drop from the TIU and cut the center rail in one spot. This got me consistent 9-10's accept for one corner with about 4 sections of track between the loop cut and a Ross Double Cross-over switch. The problem I was having is that while running a lash-up the voltage drop at the end of the loop was to great to maintain operation. The signal strength was great accept for the last few sections, but didn't do me much good because of the voltage drop.

Again any suggestions are appreciated,

 Scott

Did you get a chance to test Fixed 1 &2 with a small test track, This problem could be as simple as a reversed set of feeders from fixed 1 or 2. The Tiu  hot(red) must go the center rail. I can't think of anything else?  good luck.

Hi Scott,   You may have to add a terminal block and divide a block into a  smaller one. This would allow you to have a feeder at the low voltage block.  I wouldn't change any part of the layout that is working pretty good. Not much help I know.

How many loops & tiu all togerther?

I reset the tiu and tried the small section of track sadly no success. Any more suggestions before I call MTH? Is Marios trains an authorized MTH dealer will I be able to get warranty work?

Here's my plan. I will keep the TIU for now since it is running engines perfectly on var 1 and 2 with them set to fixed. In December when I have the money I will buy a Rev L TIU alone and use that one then send the one I'm currently using to MTH. When the faulty one comes back I will put the new TIU in storage for when I expand my layout so I can run more than 4 tracks in the future or as a spare if something happens. That way I can enjoy my engines now and eventually have two functioning TIU's with no waiting and if I have enough money maybe an AIU. 

Thanks for all the suggestions, Sincerely Liam

Just curious, what version (model) is your tiu..Should be something on the bottom.

A brand new Rev L it has the USB port and also says Rev L on a sticker on the bottom. I'm very impressed how it runs my DCS and conventional if only the fixed outputs would work.

I might having seconds thoughts about using the Z-1000.  What's the out- put voltage and are the circuit breakers fast enough?

Did the fixed channels ever work?

Scott, do you have sidings on any of the blocks?

Sorry for the late reply but the Z1000 circuit breaker trips pretty quick and puts out a steady 19V into the TIU. Yes the TIU fixed 1 and fixed 2 never worked. I am assuming the Z1000 is safe to use because that is what MTH made the barrel to banana jack for. Its also on the reccomended transformer list in the manual. So far nothing strange has happened to var 1 or 2 in fixed or variable mode with the Z1000. Hopefully in the near future I will get a Z4000.