(Solved!) Why doesn’t my new LionChief + 2.0 Berkshire work?

Hmm...so you're getting none of the start up sounds or lights when you power up? Voltage up near, but not over 18V?

Tell us a little more about your set up. TMCC, Legacy, conventional? I was looking at one of the new manuals for LC Plus 2.0 (not for your specific engine) and there are pages and pages devoted to each of the various systems. Not sure how much relevance that is to your issue but the more we know the better.

I bought a universal remote.  I could not get it to work and as I read the directions, it does not work with a legacy set up.  Had to run it with my legacy 2 controller and it works fine.

So this model does not have any visual indicators showing that it's getting power like lighted number boards.

My recommendation here is to use the LionChief App on a phone or tablet and see if it detects the engine after applying track power.

The 7:00 minute mark in the video explains using that App.

Matt -

I discovered by trial and error the specific thing that you have posted so thank you -

As an update, I have no previous experience with LC+ 2.0 and was waiting for the engine to light up, make the beeping noise, etc - show other signs of life that my other LionChief and LionChief+ engines do when simply put on the track and the track energized.  

As Matt is showing, the LC+2.0 engine shows no signs of life even when sitting on energized track, but it does show up in the LC app - when connected through the app, it roars into action.

I am updating the title of this to show this question is resolved.

Thank you everyone!

Walt

Very interesting. Had no idea you would not get the usual beeps and lights when simply powering up (like the previous versions of LC). This is also good to know as I have my first LC Plus 2.0 loco coming soon. One of the 0-6-0Ts.

Thanks for the video, too.

@D44 So were you able to connect to the universal remote?  Or just through the LC app?

Awesome! glad to hear she is up and working for you.

This model might have LionChief in the name, but it's technically a TMCC engine with Bluetooth and behaves as such.

@JD2035RR - just the app for now - I have the universal remote and will try to connect with that later tonight after work.

Universal remote is paired up and working.  Thanks to all for the help and assistance.  Pere Marquette 1225 is now in revenue service under the Christmas Tree.  

@D44 posted:

Universal remote is paired up and working.  Thanks to all for the help and assistance.  Pere Marquette 1225 is now in revenue service under the Christmas Tree.  

Good to hear. I run conventional only on my PW layout but have a good handful of Lion Chief Plus locos. When my first LC+ 2.0 arrives I plan to mostly run it with the Universal Remote. I'll try it with the App, too, but the remote will be primary.

Is this maybe why my LC+ 2.0 GG1 seems like it doesn't work? I swore I tried the App and a Universal Remote but nothing. Guess I can try again.