Engine not adding-----UPDATE

Try to recover the engine using the remote.

If you press read with only that engine powered, what do you get?

Sometimes the remote thinks it's an engine already in there. You probably know this but I'm just guessing.

If an engine comes up, press startup and see if it comes to life.

Well the recovery did not work or the read just told me no DCS engines so it seems I must look for something else.

Dave

Grasping at straws here, try resetting the engine in conventional and then retry the add in DCS

The engine does start up when power is applied.

How do you reset the engine in conventional?

Dave

In your initial post, you stated it ran in conventional.  Start the engine up in conventional, hit 1 HORN, 5 BELLS on the transformer buttons with about a 1/2 second delay between hits.  If the engine accepts the reset you will here 2 horn blasts.  If it does not reset, try the sequence again, sometimes takes a few tries to get the timing down.  Then retry adding in DCS.

Try moving the engine to several different areas on your layout. Start with areas that are closest to the DCS TIU. A friend has this problem on his layout the TIU it will only see certain engines that are setting in one certain spot for discovery. Once it is loaded into the system they run fine with no other problems. To find the engine we must repower the TIU each time we move the engine for it to eventually find it. This happens mostly when trying to install steam engines.  

The engine will still not add. Put a new battery in it with no change. 

Any other ideas?

Dave

I have similar problems with my DCS engines both at home and at the club.  I am usually able to get engines to add at my home after several tries but the club is another issue.  The club is outdoors and is much bigger than the home layout.  This is a very frustrating issue that I wish MTH would get a handle on it.

There is another DCS thread on the forum now called "Weak DCS signals, Failed TIU Output Drivers....."

I wonder if the problems mentioned in that thread are contributing to the "No Engine to Add" problems.  If so, MTH should pursue a fix.  I would even pay for a fix.  

I have friends who won't buy MTH because of these frustrating issues.  I have many MTH engines but I do get frustrated.

NH Joe

NH Joe,

I have no problems with any other engine except this one so I'm at a loss on why this will not add. It can be frustrating.

Dave

It should stay quiet when it senses the DCS signal. The fact that it doesn't maybe the best clue. I would talk it over with GGG.

Did you try the reset? and get 2 horn toots?

Engineer-Joe posted:

 

Did you try the reset? and get 2 horn toots?

Yes I did and no toots,

Dave

David,

Product #, please.  What do you mean by it runs  great in conventional?  forward/reverse, horn, coupler fires, engine sounds, freight sounds?  are they there?

Try the conventional reset on a test track,  away from the layout.  It is always a plus when you have a test track on the layout, where you can power it up when needed.  Make sure your TIU is #1.

bruce

It runs forward, reverse, all sounds work in conventional  The only thing it does not do is add to the remote.

This is the only engine that will not add to my remote. My TIU and remote are 6.1. I also put a new battery in  the engine. Ps2 with a 5 volt board. 

30-1164-1

Dave

Please keep helping me to figure this out.

But for now I will be in the hospital until tomorrow so I won't be able to respond. 

Thanks for all the help,

Dave

Important - is your TIU  #1?

Must be #1.

david1 posted:

Engineer-Joe posted:

 

Did you try the reset? and get 2 horn toots?

Yes I did and no toots,

Dave

If you didn't get the 2 short toots from the engine, it hasn't been reset. It usually takes a few tries, pushing the whistle and bell buttons very quickly. I've had this same issue of the "No engine to add" message and the conventional reset has fixed it every time. Wishing you a speedy recovery after your hospital stay. 

John 

Sorry our power has been out. You need to try the reset again as posted.

If the engine does not add on a small test track with known good signal strength and the recover engine does not work, the board can be bad.  I have a few 5V boards on the bench that run fine in conventional, but no DCS control.  Most likely a shorted inductor or two on the input power.  Unfortunately, can't get to them to replace based on board construction.  G

I have done everything that was suggested and some that was not mentioned. So either it gets fixed or just run in conventional. 

Beings it is so old I don't want to spend more then it is worth. It's a good looking engine. 

Thanks for all your suggestions,

Dave

Well today I decided to run it in conventional but I decided to try to add it to my dcs remote first.

Guess what?  It added on the first try. 

Why you may ask? I have no clue. It's running and operates perfectly. In all my years running dcs  ( since the very first year ) this was the oddest thing I every ran into. 

The dcs Gods smiled on me today, I'm going with it. 

Dave

Dave,

Do you have an isolated program track on the layout that you can assist you in assigning / adding your engine to the remote?

I am a noobie to the DCS system but I was told that this sometimes helps.

Yes I do have seperate track I can add engines to. It does help allot. 

But sometimes there are glitches that can drive you batty but for the most part it is a great system. 

Dave