Help Needed Troubleshooting DCS

When you reset them, it doesn't change the software, just the info that got entered. So you don't loose the upgrades.

That won't change the fact that the light is not lit on the TIU I believe. You could try adding an external aux power to the TIU as sometimes the little switch inside the TIU gets broke (bent open). That's what tells the TIU where the power is coming from.

 Did you have an ext. aux. power hooked up to this TIU before? Was this bought used?

What version of software is inside the TIU and the remote?

Engineer-Joe posted:

When you reset them, it doesn't change the software, just the info that got entered. So you don't loose the upgrades.

That won't change the fact that the light is not lit on the TIU I believe. You could try adding an external aux power to the TIU as sometimes the little switch inside the TIU gets broke (bent open). That's what tells the TIU where the power is coming from.

 Did you have an ext. aux. power hooked up to this TIU before? Was this bought used?

What version of software is inside the TIU and the remote?

 

I may have an adapter that will allow me to use the Aux port to power the TIU from another handle on my Z4K but I doubt it.  That's something I need to look at later tonight.  Is there an easy way to feed power to the aux port from my Z4K?

I have always powered it through the fixed-1 channel.  I never had a very fancy layout but the last time I used this stuff it was working fine to run my 6x12.

I bought this new about 2010.

The remote is at 5.0.  As I  recall, the TIU was upgraded at the same time though with the remote not seeing the TIU, I don't know how to tell for sure.

Thanks for the info on the reset.  I need to upgrade both the remote and TIU to 6.1 so I can hook up the WiFi but I wanted to make sure things work before doing the upgrade.

I just visually inspected all 4 fuses and they LOOK Ok.  I suppose one could be broken without it being visible.

While looking for a way to power the Aux port, I found my MTH battery charger and plugged in the engine.  It has a 2.4 volt port so I'll see if that helps.  It can't hurt to put a charge on the battery.

Who upgraded the TIU when it couldn't be seen by the remote? Did it power up after that?

I can only guess that maybe if a shop did the upgrade, they might have used an aux supply and bent the jack just enough so that it doesn't connect to input #1 anymore? That's a lot of guessing on my part! Make sure there isn't anything lodged inside the aux in power port.

When it was upgraded to 5.0 (and after) the remote and TIU both worked fine.  I used it for a while to run trains on my 6x12 and then I stepped away from running trains for a couple of years.  The DCS stuff sat in a box on a shelf.

I'll check the Aux port though I don't think there is anything there.  I was also present when it was upgraded and watched her do it.  She didn't break anything.

Any suggestions for powering through the Aux port that will help me avoid buying a power supply just for that?

Thanks for the suggestions, Joe.  I appreciate the help.

IIRC when the remote is tethered the TIU number doesn't matter. As Joe mentioned, have you been able to power it up via the port? With it apart you may be able to "jump start" it. 

How is it going Eric?

I would just to double check things  - review the quick set up instructions provided. I believe there is a step were you have to initialize the remote to your base first. then do an add engine. I did this first and I was off and running.

Couple of things come to mind to check.

1) The way the LED is mounted inside the TIU you have to be looking right down on it to see it. (or at least that's how it is on my TIU)

2) PS2 engines need the red output to the center rail and black to the outer rail.  PS3 engines don't care.

BobbyD posted:

IIRC when the remote is tethered the TIU number doesn't matter. As Joe mentioned, have you been able to power it up via the port? With it apart you may be able to "jump start" it. 

 

I am getting the error that the remote can't find the TIU and it is tethered.

I'll try again with it apart.  Thanks!

J Daddy posted:

How is it going Eric?

I would just to double check things  - review the quick set up instructions provided. I believe there is a step were you have to initialize the remote to your base first. then do an add engine. I did this first and I was off and running.

Hi!   Long time no see!

I'll look for that step to initialize the remote to the base.  Thanks!

MichRR714 posted:

Couple of things come to mind to check.

1) The way the LED is mounted inside the TIU you have to be looking right down on it to see it. (or at least that's how it is on my TIU)

2) PS2 engines need the red output to the center rail and black to the outer rail.  PS3 engines don't care.

Hi Charlie!

1).  I know.  I was looking right at it and powered it up several times.  Powering up with the cover off will tell the story for sure.  (Yes, I'll be careful).

2).  This is PS2 and I have it red to center and black to outside.  For now I am using MTH transformer, track, lockon and wire harnesses.  That makes it pretty hard to screw up the colors.  But yeah, it is absolutely worth checking.

The odd thing to me is that the power goes through the TIU (fixed-1) and to the engine which keeps coming up in conventional mode.  So with it wired for DCS on a fixed channel, I can run a conventional engine by moving the transformer handle.

With it open you should be able to see if the aux port wipe is making contact without the plug in. Post a picture of it wired with the "lid" off if you can.

when you power up the tiu does the red led inside blink and if so how many times does it blink, usually it should blink 1 time and then stay on. also do you have the dcs turned on for fixed 1 which will make dcs work and then should not start up  in conventional if dcs is turned on if dcs fixed one is turned off it will start up in conventional. also much check that the address is set to one if tiu blink's 1 time and address in remote is set to 1 remote should talk to tiu, another possibility is the transmitter board in the tiu or remote may have come dislodged if tiu was dropped  or remote dropped. you can check this by taking tiu apart and remote to make sure. one if these issues is probably your problem. get back to us and someone can help you if this does not correct your problem. 

best of luck

Alan

p.s. a good thing  to have around is DCS companion is a great book to have for any dcs problems or issued you should purchase Barry's book can purchase thru either ogrforum or mth web sight don't remember which one but is good to have around in a pinch can save you hours of troubling shooting time.

You can check if the transmitter is non-functional very simply, no disassembly required.  Just connect the remote to the TIU with a curly phone handset cable, if that works normally, you have a radio issue between the TIU and the remote.

grj he had already said" I am getting the error that the remote can't find the TIU and it is tethered."

that's why I mentioned what I had said.

Make sure you are using a four wire handset cord or it won't work tethered.

If the TIU's red led is not lighting up, none of this matters. You can use just about any 12 volt wall wart just to see if the LED will light. You mentioned the fuses looked good, so you were inside the TIU?

BobbyD posted:

With it open you should be able to see if the aux port wipe is making contact without the plug in. Post a picture of it wired with the "lid" off if you can.

 

I hate to show my ignorance by asking but, what is a "port wipe"?

While I *CAN* post pictures, it is a bit of a pain in the neck due to my current setup.  Is there a specific part of the inside of the TIU that you need to see?  Is there something I can look at myself and report back?

Thanks for the help!

Engineer-Joe posted:

Make sure you are using a four wire handset cord or it won't work tethered.

If the TIU's red led is not lighting up, none of this matters. You can use just about any 12 volt wall wart just to see if the LED will light. You mentioned the fuses looked good, so you were inside the TIU?

I didn't know there was another kind but I am pretty sure this is a normal (curly) phone cord and is 4 conductor.

I looked around for a wall-wart and all I could find that was even close was a 13v 900ma one.  I tried it and the red led did not light.  I also tried fixed-1 again with 22v from the transformer.  Again, the LED did not light.  (Both tests were with the cover off).

Is there something else I can try or is this TIU:

1. Needing to be sent for repair.

2. DOA and needs to be replaced.

Alan Mancus posted:

when you power up the tiu does the red led inside blink and if so how many times does it blink, usually it should blink 1 time and then stay on. also do you have the dcs turned on for fixed 1 which will make dcs work and then should not start up  in conventional if dcs is turned on if dcs fixed one is turned off it will start up in conventional. also much check that the address is set to one if tiu blink's 1 time and address in remote is set to 1 remote should talk to tiu, another possibility is the transmitter board in the tiu or remote may have come dislodged if tiu was dropped  or remote dropped. you can check this by taking tiu apart and remote to make sure. one if these issues is probably your problem. get back to us and someone can help you if this does not correct your problem. 

best of luck

Alan

p.s. a good thing  to have around is DCS companion is a great book to have for any dcs problems or issued you should purchase Barry's book can purchase thru either ogrforum or mth web sight don't remember which one but is good to have around in a pinch can save you hours of troubling shooting time.

With the cover off, I will go back and check the boards and make sure they haven't worked themselves loose.  Is the remote as easy to open up?  Will I break something if I try?

I do have Barry's newest book that includes all the WiFi info.  I am trying to find my answers there and in the manual too.  I'm just not having a lot of luck.

Thanks for your help, Alan.

I can only guess that something blew inside the TIU so that it's not powering up. A service tech needs to look at it.

I just visually inspected all 4 fuses and they LOOK Ok.  I suppose one could be broken without it being visible.

Did you remove the fuses and inspect them closely? A good fuse, if checked with a continuity meter, will show continuity whereas a blown fuse will not.

If you're not seeing an LED in the TIU lighting with power, no need to open up a remote, you need to fix the TIU.   If the fuses are actually tested good, it sounds like you may need a repair.

Barry Broskowitz posted:

I just visually inspected all 4 fuses and they LOOK Ok.  I suppose one could be broken without it being visible.

Did you remove the fuses and inspect them closely? A good fuse, if checked with a continuity meter, will show continuity whereas a blown fuse will not.

I visually inspected all 4 after removing them.  To be absolutely sure I can test with my multi-meter.  Great point.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

If you're not seeing an LED in the TIU lighting with power, no need to open up a remote, you need to fix the TIU.   If the fuses are actually tested good, it sounds like you may need a repair.

I think I am at the point where it needs a tech.  I am going to visit Cheryl (Charly) and see what she says.  I'd really rather not spend the money to replace it right now but it looks like I might.  We'll see if she can work some magic.

I would send the tiu to Marty Fitzhenry or GGG either mth asc tech are excellent and will fix it correctly and for  fair price!

Alan

Alan Mancus posted:

I would send the tiu to Marty Fitzhenry or GGG either mth asc tech are excellent and will fix it correctly and for  fair price!

Alan

UPDATE:
I did take it to Cheryl and we confirmed what I had done before as well as tested some things I was not able to. 

• Most notably we did continuity testing on each of the 4 fuses and confirmed that they are all good. 
• We also plugged a proper transformer into the aux port and verified that the LED did not light up. 
• We also plugged several known good transformers into fixed-1 and verified that none of them powered the LED.
• Cheryl checked that there were no obvious broken wires and that everything was where it ought to be and tight.

I'll contact GGG and Marty to see what they say.  Thanks for the help everyone.  I appreciate it very much.

your welcome n best of luck, hope you get it fixed quickly.

Alan