TIU was working fine - now it’s not

What did you change on your remote to access your son's TIU?  I can't figure why your son's wouldn't work; I have often exchanged TIUs.  Second mistake was resetting the remote.  First was not backing the remote up to a computer.  On remote, be sure that DCS signal is turned on.

I don’t think it’s a problem with the remote as it seems to be seeing and communicating with the TIU.  The issue seems to be within the TIU and that’s what has me puzzled.  Power is getting to the track just fine but, there doesn’t appear to be a DCS signal reaching the track.  Since I can’t get an engine to load I can’t test the signal strength but, when I checked signal strength on my layout Friday, it was a 10 the whole way around.

Of course, that was then and this is now. 🤷

I’ll add one more quirk to this; engines that had been in my TIU before I did the factory reset won’t run now - even in conventional.  I even tried three of them on a test track wired to an MTH Z1000 and zip.

Curt

Did you do as I said:  In remote turn on DCS signal.

Resetting the remote wiper stuff out.  Never reset a remote unless you've backed it up first.

@juniata guy posted:

I’ll add one more quirk to this; engines that had been in my TIU before I did the factory reset won’t run now - even in conventional.  I even tried three of them on a test track wired to an MTH Z1000 and zip.

Curt

If they won't run in conventional, no use looking any further. Do they do anything on powered track? ( no TIU in the chain!)

Try a conventional reset on one, using only the Z1000 with no TIU in circuit.

@RJR posted:

Try a conventional reset on one, using only the Z1000 with no TIU in circuit.

What are the steps to perform a conventional reset using the Z1000? Thanks I’m advance!

Joe; they start up - the horn and bell function but, pressing the directional button or using the transformer handle do nothing.  I’m wondering if I placed these PS3 engines on a friends DCS equipped layout and did a factory reset if that would restore to at least conventional operation?  May need to try that this week.

I have a sense I’m overlooking something obvious here which is nagging me.

Thanks!

Curt

With no TIU in circuit and only one loco on a powered track.  Put voltage to above 10.  Press whistle button once followed by 5 bell button pushes at half-second intervals.  Timing is critical.  If you succeed, two toots.  If not, try again.  I'd try the Z4000.

I would not try factory resetting at this point. 

How do you power your TIU?  Through AUX port?

I agree there's some obvious omission.  Still don't know why son's TIU wouldn't work.  It should have, if set to same ID address as yours.

Have you in your remote turned on the DCS signal????????

@RJR posted:

With no TIU in circuit and only one loco on a powered track.  Put voltage to above 10.  Press whistle button once followed by 5 bell button pushes at half-second intervals.  Timing is critical.  If you succeed, two toots.  If not, try again.  I'd try the Z4000.

I would not try factory resetting at this point. 

How do you power your TIU?  Through AUX port?

ANSWER: Power is supplied from the WiFi unit via the cable. Plugs into the top of the TIU.

I agree there's some obvious omission.  Still don't know why son's TIU wouldn't work.  It should have, if set to same ID address as yours.

Have you in your remote turned on the DCS signal????????

ANSWER: I’m not clear on this.  The remote appears to be linked to the TIU since it can read the firmware version.  I’m assuming this would be from the System category but, I’m not seeing anything that indicates turning on a DCS signal.

Edit to add I’ve scrolled to DCS SETUP; and clicked on All Outputs On.  Still get no engine found.

the power from the WIFI is not enough to run the TIU!

You must power the TIU from fixed #1 or the aux power in!

I guess OP pulled the post where he mentioned wifi.  I don't have a remote handy, but under the menus there is an item to turn the DCS signal on or off.  Under Menu go to system then DCS setup, and you'll find an item to turn the DCS signal on or off on the individual tracks.

Joe:

This is pretty much how I’ve done it since I bought the WiFi unit a few years back.  Now; I do have connections from the transformer into both fixed one and two but, I believe the TIU powers up only when I turn on the power bar the WiFi is plugged into.  After turning the power bar on, I then turn the transformer on.

Just as a quick test, I ran downstairs and disconnected the cable between the WiFi and the TIU.  When I turned the transformer on, the LED in the TIU did not illuminate so it obviously wasn’t drawing any power from the transformer.  As soon as I plugged in the cable between the TIU and WiFi, the LED in the TIU came on. Not sure if that’s important or not.  🤔

Curt

@RJR posted:

I guess OP pulled the post where he mentioned wifi.  I don't have a remote handy, but under the menus there is an item to turn the DCS signal on or off.  Under Menu go to system then DCS setup, and you'll find an item to turn the DCS signal on or off on the individual tracks.

Thanks!  I’ll try that tomorrow.  I’ve put about seven hours in downstairs today and really need to just walk away from it for awhile.

Edit:  Actually I’m pretty sure I did that. I remember clicking the soft key under AON (All On).

Curt

The wifi may supply enough power to let the led light and maybe some minor functions, but not full tiu operation.  Your tiu probably has been running on power from FIXED 1.

Just a hunch... you don’t have the inputs and outputs reversed do you?

@juniata guy posted:

Thanks!  I’ll try that tomorrow.  I’ve put about seven hours in downstairs today and really need to just walk away from it for awhile.

Edit:  Actually I’m pretty sure I did that. I remember clicking the soft key under AON (All On).

Curt

It’s under menu, system, DCS setup.

@Engineer-Joe posted:

the power from the WIFI is not enough to run the TIU!

You must power the TIU from fixed #1 or the aux power in!

You must power the TIU from fixed #1 or the aux power in!

@Engineer-Joe posted:

You must power the TIU from fixed #1 or the aux power in!

He might have missed that Joe.   Let's try again...

You must power the TIU from fixed #1 or the aux power in!

@rplst8 posted:

Just a hunch... you don’t have the inputs and outputs reversed do you?

No sir.  I’ve got inputs and outputs labeled.  And trust me; I’ve probably gone back and double checked that at least twenty times today.  😉

Curt