New to DCS - CHECK TRACK error message

[Simbo69]

Hi.  I am new to DCS, just having set up my TIU two weeks ago.  I have 2 PS2 engines, 2 TMCC engines, and 4 conventional.  I have two main lines each powered by a 180W Lionel brick, connected to VARIABLE track 1 and VAR track 2 feeding out via VAR 1 out and VAR 2 out to each main line. I have a TMCC command base connected to the TIU with the MTH cable, and the TMCC ground wire is connected to ground at both VAR outputs.  Power supply wiring is home run - 16 gauge, using MTH terminal blocks for each main line.

 When I first set it up, the two PS2 engines ran just fine in command mode.  I set up the two TMCC engines and they ran flawlessly.  Conventional engines run great on the variable track voltage.  When I set up the PS2 engines today, the TIU was not seeing them at all. As soon as I power up the tracks (TRK, ALL, TPF, to power both tracks to full power), the engines start right up in conventional mode.  They're supposed to wait for a start command from the remote - both engines are doing the same thing.  The remote reports no DCS engines found.  I hit 'read' and again, no DCS engines found.  I checked all the wiring, tried using the Fixed Voltage inlet and outlets, tried with the TMCC disconnected, tried an 18V bulb at the the terminal block output, and followed all the suggestions in the troubleshooting section. Nothing worked.

It appears that my TIU is not putting out DCS signal on any channel.  Is there an internal fuse or something that could've kicked out?  Am I doing something wrong???

Thanks for your patience reading this long post.

[dbaker48]

 Not sure I understand correctly, but when you power up DCS, are you "ramping up" the power?  If so try setting the transformer output up to min of 16v before applying power.  The engines may be seeing the low voltage and signal first, causing them to power up in the conventional mode.  Obviously, dont have any of the conventional on the track at the same time.  If problem persists send me a private message, I may have another suggestion.

[n1vets333]

A few things, if your tmcc engines are also on the track they can cause interfeerence with the DCS signal. There is a fix where an RF Choke can be wired in to prevent this.

 To answer your last question yes there is an internal fuse as long as you don't have the first revision of the tiu released by MTH. Unscrew the six screws holding the TIU case together and you will see 4 20amp fuses across each output. These are regular auto fuses and can be bought at pep boys or other auto supply stores.

  For me personally I usually get this message when trying to run tmcc and dcs at the same time. For whatever reason the DCS signal doesn't like certain tmcc engines at all, when others it will work with fine. I have never tried the RF Choke but others will tell you it is a simple solution. Hope this helps.

[Simbo69]

Thanks for your responses - this forum is such a great resource of expert help!

I am in the near-west Chicago Suburbs - Berwyn Toys and Trains is my local shop. They supplied the DCS system, and after running through all the troubleshooting suggestions in the manual, and trying to get DCS engines to come up even on a programming track, I called them and they had me bring the  TIU in to them.  What they found was enlightening.  With MTH service on the phone, they could not get a DCS signal out of my TIU.  Since it is new, they went to replace it with another TIU and that unit was bad too!  So I'm waiting for a replacement TIU to come from MTH.  It was a hardware problem and it appears that there are a few TIUs out there with this problem.

I was running both TMCC and conventional engines, even at the same time, using the VARIABLE channels exclusively with no problems. I now power up the VAR tracks by using the "ALL" command to bring all tracks to 18V at once.  Seems to me that DCS engines would see that in the same way it sees the FIXED channels?  Can running DCS engines on the VARIABLE channels cause a problem for my TIU?  I will keep in mind that DCS may not like all TMCC engines and I don't believe I had tried running TMCC and DCS at the same time.

I also learned that I should always power up the TIU (I use aux power) before powering the track to make sure the TIU is supplying DCS signal to the track before the engines receive power - so they do not erroneously come up in conventional mode.  I'm excited to get my TIU back and running again.

Thanks again!

[dbaker48]

Simbo69

Thanks for your responses - this forum is such a great resource of expert (?? hardly, speaking for myself), help!

Since it is new, they went to replace it with another TIU and that unit was bad too!  So I'm waiting for a replacement TIU to come from MTH.  It was a hardware problem and it appears that there are a few TIUs out there with this problem.  This could really be bad for MTH, I believe they just got a new version of TIU's, hope it is NOT a common problem.

I was running both TMCC and conventional engines, even at the same time, using the VARIABLE channels exclusively with no problems. I now power up the VAR tracks by using the "ALL" command to bring all tracks to 18V at once. I am using a Lionel ZW transformer, and have all the xfmr outputs set to 18v, going into the TIU.  I then have the variable tracks also set at 18v on start up, to ensure the DCS & TMCC/Legacy always start in command mode.

Seems to me that DCS engines would see that in the same way it sees the FIXED channels?  Can running DCS engines on the VARIABLE channels cause a problem for my TIU?  If the track is powered via the variable and starts at 0v, then you ramp up the voltage, the engines will most likely start in conventional mode first.  

I will keep in mind that DCS may not like all TMCC engines and I don't believe I had tried running TMCC and DCS at the same time.  You should not have a problem running them together, it does require that you have minimally a special cable, and a TMCC Command Base.  I have not run across any TMCC engine that I cannot run WITH the DCS also running.

I also learned that I should always power up the TIU (I use aux power) before powering the track to make sure the TIU is supplying DCS signal to the track before the engines receive power - so they do not erroneously come up in conventional mode. True, that is very important.

I'm excited to get my TIU back and running again.  I concur, lots of fun hours ahead, good luck!

Thanks again!

 

[Simbo69]

Just as an update, I returned my TIU to MTH over a week ago and no word yet.  I'm concerned that MTH may have a bad lot of TIUs in their stock.  Has anyone else ran into TIU problems with newer units?