adding 2nd track to tiu fixed 2 input

Fixed 2 input should be straight through to fixed 2 output, no variable involved?

yes that is what I get but I do not get control of engine.  The engine comes on by itself on fixed 2. No control with handheld on that track.

Is the DCS signal turned on to fixed 2? There is an all command to turn it on for all channels, but I can't tell you what it is without looking it up...haven't used it in 3-4 years.

I am sure that is what it is as I have been looking in the book but do not find a all back to factory in the book and all the resets in the menu are vague to me and I do not want to screw it up as fixed 1 still works great.

Menu>systen>DCS setup..gets you into channel settings.

How do you vary the voltage on fixed 2?  I you are not powering TIU thru AUX port, turning off FIXED 1 will unpower the TIU.  Loco will start in conventional.

engine comes on on input 2 fixed as voltage gets through with out signal so engine sits there in the on position but no movement or anything as there are no command signals just voltage.  Is the voltage supposed to not get through the tiu fixed 2 if it is not turned on?  please someone tell me how to turn on fixed 2 so it will work in command.

Voltage will pass a Fixed circuit regardless of whether TIU is powered.

You said you get variable voltage through FIXED 2.  How do you vary it?  If with the transformer, that's normal.

One the remote, go to menu/system/DCS setup:  Then pick the TIU # if you have more than 1.  List of channels will be displayed.  scroll to the FIXED 2 channel and press softkey 1.  This is described on page 45 of Barry's book, 2nd Ed.

Is your engine in your remote on the active list?

Willy, if it starts right up when power applied to FIXED 2 input, I don't believe it matters whether or not it is in active list.

Does it start in watch dog with a relay click or does it start with sounds?

Menu, System, DCS Setup, hit the AON softkey, that's the middle key, S3.  That will turn DCS on all the channels.

If it still comes up with sound as soon as power is provided to the INPUT of Fixed #2, you have a DCS signal issue.  Remember, the watchdog is sent when the power comes up on a specific channel.  If there's already power on the channel and you switch the track power, like on a siding, the engine will start as you indicate.

Lets assume the tiu is turned on with power to fixed 1. Guns has given the command to turn the signal on to all the channels.  The only other thing might be a reversed feeder wire from  Fixed 2 out.  RED  must always go to the center rail. 

Follow what GRJ says, he also has a very good point about the watchdog signal and when it is sent. If the TIU is already on when you power the track, you have to hit start up or shut down on your remote for which ever engine you are working with. Some of the newer PS3 engines will start up when you turn the thumbwheel.  

Maybe the problem is he is NOT powering up the TIU first by applying power to input #1 while trying to use input #2.  If he does not power up the TIU first, either from input #1 or the AUX input, I believe the effects will be as he describes. 

I believe that the watchdog signal is sent, not when the TIU itself it powered up, but when power is first applied to the particular channel after the TIU is powered up.  At least, I think I recall one of the hi-tech gurus saying that.  If I'm having another senior moment, I'll be shot down rather quickly.

Watchdog signal is sent when the TIU is powered up . If you turn on power to Fixed 2 only you will not get a watchdog signal. You need to supply power to the TIU thru either the AUX or Fixed 1

RJR, That is the way I understand it to work also.  If you power up through input #1, the TIU powers up then sends the watchdog signal through channel #1.  The other channels send the watchdog signal as power is applied to them as long as the TIU is powered first from either input #1 or AUX power.

Matt, your first sentence sent me back to The Source. I can read your sentence as saying the watchdog is only sent if the TIU is powered up, which of course is true, or that the watchdog signals are sent at the time the TIU is powered up.

Page 25 of Barry's book, 2nd Ed., says, "The TIU sends out a watchdog signal whenever the output of a TIU channel changes from zero to any higher voltage."  He also says if voltage is applied too slowly, as raising the transformer handle slowly, the loco's electronics may not have powered up in time to catch it.  See also page 97, where he repeats it.

Of course is the TIU is not powered up, applying voltage to the output or input of FIXED 2 will not send a watchdog.

Edit:  Brian my post crossed yours.  I agree.

Ok no power is applied to fixed 1 as that layout is not being used.  If fixed 2 does not get a watchdog signal how are you supposed to use tiu fixed 2.  Do I need to apply power to tiu so I can have watchdog signal get to fixed 2 without fixed 1 powered.

Yes.  Easiest and best approach is to use a wall wart to power the TIU through AUX port

Thanks for the help.  That is the problem as I had no p ower going to input1 so no watchdog signal.  When I turned power to input 2 the watchdog signal was not there and the tiu was not on.  If I have power to input 1 when I turn on the transformer, I can then ad power to input 2 when I want and call up engine on that layout when I want and it works like normal.  I do not want power on both layouts at both times so how much external voltage do I need to have to keep tiu on at all times without transformer on so watchdog signal is on and I can just turn on input 2 when I run that layout.  Does mth make a wall wort for that purpose of can I get a aftermarket one and what voltage amt and I assume DC voltage. 

Step one.  Ensure TIU is powered via AUX Port or Fixed 1 (even if your not using output of fixed 1.

Step two apply power to Fixed 2.  When power is applied a watchdog signal will be sent on Fixed 2.  Depending on how you power up the FIX 2 input could effect whether the watch dog is seen.

Step 3 if any engines start up on fixed 2 try to gain control and either use shutdown or start up and operate them.  If they respond, all is well.

If not, Fix 2 could be damaged.   G

Ironlake, ac or dc will work.  No more than 18 volts.  If you have no AIUs, a 1 amp capacity should be adequate.  With several AIUs and accessory circuits left on, more is needed.  MTH lists one but I don't think it is available yet.  I have 2 TIUs, one of which has 3 AIUs but I don't use accessory terminals.  Eac TIU is powered by a Radio Shack 18 volt wall wart.  

An alternative is to put a toggle switch in the output feed of Fixed 1, but when you turn it on, there will be no watchdog signal.

Which is specifically what I said.

Remember, the watchdog is sent when the power comes up on a specific channel.

Obviously, the TIU has to have internal power from either the aux input or fixed #1 input, but he stated he already has that.

Obviously, the TIU has to have internal power from either the aux input or fixed #1 input, but he stated he already has that.

That is the problem as I had no p ower going to input1 so no watchdog signal.

His latest post isn't consistent with our statement.

Which is specifically what I said.

Glad you got it right.  If you read the thread, there were some statements possibly to the contrary.

The OP has his problem solved.  The horse is dead.  Let's stop beating it.

"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place."

          ---George Bernard Shaw