Can not add engine to DCS, will run conv. only

Try the recover engine using DCS.  G

Have you tried the "Recover Engine" function?  If you have Barry's book, it's on page 39.

 engines are stored in the remote. Is it in the inactive list?

The click is normal. The TIU is sending signal telling the engine not to do anything until told.

 The red stop button on the remote kills power to both the remote and the TIU in emergencies.

 If you do a remote reset, you will erase everything.

If you have a computer hooked up, you could use the loader to help find the engine's ID #. Then, you could move any engine or consist out of that address with the edit engine feature, if that's causing a conflict.

Jason,

 

As GGG and John suggested, try to recover the engine.

 

From pages 39-40 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

Under DCS 4.10 or higher, to recover a PS2 engine that has a DCS ID# that's outside of the normal range, proceed as follows

• Set the engine on a piece of track controlled by TIU #1. The Recover Engine feature only works with TIU #1. You must not have any other engines powered up on any track connected to TIU #1 while attempting to recover an engine

• Apply power to TIU #1

• Power on the DCS Remote 

• Press the Menu button and use the thumbwheel to scroll to SYSTEM. Press the thumbwheel to select it

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to RECOVER ENGINE. Press the thumbwheel to select it

• The remote will display "Attempting Recovery of Lost Engine, Please wait!!!"

• If the remote is able to recover the engine it will display "Engine Recovered" and return to the Engine Setup menu. The newly recovered engine will be automatically Factory Reset by the remote. Refer to section DCS Menus, Advanced Menu later in this book for an explanation of the Factory Reset command

• Turn TIU #1 off and then back on

• The engine may now be added to the DCS remote using the ADD ENGINE command as described in section DCS Menus, System Menu earlier in this book

• If the remote is unable to recover the engine it will display "No Engine Recovered" and then return to the Engine Setup menu. If this occurs, then there may be an issue with this particular engine. Contact your local service center or MTH for service options.

 

This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", now available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book from MTH's web store site! Click on the link below to go to MTH's web page for the book!

Yay!!! The recover engine function did it!!!  That option wasn't there before, I'm assuming it came with the updated firmware. You guys are awesome!!!  I'll definitely check out this book that you mentioned.

I tried the emergency stop button, that definitely killed the track power. Is there any way to restore track power from the remote?  I'm trying to figure out the easiest way to swap engines.

When you press the emergency stop button, you have to power cycle both the remote and the TIU.  It's really only for emergencies.

 

For the variable channels, you can use the TR button, select the channel, and press the TZV softkey, that kills power to that track.  You'll have to manually crank it back up on the remote, but it would work all from the remote.

 

Jason,

I tried the emergency stop button, that definitely killed the track power. Is there any way to restore track power from the remote?

Yes, there are two ways to do so:

• One, as John says, is to use the Variable Channels
• If you're using a Z4000 transformer, the second way is to set up Z4K Tracks for all of your channels, both Fixed and Variable.

This, also, is discussed in detail in The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition.

 

 

Barry, you need the Z4000 remote module to use the transformer method, right?

John,

you need the Z4000 remote module to use the transformer method, right?

That's correct.

Thanks everyone for your help!  I think I'll wire up a switch on the track power feed, so I can swap out engines.  Either that or pony up for a turntable

--J