DCS and TMCC - what? No bells or whistles?

Success and joy is not coming easily, actually not at all. First replies:

Are you only using the Fixed 1 channel? Unless you have a Rev G TIU you should jumper the TMCC ground wire to all channels being used.

I am only using Fixed 1 channel

Did you power ON the TMCC Command Base before powering the track? Is the TMCC ground wire somehow connected to the outside rail of the track on which the engine is setting

The Command Base is plugged in to a power strip and powers up separately from track power. Initially, I connected the TMCC "one wire" to the Fixed 1 output - no joy. I then connected the "one wire" directly to the track - no joy.

You haven't followed all of the direction. If you don't know the TMCC command number you must follow the procedure to SET one

I am almost to the point of being able to recite Barrry's instructions without the book. Each time the TMCC number comes up with three choices: 1 or 2 or 3. I selected "1" and after editing I get the messagee "done."

My MTH DCS engines operate fine.

Here's another strange happening. The TMCC engine seems to think its in Conventional mode. As I power up the Z4000, the engine starts and plays the idle engine sounds. Powering down, shuts down the engine. Obviously, the engine is not getting the command signal nor being set up to react to the DCS Handheld buttons.

Selecting "AX1" or "AX2" doesn't seem to make a difference - no response- no joy.

So the ball is still in my corner. What am I missing?

 Is the base grounded?

Grounded?  I have the "one wire" connected and the serial ports connected, but haven't heard about grounding the TMCC base.  How?

The Command Base is plugged in to a power strip and powers up separately from track power. Initially, I connected the TMCC "one wire" to the Fixed 1 output - no joy. I then connected the "one wire" directly to the track - no joy.

The command base must be up at the same time as track power or before track power, not after. Your TMCC engine should not start up with sounds.

The way things are now, the Command base powers up before track power is applied.  The engine starts up with sounds as soon as the Z4000 handle is moved up and voltage is applied - just as if the engine were in conventional mode.

I reconnected the cable and  the "one wire" but the engine starts up the same way but the headlight blinks on and off,

  Faulty command base or faulty engine? Does the power adapter (power supply ) that plugs into the command base have 3 prongs?

Actually, the screen can only display three lines at a time.  You can scroll down to what ever the TMCC adress is.  If you don't know the TMCC number enter any number and complete the ADD Engine procedure.  THEN, go back and go through the EDIT ENGINE procedure and follow the on screen prompts to set the TMCC address to what ever number you desire, e.g. the last two digits of the engine's numbers.

Is your TMCC Command Base powered by the original equipment 3-pronged wall wart.  That is an absolute requirement.  Is the wall part plugged into a properly ground three prong outlet.  That is also an absolute requirement.  Always power the TMCC Command Base before track power is appllied.

Just so we're clear, page 29 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition states:

To add a new TMCC engine, use the thumbwheel to scroll to ADD TMCC ENGINE and press the thumbwheel to select it

• Use the on-screen keyboard to name the TMCC engine. Scroll the thumbwheel to each 

character in the name and press the thumbwheel to add the character. Scroll to D on 

the bottom row, right end of the keyboard and press the thumbwheel to save the TMCC 

engine's name

• A list of TMCC engine addresses is displayed.

• Use the thumbwheel to scroll to the number of the TMCC engine. Note that this is not the DCS ID# that is assigned by DCS to each engine in the DCS Remote. It is the TMCC engine ID#

• Press the thumbwheel to assign the TMCC engine ID#

• If there is more than one active TIU, a screen will display requesting to which TIU the engine should be assigned. Using the thumbwheel, scroll to the TIU to which the Lionel Command Base is attached and press the thumbwheel to select it

• A message is displayed indicating that the engine has been added to the DCS Remote and the ENGINE SETUP menu is displayed

Nowhere does it state that you're limited to only engine numbers 1, 2 or 3.

Just in case it helps, here is a wiring diagram for integrating the command base with a DCS system.

Rod 

first the replies then the accolades:

Is your TMCC Command Base powered by the original equipment 3-pronged wall wart.  That is an absolute requirement.  Is the wall part plugged into a properly ground three prong outlet.  That is also an absolute requirement.  Always power the TMCC Command Base before track power is appllied.

Yes.  The wall part is original. I even plugged it into a wall plug separate from the surge protector. The TMCC Command powers up before track power.

Actually, the screen can only display three lines at a time.  You can scroll down to what ever the TMCC adress is.  If you don't know the TMCC number enter any number and complete the ADD Engine procedure.

I scrolled through all 99 numbers and the engine address did not show up anywhere except for #1 which I left alone.

Strangely, when I depressed the "shut down" button, the horn  blew, and it did depressing button #4 and #5,  The direction button worked but no other buttons.

Then JOY! I brought up the engine to show on the screen, held down the green

-"ENG" button and touched the number "1" button  - guessing "1" was the TMCC number.

  Joy - the command base and the engine found each other. " Start up" and "shut down" works as do  the bell and whistle buttons. Getting the engine to move is a little different than an MTH controlled engine

THANK YOU ALL!

Your help, Gentlemen, brought joy to the layout.  Thank you for your patience and guidance. I have one more TMCC locomotive to add, but I think things will go well.

My next challenge will be adding a Z4K track to operate a conventional engine using the DCS handheld. The diagrams make the installation seem feasible, but knowing me . . .  .

(Barry?  Thanks for putting your book together and making it available..  The book is an amazing source for railroaders regardless of their level of expertise.&nbsp

I don't think you're grasping the ADD procedure for a TMCC engine.  In this step you're telling DCS what TMCC address to associate with the name you just created.  The DCS will never "find" the TMCC engine or address because TMCC doesn't "talk" to the DCS, it only "listens".  If you don't know the TMCC address, just pick an address number, and then go to the Edit Engine procedure and set that TMCC engine to the TMCC address you picked.

Here's a tip for understanding adding a TMCC engine to DCS.  You don't have to have the engine on the track.  The engine doesn't even have to be in the same county or state as the DCS.  You're only entering data into the DCS Remote.

If you had two TMCC engines on the track, and both engines switched to PGM, and if you then added them to the remote using some number, both engines would respond as one, right?

Just wondering - not suggesting this is practical for any reason.

Something similar would be messy with DCS since DCS engines talk back, and two engines talking back because they responded to the same engine number would likely create confusion or perhaps not work at all?

Mike

I think most folks who add TMCC engines to DCS usually use the last 2 digits of the road number as the address.  From what I've read all/most engines come from the factory assigned address 1.

I have 2 E7s, 1st is 3029 and 2nd is 3039.  Their addresses would be 29 and 39.

After you add the engine, turn off the system and put the Run/Program switch in Program and place the engine back on the track.  Turn the power on and EDIT the engine.  When you are in the EDIT menu it'll ask you for the address and you scroll down to the number you want to assign to it and select it.

Some people actually do this as an alternative to configuring an MU for multiple engines.

Rod Stewart,

   That is the best diagram for setting up the DCS & Lionel Command base I have ever seen, did you make it or is it out of a publication I have not seen?

PCRR/Dave