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Hi guys,
 
I've got the strangest issue. I have 4 tracks, 3 O one HO all MTH running the TIU interface. One of my engines (O gauge Big Boy) began having issues after I got it back from MTH for repairs not running smoothly and after a foot of track it stopped completely. I had 2 other MTH O gauge engines running at the time and one HO and after about 2 minutes from when the one with mechanical problems failed, they stopped as well. When I tried to run the 2 O gauge not effected the TIU remote said they weren't on the track. I tried deleting them and adding them back to no avail.   They wont power up and the TIU continues to say they aren't on the track anywhere.  I even reset the TIU and remote and while it can find the HO train it still cannot find either of the O gauge engines.  And the HO has moved from being assigned to 5 to now 1 since its the only one.   If anyone has a clue on what to try I'm all ears. MTH is clueless on what the problem is their subject matter experts aren't in until next Tuesday
I've reset the TIU and the remote.   Neither made any difference.   The only train its allowing me to add back is the HO big boy but I can't believe 2 other O gauge engines both have mechanical problems when they showed none up to this point. I've run this setup successfully for years with no issues.   Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

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Appreciate the feedback.  Quick question.   I'm not sure how to swap different channels.   Up to this point I've only used the System>Add MTH Engine   process.    I've tried separating the HO track and removing all other engines except the one I want added and I get the same error message that no engine is on the track.    Its like the TIU is intentionally passing over those 2 engines and I don't have any others to try.

 

If I had a blown fuse wouldn't that keep the HO engine from being added?

Originally Posted by Ralph4014:

First question that comes to mind is your HO bigboy a 3E+? If it's not you can't run that with AC pwoer especially through the TIU. You need to run it with DC. The TIU does not modulate the power as a DCC system does. Then it requires Marklin 3 rail HO track.

 

Ralph

It is.   Its brand new.   The other engines are also proto 3.0

Originally Posted by Ralph4014:

OK good. Are you trying to use one channel for all four or one channel per loop? What power supplies are you using?

 

Ralph

Just the power supply that came with the TIU.   As far as the channels go all 4 tracks plug into the Fixed DCS 1

 

I'm sorry I'm a little slow on the tech side.    More noob when it comes to setting this stuff up.

 

Here's a video of my layout if it helps.

 

The tiu doesn't come with a power supply.  regardless, best to simplify and connect one o gauge loop to fix1 output with power supply connected to fixed 1 input.  Make sure red goes to center rail.  Place one engine on track, power up tiu by turning on power supply. Should see internal red light flash once and stay lite.  the engine should stay silent.  Add mth engine, and it should get added and come up in the remote.  Press startup.  Engine should start up and function with remote.  G

One minor update.    I took one of the engines not responding to a local train store.   They put it on the track, applied power and the only thing that worked was the whistle and the whistle stuck a few times for them.  No movement whatsoever.  Didn't recognize the controller they were using.  It was black about 5x5 inches and had a cord connected to the track.   They felt (not being MTH dealer) that the engine needed to be reset but you can't do that on MTH if it can't find the engine at least as far as I know.

 

I really would like these to work for the kids this Christmas.   Should I try to reach out to a MTH service center (nothing local to Dallas) and see if they can fix it if its just a reset??

Seems you have all 4 loops on one tiu channel. I'm not sure but just because you can run the ho engine doesn't mean that fixed 1 is operating as it should.

 

Did you try as GGG suggested... just power one loop with one engine. This  means disconnecting   3 reds from the terminal strip. one red for each loop (leave the blacks connected )

 

It's possible Fixed 1  is faulty but for now try one loop  and one engine.

 

Yes it's possible to do a conventional reset(fast whistle and bell combination) with a brick as a power supply, it's complicated though.

 

If fixed 1 doesn't work , try fixed 2.  remember the tiu need a power supply to turn on. power to fixed 1 or an aux power supply.

 

To try fixed 2.... you would need to jumper the red from fixed 1 IN over to fixed 2 in. same thing with the black. Fixed 1 in over to fixed 2 in.

 

Fixed 2 out would now go to the terminal block

 

Surely we can get something running besides the ho engine.

 

 

You can use the remote with one engine at a time and do a "recover engine"  This will find the engine if the address got scrambled and wound up out side the 0-99 range.

 

You can also try a conventional reset as Gregg said, 1W and 5B in rapid succession with a MTH transformer.

 

I am a MTH ASC n VA if you have nothing local.  If your comfortable removing the shells and taking boards out, I can test and reset with just the boards.  Saves on shipping.  Or send the units.   E-mail is in my profile.  G

Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:

The only "hard" reset would be if you manage to find them you can do a factory reset on them.

 

One other thing to try is searching for a "lost engine", that has worked a couple of times for me when I couldn't find one.  If you find them, I'd probably consider doing the factory reset on them to start out fresh.

 

 

I appreacite that and I tried it but the engines were still not found.

Originally Posted by GGG:

You can use the remote with one engine at a time and do a "recover engine"  This will find the engine if the address got scrambled and wound up out side the 0-99 range.

 

You can also try a conventional reset as Gregg said, 1W and 5B in rapid succession with a MTH transformer.

 

I am a MTH ASC n VA if you have nothing local.  If your comfortable removing the shells and taking boards out, I can test and reset with just the boards.  Saves on shipping.  Or send the units.   E-mail is in my profile.  G

I'm going to talk to MTH's tech support tomorrow and if they conclude they must be reset by a service center expect an email

 

But for safety's sake I will probably ship you both engines.  I dont trust my taking them apart.   Any issue with getting them back by Christmas?

Talked to MTH.  They of course are stumped.   What they did suggest was to get a regular MTH controller and do a standard reset. 1 whistle then 5 horns and see if that can reset it.

 

I put in an order today for the standard controller and will have it by Friday.  If not they both have to go in for repairs

 

I did hear back on the Big Boy.  They claimed the only thing wrong was the engine screw was loose and they tightened it down.    Strange but ok.  Regardless I'm selling that Big Boy.   I just dont have enough track for him.

 

One strange question.  The MTH guy said my HO big boy wont run on AC power.   I thought they did and it hasn't had any trouble.  Can anyone confirm?

 

http://mthtrains.com/content/80-3209-1

 

Last edited by texmaster

 Conventional reset when you only have a  a brick as a power suppl;y

 

Set up var channel in var mode

 

turn off dcs signal to that channel

 

use dcs remote to scroll up the voltage to around 10

 

use dcs remote's horn & bell button to  do the w/b combination

 

Works great....   most of this is under Menu/system/ dcs set up/

Originally Posted by texmaster:

One strange question.  The MTH guy said my HO big boy wont run on AC power.   I thought they did and it hasn't had any trouble.  Can anyone confirm?

 

http://mthtrains.com/content/80-3209-1

 

The last line in your link says:

 

"New for 2011 is the addition of an AC 3-Rail Marklin system version for those who prefer to run their HO locomotives under the Marklin operating system"

 

The AC Marklin system I'm familiar with is similar to O-gauge conventional but uses a high track voltage pulse to switch directions (rather than momentarily removing track voltage).

Originally Posted by Gregg:

 Conventional reset when you only have a  a brick as a power suppl;y

 

Set up var channel in var mode

 

turn off dcs signal to that channel

 

use dcs remote to scroll up the voltage to around 10

 

use dcs remote's horn & bell button to  do the w/b combination

 

Works great....   most of this is under Menu/system/ dcs set up/

So I need to physically plug the TIU to variable to perform this?

Originally Posted by stan2004:
Originally Posted by texmaster:

One strange question.  The MTH guy said my HO big boy wont run on AC power.   I thought they did and it hasn't had any trouble.  Can anyone confirm?

 

http://mthtrains.com/content/80-3209-1

 

The last line in your link says:

 

"New for 2011 is the addition of an AC 3-Rail Marklin system version for those who prefer to run their HO locomotives under the Marklin operating system"

 

The AC Marklin system I'm familiar with is similar to O-gauge conventional but uses a high track voltage pulse to switch directions (rather than momentarily removing track voltage).

I guess I can't then since I'm using 2 rail track.

 

Its confusing though because it seems to be running fine.  All bells and whistles work and it was found easily.

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