Got a strange problem with MTH TIU system

Check output voltages and start swapping in different Channels.  Which ever tiu output works for your ho try on a o loop to see if you can get a engine added. You may have blown a fuse, lost dcs signal on an output, or have some other issue.  Need to start eliminating issues.  G

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?

Do the O gauge engines come up in conventional when you power up the tracks?

 

You maybe want to move this thread to the DCS section, as you will likely get better coverage there, and it won't get lost in the back pages as fast as here. IMO

 

Rod

Another suggestion is not to fool around with the fonts of the message.  I find it very hard to read that post.

 

I assumed you were using different tiu outputs between o and ho.  Are you using DC power? If so orientation matters. Otherwise, use the tiu output powering your oh track (fix or var 1/2).  just make sure you move power supplies to, and fix 1 must be powered.  G

The O guage engines do not power up at all when the track is powered.

 

I use AC power for all.  Its one of the reasons I went with MTH since their HO engines can also run on AC.

 

One other thing, how do you move a topic?

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

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

Must have gotten a package deal because mine came with a 1000 watt PS.   I did watch the TIU light like you said.  I did see a flash when it came on.  It stayed solid after that despite me trying to add an engine.   I also added a powered car to verify the track has power.   See pics

1,000 watts?  I really doubt that!  Perhaps you're thinking of the Z1000 which is a 100 watt supply.

 

Sorry yes.  Typo

Picture shows the Fix one being used which is good.  I would make sure red is attached to center rail, and only power on loop and one engine at a time to see what is up.  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.

 

 

When I got home tonight my new engine had arrived.   It was found immediately and works great so something had to happen to the other 2 engines when that big boy failed.  Does anyone know if there is a way to do a hard reset on the other 2?

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.

 

 

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

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?

Should be no issues I keep boards in stock and I don't have a backlog at this time.  G

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

 

 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/

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).

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

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.

I tried like heck to disable the DCS off the track but every time I went to that section I oculd never ever get the "channel 1 off"   I turned it all off but when I went back to raise the voltage it was stuck on an engine I already programmed so it would keep saying "engine not on track" or something similar.

Success!   I bought a z750 controller and it reset the 2 engines so I'm back in business!

 

Thanks to everyone for their help!

 

Now to sell the Premiere Big Boy...