HELP - DCS power and power interrupt question

HI Jim,

I'm guessing the DCS signal is present everywhere, but that there's not watchdog signal for engines on that siding/section to see.   The TIU sends out a signal few a couple of seconds when power initially hits the interface - to get the newly powered engines to come up, I think you need to do a "Read" from the DCS remote - I believe that generates another watchdog for the engines.  

There might be another solution to this, but hopefully someone more knowledgeable than me can elaborate on it.  

The watchdog signal is sent one time when power is sent to the TIU channel. Subsequent power to the sidings does not get the watchdog. All sidings will get the watchdog if they are on when power is first applied.   

Jim, my entire layout is blocked and toggled (70+), as is yours, and I have no problems.  In my opinion, any switch capable of carrying its rated current safely is adequate.  In this regard, I note that 3 amp @125VAC is marginal; trains may exceed that, and if you have a short, you'll be breaking a larger current. Switches should be on the red/center rail circuit, as you have them.

What gauge wire are you using?  What version TIU (should be a sticker on the bottom)?  Are there fiber pins or gaps in the center rails between each toggled blocks, and none of the blocks having 2 red feeds?  Do you have common feeds to outside rails at various points on the layout? 

When you say RF signal, do you mean that (1) you have powered the block, (2) pressed startup for the loco), and then pressed the key to give signal strength?

I think he means "DCS" signal.  RF would indicate communication from the remote to the TIU.  DCS signal is more in line with the problem he describes.

If he leaves the toggles 'open' on startup, yes, the engines will receive signal, but if he toggles them 'off/closed' the engines will lose it (as well as power) and go dead AFAIK.  Toggling back 'on' at that point will leave him with a powered engine on the siding but there's no watchdog signal to wake it up.  

Performing a 'READ' from the remote should send another watchdog out over the track, so that those dead engines that are now "revived" from the toggle 'on'  now get the wake-up call they need.  

At least that's how I think it works...

I don't recall ever seeing that message.  Are the sidings and main line on the same TIU circuit?

From what you have just described, this is not a startup or watchdog signal issue. 

Performing a 'READ' from the remote should send another watchdog out over the track, so that those dead engines that are now "revived" from the toggle 'on'  now get the wake-up call they need.  

That's incorrect.

All a READ does is move powered engines to the renote's Active Engine List and unpowered engines to the Inactive Engine List. There is no watchdog sent.

Agreed - I've never seen that particular error message.  I've seen the "Out of RF Range" message before, but this is odd.  Could there somehow be interference/reflection from the toggle installs?  I would think the DCS signal would propagate over any connected track unless it was somehow filtered - which would be bizarre.  I would also think that "red" or "center" would be appropriate to but power to this sidings just like anything else.  So now the question to me becomes "how exactly do these toggles work?"  Are they not simply electrical pass-throughs?  There's power, obviously...  engines generally receive the DCS commands on the center rail and respond on the outside rails... 

The "fiber pins" confuse me...  could we get a picture/schematic of how this connects up? 

(Note:  Apologies - when I think RF, I think wireless.  Clearly the remote is talking to the TIU.)  

the remote reads "no Rf signal"

Just to be perfectly clear, there is no such error message within DCS. In fact, there's no message at all that states "no (fill in the blank) signal".

I've seen "out of RF range" before, but  was relatively sure certain it read differently last night. 

We spent about 12 hours working on the track and wires today, disassembling, cleaning rails and connectors, re wiring, and reassembling.

Something we did worked because the problem resolved.

i'd like to thank everyone who responded to help.

Jim,

   I suggest you purchase the OGR Video Guide to DCS, Rich Melvin in the OGR video has Jim Barrett do a great video teaching job, on exactly which Toggle Switches to use, and exactly how to install them in you layout.  This particular back shop segment is the very best Toggle Switch instruction I have ever seen done, you can watch the video as many times as you need, to understand exactly how to install and run the Toggle switches.  Then sit and read Barry's exacting instructions, in the DCS O Gauge Companion Book.

PCRR/Dave