Hello, I have a prewar standard gauge loco on VAR #1 and another prewar loco on VAR #2. How do I add the locomotives to my DCS system?? Do I need to add TIU tracks first?
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I added VAR #1 as Track 2 and VAR #2 as Track 3. I already have my FIXED #1 loco added, because its a MTH PS2 loco and my remote found it with no problem. I am now trying to add my prewar conventional locomotives to my Variable channels, no success. I try to throttle up on thumbwheel. No power is going to the rails on both track #2 and #3. Any ideas what I did wrong??
You cannot "add" a conventional locomotive. You just vary the voltage in the channel.
Jeff,
This is all spelled out in Barry's perfect technical engineering writing on page 43 of his DCS O Gauge Companion Rev 3, he also gives exacting instructions on setting up the Z4K Tracks using the side receiver. I highly recommend getting either the soft back book or the down load book, seriously great investment for any DCS owner. Use the TR function on your Hand Held Remote Control to set it all up.
To add a new TIU TRACK, use the thumbwheel to scroll to ADD TIU TRACK and press the thumbwheel to select it. USE the Thumbwheel to Scrool to either Var1 or Var 2 and press the Thumbwheel to select it. Scroll the thumbwheel to each character in the name and press the wheel to add the character. Scroll to D on the bottom row, right end of the keyboard and press the thumbwheel to save the TRACK's name and return to the Tack Set Up menu.
PCRR/Dave
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How do I vary the voltage in the channel?? I was told that I have to set my VAR #1 and VAR #2 into Variable mode. How do I do this??
do you have full power on the input side of the var channel,?? A brick or whatever you were going to use for power on the other 2 threads. You then put the channel in var mode and scroll up the voltage.
I do not have a side receiver. Do I need one to run conventional loco on a Variable channels?
Yes, I have a Z1000 power brick into the AUX port on TIU. My throttles on my Z4000 are set to full power, they are wired to VAR #1 and VAR #2 on left and right handles.
How do I put my Variable channels into Variable mode??
Lioneljeff posted:I do not have a side receiver. Do I need one to run conventional loco on a Variable channels?
No.
No you do not need a side receiver. The TIU variable channels can do this on their own. Check your manual that came with DCS TIU. It will explain how to set the variable channels from fixed to variable. It's under the Menu function.
While Barrys book is helpful, it's not needed to set this basic function. It's in the DCS manual.
Gregg, then how do I do it without the use of the side receiver??
Martye, I am not seeing it in my manual how to change from fixed to variable.
Is it under DCS setup? Or engine setup?
Do you have transformer hooked up to VAR 1 and 2 input of TIU? Are VAR 1 and 2 output hooked up to 2 separate loops? Press the TR button and screen should show track voltage on the screen. Use the scroll wheel to adjust the voltage to run the train. As David said, you don't add a conventional loco.
It is under system, Track setup. There should be an option to make the variable channels fixed or variable.
Lioneljeff posted:Gregg, then how do I do it without the use of the side receiver??
Maybe this will help.... In command mode there's a constant 18 or so volts on the track. Never changes. The remote talks to the engine Via the tiu and tells it what to do,
Conventional engines are control by track voltage, any engine on the same track behaves the same. The more track voltage the faster the engines go... The dcs remote has the ability to do both. And yes it's all there in Barry's book .and in one of your other threads,,, Standard gauge and dcs.
Under Add, Edit or Delete track?
Lioneljeff posted:Under Add, Edit or Delete track?
You'll have to add the track first. It should assign variable 1 as track 1 and if you add the second variable 2.
Check around page 62 of the manual.
I added the track already for loop #2 and loop #3.
I have them as TIU1 VAR1 and TIU1 VAR2.
I don't run conventional very often but I use the TR button, select the var channel you're going to use and scroll up the voltage. I don't add anything... A new or reset remote comes with the var channels already set up.. I do put the var channel in var mode with Menu/system dcs set up . I'm not sure what the advantages of adding TRs are?
I have the track added and variable channels set to variable mode. Loco still will not move. I added the track as Track 2 and Track 3. There is still on my list of track a: Track 2, Track 3, TIU1 Variable 1 and TIU1 Variable 2. Do I have to delete the TIU1 Variable 1 and TIU1 Variable 2? Or just leave them there. I am selecting Track 2 and throttle up, loco does not move.
Can you put a lighted car on the track? is there any voltage?
There are no volts. I have a caboose with a light on track 2 and state cars with lights on track 3. Nothing lights up.
Gregg posted:I don't run conventional very often but I use the TR button, select the var channel you're going to use and scroll up the voltage. I don't add anything... A new or reset remote comes with the var channels already set up.. I do put the var channel in var mode with Menu/system dcs set up . I'm not sure what the advantages of adding TRs are?
Gregg yes the variables must be not be set to fixed as well. The Track setup will allow you to access the TIU channels to vary them. How do you access the variable channels if you don't set them up as tracks?
Maybe we do need Barrys book. LOL. I haven't done the setup in a while but I don't seem to remember it being so difficult.
Got it!!! All works now, apparently, the red light was ON on the z4000. So, restarted it and it went out. Now they all run just fine. Thanks.
First, delete the two TIU tracks that you erroneously added:
- Menu/System/Track Setup/Delete Track, select the first track that you added and press the thumbwheel to delete it. If necessary, press the thumbwheel again to confirm
- Repeat for the other track hat you added.
Next, set the remaining two tracks to Variable Mode:
- Menu/System/DCS Setup
- Select the first TIU Track and press the FXD soft key. If it states Track in Fixed Mode, press FXD again
- Repeat for the other TIU Track.
To access variable tracks:
- Press the TR button on the remote
- Select the track for the variable channel that you want to operate. A new screen will appear
- Use the thumbwheel to roll up voltage on the TIU channel.
This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS Companion 3rd Edition", available for purchase from many fine OGR advertisers and forum sponsors, or as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!
Jeff,
Go back up to my other post the 2nd section tells how to add the TIU TRACK for running conventional engines, even naming the track. Then you simply use the thumbwheel to increase the voltage to the engine and the direction button on the Hand Held is used for direction change. Remember if you have old Williams engines these engines start in FWD, upping the voltage with the Thumbwheel on these Tracks the old Williams engines move immediately FWD. Barry just condensed the Hand Held TR TIU set up for you, above in his latest post.
PCRR/Dave
MartyE posted:Gregg posted:I don't run conventional very often but I use the TR button, select the var channel you're going to use and scroll up the voltage. I don't add anything... A new or reset remote comes with the var channels already set up.. I do put the var channel in var mode with Menu/system dcs set up . I'm not sure what the advantages of adding TRs are?
Gregg yes the variables must be not be set to fixed as well. The Track setup will allow you to access the TIU channels to vary them. How do you access the variable channels if you don't set them up as tracks?
Maybe we do need Barrys book. LOL. I haven't done the setup in a while but I don't seem to remember it being so difficult.
Hi Marty I just press TR, select the var channel I want to use and scroll up the voltage. That's it. Yes the var channel is set to var mode. I believe it only works with a new or reset remote... I suppose once you start adding tracks it's a different ball game.
Gregg,
You just do not remember setting it up!
PCRR/Dave
Pine Creek Railroad posted:Gregg,
You just do not remember setting it up!
PCRR/Dave
Absolutely not. I remember how and I don't add any tracks. Have you tried it with a reset remote? I forget a lot of things but not this one Dave.... I don't know if this is mentioned in Barry's book or not.. A new or reset remote has the var channels already set up.
