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Many Thanks to Marty E for up Grading my DCS Units!

Pine Creek RailroadPine Creek RailroadOGR Forum Member

Gentlemen,

MartyE was over to our new home on Sunday and I want to thank him here on the OGR which made it possible for us to meet and become friends.  Marty took time out of both his busy work schedule and raising his daughters, to upgrade/update my 2 MTH DCS TIU's and HHRC's with the latest changes.  He did a fantastic job and I learned Marty knows one heck of a lot about our hobby and that his electronics background, experience and education are definitely vast.  

It was definitely impressive to watch him update my DCS to the latest revisions with his Lap Top Computer.  Way cool stuff that this old NASA Engineer should probably learn how to do.  I operate from a MAC however so I doubt I will take the time to set it all up and learn to do it correctly.  

My #1 TIU and HHRC although Rev L have been used hard and for some unknown reason the day after Marty updated them and we test ran the unit, that #1 TIU some how lost what was originally READ into the TIU via the HHRC.  Why this happened I can not tell you.  Marty had me READ the TIU's and my 1st generation 263E P2 Engine again, it finally took on the 3rd try after shutting the entire system down each time.  

Further for some unknown reason every time I entered the old P2 263E into the #1 HHCR, it would not stay in the 1st HHRC, when the 2nd HHRC was programmed with the 263E P2 information.  This also happened vise versa with the HHRC's, and was also true no matter how I entered the old P2 engine.  I finally got it to enter into both HHRC's by programming one, testing it, then shutting off/powering down the programmed HHRC and taking it several rooms away.  Then programming the other HHRC with the old P2 263E information.  I have no idea why this happened only with the one early 1st generation 263E P2 engine, the rest of my P2 and P3 engines entered both HHRC's with no problem what so ever.

   For all you guys who want to take a swipe at me for my views of operating your layouts with Power Bricks, here is your opportunity. 

For some unknown reason one of my Z4K Transformers failed, a 1st for me with any Z4K Transformer.  Although it was a used Z4K that never held digital calibration from even before I had purchased it, the Z4K now seems to have a short someplace inside the Transformer.  The emergency Red light comes on as soon as I try using the left channel of the Z4K, and the right channel delivers no power to the tracks what so ever.  This all happened while Marty was updating the DCS units for me. I purchased this Z4K about 4 years ago and it was only used at Christmas time, sense the purchase.  It is the least used of my Z4K's for sure.

Now here is the question, is this Z4K Transformer worth having fixed, and if so who repairs them in the Pittsburgh, Pa area.  I would like to save it to help power the rest of my Train Room layouts as I build them.  I do however have 3 more old ZW's that have never ever failed.   I use one on the living room Christmas layout, one on the inner Conventional Loop of the Bar Top layout, and one is kept in case a Transformer in use fails.

Maybe it's time to invest in a ZW-L and Ditch the one failed Z4K.  Either way I see a serious money expenditure coming up in the near future.

Thanks again MartyE for all the fantastic help, I appreciate it greatly.  At the very least when we have time I will treat you to Breakfast or Dinner - your choice!

PCRR/Dave

Middle Z4K Transformer on the power station in the picture, Failed on Sunday.

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Last edited by Pine Creek Railroad
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MartyEMartyEOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER
GGG posted:

Are you sure it is a short.  What does the display say.  IF the throttles not fully down, the Z won't start up.  Yes it is worth repairing, especially if it is something simple.  G

Thanks Dave.  I'm glad you got it all going.  It was a pleasure.  Hopefully next time we can just run some trains and not do any work.  LOL! 

GGG when I was there, when powered with handles down and nothing connected, the red light would go out as expected.  The left meter was reading approx 7v and the right approx 2v.  Dave said the 2v was common for that unit but 7 was a little high.  As he raised the right handle up to approx 16 volts and above the red light would flash as if shorted with everything disconnected.  I don't remember what the current meter was reading. 

The output at the posts didn't appear to have anything going to it but we didn't have a meter on it but also saw no lights on the passenger cars when it was connected to the track.

Last edited by MartyE
Pine Creek RailroadPine Creek RailroadOGR Forum Member

GGG,

The handles were all the way down, when this all started to happen.  The digital Calibration was originally 2V out of digital Calibration on the digital screens.  18V delivered to the Track was actually 20V on the digital screen, when I purchased it.  All of a sudden while Marty was here, it jumped to 7V on the left channel before the handle was raised.  When raising the handle to around 16V the Red light started blinking and both R&L Channels failed to deliver voltage to the tracks.  We disconnected the Lines to the TIU and nothing changed as we restarted the Z4K, and raised the left hand channel lever.  I took the Z4K off line at this time.

   If you think the Z4K is worth saving/repairing I will send it to you for repairs, the shipping cost will be a killer however.

PCRR/Dave

Last edited by Pine Creek Railroad
R RJROGR Forum Member

Dave, unless you like keeping dollars in circulation and therefore must get a ZW-L, consider a PH180 powerhouse.  I replaced a PW ZW with one a few tears ago, mainly because I had it on hand, and have not regretted it.  I feed 2 TIU channels from it.  Since those 2 channels feed 2 yards and a branch line, which need continual attention while running, I rarely have more than 2 locos running at a time

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