MTH DCS Watchdog - Time for Detection

if too many engines are getting power all at once, some will not see the watchdog. I had to create more blocks in my engine yard, to shut some off from the mainlines, because of this. It appeared like some engines were weaker than others. Yet after several tests, I couldn't narrow it down definitively.

Now if you're just saying that some engines are more prone, when on the track by themselves, at power up, no that's not my experience generally. Except when it's a ps2 with a bad battery, or similar type engine issues (bad wire routing). That engine will be the first to miss.

@SanDiegoMark posted:

I've noticed that some of my engines are more prone to come up in conventional mode when I power on my layout. I did some testing using 7 engines and a test track with a switch that I can use to control the power to the track. I'm using a rev 13A TIU with DCS 6.10 loaded. The TIU was always powered, the switch was between the FIXED 1 output and the track. All engines had factory batteries, no BCRs.

I'm impressed that all of them don't start in conventional!  The WD is only generated when you apply power to the input of an individual track.  Switching the output of the TIU between the track and TIU doesn't generate a WD unless you're operating in passive mode.

This has been hashed endlessly, and I even created a product to address the issue.

Proposed Solution to DCS Watchdog in Yard Tracks

It makes sense that the PS3 engines need more time, they have to charge the built-in BCR before sounds come on just as they would without a TIU when track power is applied.

I power my Layout using the Variable channels of the TIU so that I can turn track power on or off with the remote/app. I've had the set the starting voltage to 21.5 and not 22. I found that when the TIU turns the power fully on to 22, the majority if not all of my engines (PS2 or PS3) miss the Watch Dog signal. But when the power starts at 21.5 and then bump it up to 22 everything remains quiet. Never could figure out why.

Gunrunner stated it very well. You must place the switch in the input side of the TIU.

@SanDiegoMark posted:

The TIU was always powered, the switch was between the FIXED 1 output and the track.

I missed this one John!

@Engineer-Joe posted:

I missed this one John!

I had to read it twice before I figured out what was happening.

Proposed Solution to DCS Watchdog in Yard Tracks (DCS-RC WD Gerber Files Added to First Post) | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

and John does it again.....