Can't seem to add a second track and have TIU/engines respond. Note - TIU connected to 180W bricks vs. separate power supply source.
"Layout 1" (lots of fasttrack). FIXED DCS OUT1. Lionel 180W brick connected to Fixed Voltage IN1. Multiple engines DCS respond fine.
"Layout 2" (plan to be a shelf loop, but because of issues below, made it just 1 piece of test track). FIXED DCS OUT2. 2nd Lionel 180W brick connected to Fixed Voltage IN2. Engine doesn't respond - OUT OF RF RANGE. Wire is one test lead with alligator clips to track. Over 19V measured at test track. Engine starts up like it's in conventional. See's the power, but doesn't respond to DCS commands.
Note I power off Layout 1 brick when doing anything with Layout 2 brick. They are, for reference, on two different power strips.
Experiment 1 - I move the alligator clips to test track from FIXED DCS OUT2 to OUT1. Essentially adding another piece of track (Layout2) to Layout 1. Now I get the engine on the test track (Layout 2) to respond to DCS.
Experiment 2 - I move the PS input to VAR1. I Move test track to output of VAR1. I try programming TIU for variable voltage. Get same OUT OF RF RANGE. Voltmeter on track shows track voltage not responding to TIU settings.
Experiment 3 - same as 2, but use VAR2. Same issue - no response to DCS commands. Can't set the track voltage.
I've got Barry's book, but its not really helping me resolve why a simple connection from output of VAR1, VAR2, and FIXED2 don't work on a short piece of test track. Unless it has something to do with Marty's light-bulb "trick". Haven't tried that. Figure something as simple as a single piece of track connected to a single power source shouldn't have cause this much trouble.
I find it hard to believe that I have a TIU that only has one good channel - FIXED VOLTAGE IN1 and FIXED DCS OUT1.
What am I doing wrong? I'd really like to have the floor layout connected to 1 PS, and the shelf layout connected to a second PS.
There is a Lionel Legacy 990 involved, but only for throwing switches on Layout 1 floor layout. Doesn't interact with Layout 2 at all.
Dave
