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5 replies

Often No Response to Whistle Button

BillPBillPOGR Forum Member

I was running trains today. 

 

I had a simple oval of track with O54 turns and two 13 foot straights (4x40in tracks)

 

There were three power leads spread evenly around the loop back to the TIU.

 

I was running a premier Dreyfus Hudson.

 

I could do the start up and shut down commands ok.

 

I could control the speed ok.

 

However the Whistle was really hit or miss. I would say 75% of presses on the whistle button were got no sound.

 

When I did the track signal test, I got solid 10s all the way around.

 

I also had unreliable turning on and off of the smoke unit.

 

Power was a Z4000 handle into the TIU Fixed 2 input to the Fixed 2 output.

 

 

I also had a starter set engine, that was maybe 75% responsive to whistle button, but for which I could not turn on the smoke.  Forgot to check signal strength with that engine, it was running on variable 2 (set to fixed mode) with another Z4K handle.  (Normally that engine works great and smokes like a banshee, which is why I run it!)

 

 

This was one day setup, So I can't go back and try more stuff or other options.

 

Any thoughts as to why I was getting such spotty response to whistle commands?

 

 

 

Last edited by BillP
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Barry BroskowitzBarry BroskowitzOGR Forum Member MEMORIALIZED MEMBER

Bill,

 three power leads spread evenly around the loop back to the TIU 

If there weren't any insulting pins in the center rail breaking the loop into 3 separate blocks with one connection to each, this is quite possibly the source of your problem.

 

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Last edited by Barry Broskowitz
BillPBillPOGR Forum Member

Barry,

 

That will be easy to test next time, I set up.  I can just quickly disconnect two of the leads.

 

 

More detais about wiring....

 

Interestingly, I had no trouble with the Liberty Liners on the o72 loop.  Same type of wiring.  

 

Each of the four loops had three feed pairs that ran to a junction right after the TIU.

 

i have a jumper wire tying all 4 output commons of the TIU together and to the TMCC (1) command base.  (All the TMCC engines ran without trouble although I blew a traction tire on one and the motor screw worked loose on another!)

 

Black to outside rail, red center everywhere.

 

TIU was Var 1 O81,  fixed 1 O72,  fixed 2 O54 and var 2 o42 loops.   Var channels set to fixed mode.  About 18-19 volts from each z4k handle.

 

My pre-event test circle of o54 and o42 had just one power lead and worked well.

 

Also I noted with the starter engine, that when clicking the smoke button, the display flashed quickly, but I never got a smoke=on or off message.

 

 

 

 

Last edited by BillP
Barry BroskowitzBarry BroskowitzOGR Forum Member MEMORIALIZED MEMBER

Bill,

Also I noted with the starter engine, that when clicking the smoke button, the display flashed quickly, but I never got a smoke=on or off message.

That's most likely because the Display Messages setting is turned off. Turn it on in:

Menu/System/Remote Setup/Remote Messages and press oft key ON

 

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

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