PS1 Programming Question

That's news to me, and I suspect a lot of other people here.  Where did you hear this?

The DCS manual page 99 a DCS Tip in lower right corner. The way I read that one once selected "The DCS system will send the power variations needed to activate the option, and the engine will respond with the appropriate clinks and clanks."

Page 32 in the DCS O Gauge Companion under activating soft keys. MPG enters programming mode for PS1

I just don't know if it actually works, if I am missing a step or what.

The Z-4000 can do similar,  but the engine needs to be in the reset state.  After starting up the engine it is in reset.  If you have been operating the engine your no longer in reset.  Also this has to be on a VAR channel so the TIU can vary track voltage.

As far as arming coupler and activating PSA, that does not require reset state, but again you need to be on a VAR Channel.  G

Ok that's what I was missing. Probably is in the engine manual if I went and reread it. And I did figure out that MPG was strictly for programming, I was thinking of operating that feature. I messed around and operated those features with the DCS remote, but was unable to change settings with the MPG soft key, but I was not in the reset mode. I didn't mess with the programming with the conventional transformer because it was such a pain. I'm sure if I go back and try again in the reset mode it will change settings. Thanks I was sure it was right in front of me and I was just missing it. I should have consulted the engine manual, and I probably would have figured it out. Thanks Again.

The feature 10 (coupler) is for programming a PS1 engine's coupler. Say you are triple-heading and you don't want the center engine's coupler to open when you arm the rear coupler.

Yeah I figured that out. D'oH.......... That's what happens when you do not read the instructions. I didn't mess with much of programming when I got this engine. It's a pain with reg trans. And I don't know why I expected the DCS manual to cover what was in the engine manual. That's one of the bad things about bad memory, you not only forget, but you remember things incorrectly. I obviously had programming and operating features all scrabbled up in my head. I guess reading instructions, Again, should be the first resort, and not the last...............

WHile the instructions come across as complicated, it really is pretty easy once you do it a few times and become familiar with PS-1.

The 2 main operating features are coupler and PFA.  Pretty easy to arm.

The other features, just require you to start the engine up at high voltage around 14-16V and your in reset.  Now you can adjust features you want (volume as an example).  Than lower voltage to less than 10V and change direction and now your back into the traditional operational mode.  G

Dlo,

Power the Variable channel with 16 to 22 volts

Leave at zero voltage

Say you want to have horn in neutral (feature 25)

Scroll up to feature 25

Press thumbwheel 

Engine will startup and will automatically up and down the voltage 25 times

Press horn button ( 1 ding)

Press horn button again ( 2 dings)  Horn in neutral

Press done

Engine should now blow horn or whistle in neutral after being restarted and leaving reset. Hope this helps.

It's actually easier than the Z-4000 to get the features programmed, but if your trying to use the Z4K tracks softkeys it will not work.

Dlo,

It's the same with the volume.

After the 6 up and down voltage use the bell button to get the desired volume and press done softkey.

Thanks Joe. I didn't mess with anything yesterday, but this morning I tried this, and it works perfectly. I realize DCS is all about command control engines, but since there are a lot of PS1 engines, it seams like a page or two should have been included in both the DCS Remote manual, and even Barry's book, (unless I couldn't find it). I'm sure MTH is more interested in selling new command controlled engines, but for someone like me, (only 1 PS3 and a dozen conv. engines) it made me very leery of spending the money for DCS, not knowing how conventional engines would work under the system and not knowing that now programming my PS1 would be so easy. It seams to me this info would help sell more on DCS, (those like me on the fence), to people with conventional engines, and PS1. And once they have the system it's more likely they will spend the money for command controlled engines. If I hadn't gotten a PS3 and decided to try DCS, there would probably be no chance that I would look at future purchases of command controlled engines. I'm still on the fence as to if I like it or not. But I am looking at a couple more PS3 engines.

I had no idea that you could run the old PS-1 locos with the DCS remote!  I got rid of my others before I went into DCS and went PS-2.  I now have a PS-1 southern pacific GS-4.  I am going to try this out!  I actually pulled out the z controller and hooked it up conventional to test the engine.    So:  you connect the track to variable input/output.  and then you go into the remote under what?  these engines would not appear on locate engine, correct?  but you can thumb wheel and run these engines?  that's really cool.  and access the PFA easy?  I hate the old way of resetting these and clinks and clanks with the transformers.  I still did not program in the PFA right.  I never got it going yet.  only tried once though!    Chris

Chris,

TR button above the W/H on the DCS remote. The PSA on the DCS remote won't operate that feature on PS1 engines.

Early PS1 engines didn't have PSA

To activate the ones that do, as the engine is moving hold down the BELL for at least 3 seconds and you should hear air release sounds. Then put the engine in neutral at low power usually 8 to 10 volts. You can then use the direction button to go through the sequences before it moves out again.

You have to run the engines conventionally via a variable output, but the programming of the features is so easy now. I only messed with it a bit, but no more up and down listening and counting clinks and clanks. You just scroll, push the feature you want, and then follow the ps1 instructions for actually setting the feature. So far the only 2 things I do not like about the DCS remote control of conventional is 1) 5 volt starting, with a couple of my Lionel, 5 volts makes it take off at a pretty good clip. 2) the thumbwheel sensitivity, if you try to scroll quickly to raise voltage, or mph it doesn't respond. You have to scroll slowly. But programming the PS1 Features with a conv transformer was a real pain in the you know what.

Do you use the bell button on the DCS remote then to program in the clinks and clanks? for the squeal brakes, I saw the PSA announcements stated.  I did not do that correctly even with the z controller.  so moving and press the bell button for 3 seconds to engage it.  cool. 

With the engine on a variable track, voltage set to 0. Use MPG Softkey. Scroll to Feature 45. Press thumbwheel to select. Engine will start up, light will flash, and then you will hear the air release and the clanks. That will send the code for the approiate clinks and clanks. Then push the whistle button. and bell will sound 1 bell = On Demand (Enabled when FYS is activated). This will allow you to arm the brake squeal with the bell button. Press whistle button 2 bells = always on, push again 3 bells = Off. All features are activated the same way using the DCS remote. The MPG soft key just makes Programming (changing the features) very easy.

With the engine on a variable track, voltage set to 0.  did you mean 10?

No Zero volts. When you select the programming option you want ie: 6 for volume, etc, the DCS remote will send the voltage and codes to the track and engine. And when you are finished and hit S5 the Done key the engine will then shut down.

Thanks DIo Traf.. didn't realize that.

A week ago I didn't know either. Thanks to Joe Allen for the answer. The DCS manual and the DCS O Gauge Companion really didn't cover that. And the engine manual doesn't cover DCS. I wouldn't have figured it out on my own. I did figure out the features operate the same as with a conv transformer, but thank goodness for this Fourm and it's helpful members for giving us a clue.

I think a lot of us didn't know that.

Having quite a few PS1 engines I learned how to program them with the Z-4000 transformer as I like to use Feature 25 on all of them to get them to blow horn or whistle in neutral.... Otherwise, I don't think I could have figured out how to do it as the remote doesn't explain using the bell button to get to the different settings. And neither do the manuals that I have for using the TIU. I guess it is just taken for granted that we all had experience using a Z-4000.

nice, I would never have guessed you could do all that with the DCS remote.

Well I guess it's somewhat like all the "Undocumented Features" you would learn about in past Windows OS. I had read elsewhere you could do it, but the books didn't say exactly how. I realize the system is made for command control, but just like me a little more knowledge on what you can and cant do with PS1 and conventional would have made the lure over to "The Dark Side" easier. And once converted most will purchase more command controlled engines.