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First off, thank goodness for this forum and the knowledge here.  While I have had trains for MANY years, command systems are new to me.  Without the ability to ask questions and receive lots of help I would be totally lost.  Yes I have Barry's books and USE them.

Background:  REV H TIU, working on all channels.  Programming track with 10 signal strength on fixed 2.  MTH Z4000 power supply.  PS3 engines program and run with no problems.

Issue:  PS2 engines won't program.  I have two new, never run Gensets 20-20006-1 and 20-20004-1 from the 2009 V2 catalog.  Neither engine will do anything, lights, sound, etc nothing, nor run on conventional.  I have tried to program and I get "Engine in Remote" status, but they are not.  

I have tried to research a dead or low battery issue and all I seem to find is sound related issues.  I have two PS2 engines in that were in the remote already when given to me (obviously a REV H is not new) that run just fine.

So:  Is a dead or low battery an issue with PS2 engines programming or functioning?  Is this a TIU issue?  What battery do these have, the 8.4V or the 3V?  I have some green 8.4V batterys, would have to source 3Vs.

BTW my track functions pretty good with signal strength from 5 (not to many places) to 7-9 (mostly).  Curiously the signal strength will vary on the same section of rail, some brand new with a PS3 test loco that has not run before yesterday, so cleanliness should not be a problem.  Guess I need to investigate and invest in some 18V lamps.

Sidebar:  Is there a way to turn the smoke units off on PS3 (and PS2) engines without having to do it everytime they start up?

 

Thanks

Gray Lackey

 

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Gray,

Is a dead or low battery an issue with PS2 engines programming or functioning?

Yes, it can be.

What battery do these have, the 8.4V or the 3V?

These engines are PS2 3 volt and have 3 volt (actually, 2.4 volt) batteries.

Is this a TIU issue?

my track functions pretty good with signal strength from 5 (not to many places) to 7-9 (mostly).

Actually, this could be a TIU issue since, actually, your signal strength is not "pretty good". It's more like "fair". Pretty good would one 8-10 everywhere.

Is there a way to turn the smoke units off on PS3 (and PS2) engines without having to do it everytime they start up?

Smoke should be on or off in the same condition that it was when an engine was last shut down. If it isn't, that's an indication that the engine isn't saving its settings on power-down, and a main cause of this is a low battery.

Regardless, what is the DCS version that you're using? if it isn't DCS 6.1 in both the TIU and the remote, it's often very difficult to further attempt to troubleshoot possible DCS issues.

Last edited by Barry Broskowitz

Problem solved on programming referenced engines.

The 3 rail / 2 rail switch was set from the factory at 2 rail.  I would never have guessed that a Hi Rail factory engine would come this way.  Just glad it wasn't the locomotive.  This has happened and been discovered before??

I am running software 6.1 on the remote/TIU.

When I get a little more time I'm going to try a "magic" light bub and see if I can get the functioning track better.

Sometimes I'm beginning to think I'm a TV (old school) repairman vs. a modeler and runner.  I knew things had changed a lot, but WOW have they ever.

THANKS everyone

Gray Lackey

Took the afternoon off to work on the trains (notice I didn't say play).  Got some needed parts, swapped some excess for things I wanted and started to work.

I installed a "magic" light bulb and rechecked my signal strength.  9-10 almost everywhere with an occasional 8, only for 1 fleeting moment did I see a 7 as the lowest.  Hopefully that now qualifies as "pretty good".

My PS2 and PS3 engines now work as they should, now I can play trains while continuing building.

I think I had a pretty good afternoon.

Thanks to everyone who has helped drag me through the new world order.

Gray Lackey

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