Ps2 Subway not recognized on 2nd track

First make sure the red wire goes to the center rail of the track.

Second make sure you have power by looking for the red light under the grill of the TIU. 

The TIU must receive power by having FIXED 1 powered or by using the AUX POWER INPUT with a suitable transformer to make the other channels work. Otherwise, FIXED will only pass power through and the DCS signal does not work. The Variable channels will not pass power without the TIU being powered.

The track doesn't have to make a loop to work. 

Well thanks, couldn’t find one shred of info on a complete loop...appreciate answer on that.  Also, yes the red light can be seen through the grill a d yes fixed 1 gets power from brick connected to fixed voltage in 1. Lemme check lock on for connection and report back.

DCS does NOT need a complete loop, it will run on a couple pieces of straight track on your bench.  I run DCS all the time on my test track on the bench.

I think the key question is how are you powering the second track? What channel of the TIU.  Are you using F1 on both tracks?  Or using a different Channel for track 2?  Does another engine work on Track 2?

Clearly engine is ok, and F1 is ok.  SO much more info needed to help you figure out why track 2 not working.  G

GGG posted:

I think the key question is how are you powering the second track? What channel of the TIU.  Are you using F1 on both tracks?  Or using a different Channel for track 2?  Does another engine work on Track 2?

Clearly engine is ok, and F1 is ok.  SO much more info needed to help you figure out why track 2 not working.  G

Hey, yea, a little update. I was switching the power supply (z750) from fixed 1 to fixed 2 because I only have one power supply now. All the engines work flawlessly (ps2 and ps3)  when using fixed 1 in and out. If I use fixed 2 in and out (without anything connected to fixed 1 except for out but no power) there is no recognition from TIU for the engines. Does there HAVE to be power connected to Fixed 1 for Fixed 2 to work? What am I missing here. ThNks in advance.

Maverick0394 posted:

Hey, yea, a little update. I was switching the power supply (z750) from fixed 1 to fixed 2 because I only have one power supply now. All the engines work flawlessly (ps2 and ps3)  when using fixed 1 in and out. If I use fixed 2 in and out (without anything connected to fixed 1 except for out but no power) there is no recognition from TIU for the engines. Does there HAVE to be power connected to Fixed 1 for Fixed 2 to work? What am I missing here. ThNks in advance.

Either Fixed 1 or the external power suppy plug. Either of those is the only way a TIU gets power to run itself.

BobbyD posted:

Maverick0394 posted:

Hey, yea, a little update. I was switching the power supply (z750) from fixed 1 to fixed 2 because I only have one power supply now. All the engines work flawlessly (ps2 and ps3)  when using fixed 1 in and out. If I use fixed 2 in and out (without anything connected to fixed 1 except for out but no power) there is no recognition from TIU for the engines. Does there HAVE to be power connected to Fixed 1 for Fixed 2 to work? What am I missing here. ThNks in advance.

Either Fixed 1 or the external power suppy plug. Either of those is the only way a TIU gets power to run itself.

Ahhh..ok, so if I understand you then I have to have something powering fixed 1 if I want fixed 2 or any other input to work, is that right? If thats the case then do I need a separate and additional power supply connected to fixed 2 for the second track? Lol, getting there slowly but am following it so far. Thanks/

Joe Allen posted:

First make sure the red wire goes to the center rail of the track.

Second make sure you have power by looking for the red light under the grill of the TIU. 

The TIU must receive power by having FIXED 1 powered or by using the AUX POWER INPUT with a suitable transformer to make the other channels work. Otherwise, FIXED will only pass power through and the DCS signal does not work. The Variable channels will not pass power without the TIU being powered.

The track doesn't have to make a loop to work. 

Maverick0394 posted:

BobbyD posted:

Maverick0394 posted:

Hey, yea, a little update. I was switching the power supply (z750) from fixed 1 to fixed 2 because I only have one power supply now. All the engines work flawlessly (ps2 and ps3)  when using fixed 1 in and out. If I use fixed 2 in and out (without anything connected to fixed 1 except for out but no power) there is no recognition from TIU for the engines. Does there HAVE to be power connected to Fixed 1 for Fixed 2 to work? What am I missing here. ThNks in advance.

Either Fixed 1 or the external power suppy plug. Either of those is the only way a TIU gets power to run itself.

Ahhh..ok, so if I understand you then I have to have something powering fixed 1 if I want fixed 2 or any other input to work, is that right? If thats the case then do I need a separate and additional power supply connected to fixed 2 for the second track? Lol, getting there slowly but am following it so far. Thanks/

Yes, they are not connected together internally.

Maverick0394 posted:

Ahhh..ok, so if I understand you then I have to have something powering fixed 1 if I want fixed 2 or any other input to work, is that right? If thats the case then do I need a separate and additional power supply connected to fixed 2 for the second track? Lol, getting there slowly but am following it so far. Thanks/

You can jumper the input side of the TIU so that there's power at fixed #1 at all times.

Most of us use the Aux power to the TIU to keep it powered. You can use a 12volt 1 amp wall wart just to power the TIU that way. If for some reason you trip the power to Fixed #1, then you'd still have control to the other TIU channels in use.

You could also split the wires coming out of the transformer (a T-tap of the proper size and using the right gauge wire works well for this), so that you now have 4 wires from the transformer and attach one set to fixed 1 and the other set to fixed 2. Obviously, the power to each track is now reduced, but it may be enough depending on the size of your layout.

You could also pick up a Z-4000 and hook up one handle to fixed 1 and the other to fixed 2 !

As other have told you F1 or Aux power to get the TIU power and the Red LED to light.  No red LED lite and the TIU can not add DCS signal or be controlled.

F1 and F2 are hard wired to let power go through, but with out TIU energized the DCS does not work.  VAR1 and 2 DO NOT pass power through and the TIU must be energized to control those channels and raise and lower voltage too.  

The easy solution for you while experimenting is to just apply power to F1 via transformer and use jumper wires to feed input of F2.  BUT remember a Z-750 is not much power and running 2 trains which probably max it out.  G

GGG posted:

As other have told you F1 or Aux power to get the TIU power and the Red LED to light.  No red LED lite and the TIU can not add DCS signal or be controlled.

F1 and F2 are hard wired to let power go through, but with out TIU energized the DCS does not work.  VAR1 and 2 DO NOT pass power through and the TIU must be energized to control those channels and raise and lower voltage too.  

The easy solution for you while experimenting is to just apply power to F1 via transformer and use jumper wires to feed input of F2.  BUT remember a Z-750 is not much power and running 2 trains which probably max it out.  G

Gotcha, much appreciated..understand much much better now, lol. Lastly, now to figure out what jumper wires are and how to apply it to the TIU lol.

Any good piece of wire that is used to connect things. I use #14 stranded wire. It's a good balance of size vs. current cap. It only needs to be a few inches long if just connecting the fixed inputs. Other wire will work (#16 for ex.). Don't use too small # wire or it will limit the power to the inputs.

Higher the wire # = the thinner or smaller dia. it is. That means it can't carry as much amps.

Engineer-Joe posted:

Any good piece of wire that is used to connect things. I use #14 stranded wire. It's a good balance of size vs. current cap. It only needs to be a few inches long if just connecting the fixed inputs. Other wire will work (#16 for ex.). Don't use too small # wire or it will limit the power to the inputs.

Higher the wire # = the thinner or smaller dia. it is. That means it can't carry as much amps.

Ok and screw it into the fixed one post on one end and screw it into the fixed 2 post on other end of same wire?  (matching the colors presumably)

Yes, fixed input 1 jumps to fixed input 2.