Stumped by New DCS Rev. L - UPDATE

Have you added the locos using the new remote and new TIU?

Joe,

   IMO you need to have GGG repair your Hand Held Remoted Control, and have it & the TIU upgraded to the latest changes, then purchase another new Rev L DCS Hand Held and TIU.  

Let a pro fix your older DCS and add a new one while it is out being fixed & upgraded. Then have Willygee upgrade both Hand Held Remote Control units, to fully rechargeable.

Set up a test track and enter your engines into the new DCS Hand Held and TIU, to test your engines one at a time.  Once you have test run them on the programming track put them back on your layout one at a time, and see what happens.  It sounds like you have more problems than just the DCS.

PCRR/Dave

RJR - Yes, I connected the new rev.L TIU/Remote and it is giving me issues.

Dave - Yes, the Rev.13A and TIU Is on its way back to GGG for repairs and upgrade.

Thanks,

JoeG

JoeG,

    Set up the test programming tack and see what happens.

PCRR/Dave

I would not invest in a new remote. Spend the money on the DCS Wifi  and run your trains with your phone or tablet.

You still need a remote with the wifi unit but the wifi works much better than a remote

JoeG, so I'm clear enough, you must do more than merely connect the devices.   You must go through the ADD LOCO routine for each loco you have.

As to which is preferable, using a remote or a wifi, that is a matter of personal taste.

Sounds like engine issues.

Have both these engines been sitting for long?  I would check, clean and lubricate the center rail rollers.  Clean wheels and track.  G

Thanks everyone Just to clarify,

The 400E with PS3 is new. It was placed on the track right before Christmas and has always operated correctly, and I would be surprised if it has an hour of total run time. It was well lubricated prior to being placed on the track. I received the 4 car Stephan Girard Passenger set, so this was added to the engine. When the new remote and TIU were added, Yes I loaded both engines into the new remote, and onto the tracks that are connected Fixed 1 and 2.

The 260E could need a battery replacement via a BCR, as I did charge overnight prior to running. However, it worked fine with the old remote/TIU.

I am wondering if I have too much weight on the 400E with the 4 Passenger cars.

I was also thinking about this on the way into work today. Could I have power up Fixed 2 prior to fixed 1, and could this be the issue. I am running out of things that I think I need to check and verify.

I have not set up a test tract yet, as I simply need to find a space to do this without damaging an engine.

JoeG

JoeG,

   Once you set up your test/programming track correctly, you will find out whether the problem is your current layout/TIU/Hand Held Remote or the Engines.  With a small isolated programming/test track, powered thru the Aux,  you can judge what is really happening, with each engine as you enter them individually and start them up.  

PCRR/Dave

Thanks Dave,

I do not have the adapter to power thru AUX. I have always powered the TIU thru the fixed 1. Maybe I need to pick up the adapter?

Joe

GGG,

Also good suggestions. I will try cleaning the rollers and the track again, however, there is a small tunnel that is difficult for me to get to the track but these issues are happening outside the tunnel as well.

Joeg

Seems you can load  (add the engines) without any difficulty  . That would suggest the  dcs signal and remote / tiu communications are good. Yes power up fixed 1 first....

Menu/Advanced / reset engine/ feature reset..... Red from tiu output always to center rail.

Joe,

Could I have power up Fixed 2 prior to fixed 1, and could this be the issue. I am running out of things that I think I need to check and verify.

If you did so, then your PS2 engine would have come on immediately with lights and sounds, your PS3 engine would have come on after a 20-30 second delay while the PS3 charged its Super-capacitor with lights and sounds, and neither one would have responded to commands from the remote's ENG screen.

What is your power supply for the 400E track, now that you add 4 lighted??? passenger cars, could that be the issue?  Go with just the engine like you had it with the old TIU.  That way your only change is the new TIU. If all works well, add the cars one at a time.  If it starts acting up with a few cars check DCS signal, and evaluate the transformer load.   G

JoeG,

   I never thought about it, George makes a good point, just what Transformer are you using to power your layout, I am so in the habit of over powering my layouts that I forget not everybody does what I do.  If you do not have enough power all kinds of problems could be happening.

PCRR/Dave

OMG GGG and Dave!! I may have had a senior moment here! I have each fixed input on the TIU powered by the brick from the Z1000. This has always run everything I have ever hooked up to it including the 400E. Maybe the 4 passenger cars were enough to put it over the edge. I will check as soon as I get home from work. I will take off the cars and see how she runs without them, as well as clean all track and wheels. THANKS!!

Keep you posted

Joe

GGG,

Would a 400E with PS3 draw more current than a 384E with PS2?? Just curious...I have not read up on it yet.

JoeG

Trainlover160 posted:

GGG,

Would a 400E with PS3 draw more current than a 384E with PS2?? Just curious...I have not read up on it yet.

 

JoeG

Probably a little less because of LEDs versus Bulbs.  G

ok while trying to make room to set up a test track I did the following:

• completely cleaned all track
• removed 400e and cleaned all gears, wheels, pickup rollers, and drivers and re-lubricated all
• verified the power source and it is 100 watts
• verified the new DCS is Rev. L with 4.20 software
• cleaned all track thoroughly on 260E Loop.
• Removed 260E from loop, cleaned and lubricated as above

No change in operation so far to this point

JoeG

Found the problem, and it is a little bittersweet. It is my new 400E!! I took a few of the passenger cars off and it did not help. I did an engine factory reset and that was not it either. I placed other PS2 engines on the track, loaded them and they are all working fine.

Now , I am wondering what could be wrong with this new 400E with 97.5 scale miles? Is there a gear inside that needs Grease? I was also thinking it could be the coded tape on the motor, or the tach reader moving slightly. I hate to ship it out as it weighs 35 lbs and the freight both ways would be a killer.

JoeG,

   Glad you finally isolated your problem, maybe GGG can help you out with what ever repairs are actually needed on your 400E.  At the very least I would have him check it out, shipping cost or not.

PCRR/Dave

Joe,

I hate to ship it out as it weighs 35 lbs and the freight both ways would be a killer.

If it's under warranty and you send it to MTH for repair, MTH will pay the return shipping.

Thanks Barry,

It has been in my possession for less than 1 year, however, the dealer may have had it for about a year. Would this make a difference?

JoeG

If less than a year old, why not contact your dealer about the problem? Maybe they could take a look and fix it?

Joe,

It has been in my possession for less than 1 year, however, the dealer may have had it for about a year. Would this make a difference?

Just call MTH and find out. I think that the odds are good that they'll honor the warranty. However, the longer you wait, the worse odds become.

So what is the 400E doing?  Are the wheels clean, and the pickup rollers clean and oiled?  G

Yes G,

All wheels clean, and the pickup rollers clean and oiled. It surges ahead at all speeds, and as speed increases it gets worse. I do believe it is under warranty as it was purchase in early March last year.

Thanks,

JoeG

Was just looking at the owner's manual. There is a worm gear and gear setup that states it should cleaned and re-greased with Lithium Grease after 50 hours of operation or 12  months, which comes first, and I have not done that. Is has been longer than 12 months, could this be the cause?

JoeG

Trainlover160 posted:

Yes G,

All wheels clean, and the pickup rollers clean and oiled. It surges ahead at all speeds, and as speed increases it gets worse. I do believe it is under warranty as it was purchase in early March last year.

Thanks,

JoeG

 

 

How's the spacing between the tack reader and  timing tape. Should be about the thickness of  a dime,  Anything over an 1/8" may cause the problem you're seeing... Having said  that  I'm not familiar with  400 E   . Maybe you can't even get at it?? 

I heard back from MTH on my 400E. They had to replace the main gear and a side rod bushing.

Can't wait tio get it back now.

Joe G

If you had light bulbs to assist signal, take them off with the Rev-L.  What happened to the "main gear"  They called you?

They said the main gear was worn. I found this hard to believe with 97.5 scale miles and lubrication. After receiving it back and testing it I found the issues had not been resolved. This really angered me after spending over $30 to ship it back to them.

However, they made good on it by mailing me a call tag. So, I packed it up and returned to the fedex center to go back. After receiving it back they put it on the test track in conventional mode and could not duplicate my issue. They contacted me at work to explain and I requested they set it up in DCS and run it, and could still not duplicate my issue.

So, they took the shell off and rotated the drive wheels on the chassis right side up and upside down. After a while, that is when they spotted the issues.

The shaft that the Cruise Wheel is on was loosing contact with the drive mechanism periodically, causing the Cruise to go in and out. Hope this makes sense to all you repairs guys out there.

Therefore, I believe the main gear never needed to be replaced.

It is in route to me as I type, and will be back home in a few days. I will set up a test track to make sure it is good before I put away.

JoeG