Hi, my TIU runs fine then for some reason it will lose power out of "Variable port 1" and the engines run slow, or just shut down altogether on the other ports. Control commands become a problem on the other ports as well.
When I try to power up the output of the V1 port the input side flickers and the output stays off.
I am using a Z 4000 set at 18 VAC on the input of V1 and I have a Z 500 brick plugged into Aux Power Input. This has happened before, but after clearing all engines and rolling stock off of my loops and letting things sit for a night everything was working perfectly yesterday. This led me to suspect an over heating issue may of caused this but when all was running well yesterday I never drew more then 3 amps per loop. Though when the problem came back after about an hour of continues running the transformer was showing the Z4K output voltage was pulled down to 15 VAC and the current draw was floating between 1 and 5 amps with the loops removed of all engines and cars. Now I suspect something in the TIU.
The first thing I did was to run a signal strength test on all three power loops on my layout and everything read #10, except for a few spots where it dropped to an 8, or 9. I use the Marty Fitzhenry 18 VAC lamp filters on all input and outputs to the TIU as well as at my terminal blocks. This not only improves my signal strength but also provides me with a clear indicator of weather voltage is present or not. But, the problem showed it's ugly head up again last night.
The TIU unit is a series L, the newest model bought about 2 years ago, this is a new issue.
All control options worked fine from the hand remote before this.
My TIU unit is housed in a building I Kit bashed for it that sits above the layout with Line of Sight from almost all locations.
To be on the safe side I installed 10 VDC cooling fans in the building because the TIU was enclosed. All cosmetic lighting of this structure are LED and they as well as the fans are powered by a stand alone source.
I would appreciate any and all advice on this problem.
Problem was sloppy wiring. It turned out to be a short where the red wire ran under the ground rail on one of my blocks. The rail was cutting through the insulation, but only every now and then. Probably when I removed all of my rolling stock the first time it was enough to open the pressure switch that I created thus permitting proper operation.
