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TIU: repair or not

H humbug2OGR Forum Member

After an unbelievable amount of trouble shooting I wonder what it would cost and where I would send my TIU (rev 13a dotted) and remote for repair:

 

1. Communication between TIU and remote did not work, reseating transmission boards did not help. Bought a 50 ft phone handset cord.

 

2. I use vbl 1 and vbl 2 for track power as most of my running is conventional. Input power is a contemporary ZW. Horns blow all the time with certain locos. I mutilated and installed a Atlas O HD Selector (terrible product, tiniest, shortest screws in small "pits" ) to switch track power between ZW and DCS channels independently. 

3. Vbl 1 signal quality over track is 8-10, mostly 9s which I consider acceptable with my layout and wiring. I have used a test track and gotten 10s. Vbl 2 signal quality fluctuates between 4 and 7, mostly 4 however tested.

 

At the moment I have 1 DCS and 1 Legacy locos. I plan on getting Legacy as soon as new units are available and seeing how I like it. Going forward I might go either way or both with future purchases. At this time I don't want to spend money on more power "bricks" until I am certain that I want DCS long-term.

 

ALL advice is appreciated.

 

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Pine Creek RailroadPine Creek RailroadOGR Forum Member

humburg2,

   Because of the many problems you are having I would either send your DCS unit back to MTH for a full up Grade,  or talk to Barry and his crew about helping with the total up grade.

Further it sounds like you are trying to retro-fit your layout.   Once your DCS is in the most current revision, I would go slow testing each part of the layout as I reto-fittered for DCS.  Definitely use the programming track for programming your engines.

Make sure you safe guard your TIU with Scott 10 Amp breakers, if you are using old ZW & KW transformers to power your layout.  Purchase Barry's DCS Companion Vol 2 and the OGR Video guide to DCS both, and us them as you retro-fit your layout.  Get rid of the Atlas HD selector, until after you have fully proven out your DCS/TMCC controlled layout.

PCRR/Dave

 

RussellRussellOGR Forum Member

Just a thought, did you mean V2 gave 4's on the test track also?

This would indicate a weak channel. That would dictate a repair for me.

 

If you did not try it on the test track, try swapping V1 with V2 and see if the good signal moves to the other track.  If it moves you have a weak channel and the TIU needs repair.

 

You might also get a quote from MTH on the repair and consider just buying a new TIU instead, they are available and have better signal generators in them.

H humbug2OGR Forum Member

PCR:  Layout was/is blocked for conventional. It is a current ZW 2*180w. Retro-fit is what I am trying to do. All measurements were taken with "magic" bulbs. Measurements before and after installing the Selector were the same. 

 

Russell:  V 2 on the test track fluctuated between 4 and 7, mostly 4s. I swapped V 1 and V 2 out as well as swapping the input channels. The problem stays with TIU's V 2.

The question of repair versus buying another TIU is why I started this thread.  On that I am undecided.

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