Turing on and off Variable channel TIU channels

Is there an easy way of going from 0 to 16 volts with one press of the key?  Can I also go from 16 to 0 with another key press?

Yes, there is. From page 31 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition:

• Pressing soft key S4 (MTV) allows setting the starting and maximum voltage for this track

Scroll and press the thumbwheel to select either Start Volts or Max Volts

Scroll and press the thumbwheel to select the desired voltage

Press S4 again to set the other voltage, if desired

From page 32:

For individual tracks, the second group of soft keys:

• Pressing soft key S1 (MPG) enters programming mode for PS1 engines

Features for PS1 engines are displayed. Scroll and press the thumbwheel to select the desired PS1 programming feature

Pressing soft key S5 (DONE) returns to the Track Control Screen

• Pressing soft key S2 (TZV) resets the track voltage to zero volts

• Pressing soft key S3 (MIN) changes track voltage to the starting voltage, as set using the MTV soft key above. The default is 5 volts

• Pressing soft key S4 (PS1) adjusts voltage to effectively start up all PS1 engines on

the Track

This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", now available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book from MTH's web store site! Click on the link below to go to MTH's web page for the book!

If you run command much more frequently than conventional, then it might make sense to configure the variable channel as fixed.  Then change it back when you want to run conventional.

If memory serves me correctly---Barry correct me if it's wrong---if you have a variable set to fixed, and then scroll the thumbwheel, it reverts to variable all by itself.

Robert,

if you have a variable set to fixed, and then scroll the thumbwheel, it reverts to variable all by itself.

Yes, that's correct, however, the next time power is cycled to the remote, the channel reverts to Fixed mode.