Variable Channel Question

Joe B,

    This does not sound like an engine problem, this sounds like you have your track wiring crossed some where.  Go back and make sure your transformer red wire is running to your TIU red in Channel, and that your red TIU out Channel wire, is running to your mid rail, thru out your DCS layout, any cross over will mess up your DCS running of your P2/P3 engines.  If you are running conventional tubular track this can happen easily if you put the wires on your lock on in the wrong wire connectors.

Double check every lock on wire..

PCRR/Dave

Dave is on the right track,, If you're using the E-Stop.  all tiu channels will shut down. Unless?...That's what we have to figure out.   The track is getting power somehow... Through a switch or accessory ??

Joe,

Please confirm the following:

• The engine comes on immediately after power is applied
• If you then select the engine and press startup, it goes into command mode and can be operated under DCS from the remote's ENG screen
• When E-Stop is pressed, the track does not lose power
• The variable channel is wired normally, i.e., not in passive TIU mode
• There is no other power source feeding the tracks for the variable channel except through the TIU's variable channel input.

If all of the above are true, and the E-Stop does, indeed, turn off power to other channels, most likely the TIU has a hardware problem on that variable channel.

If, however, the E-Stop doesn't turn off any power to any channels, then most likely either the TIU or the remote has a hardware problem.

Gregg,

   Barry is giving him the other possibilities, he could have a bad TIU, but most times the TIU's are good, my very 1st TIU was faulty NIB however.  He may however have bad luck and his TIU maybe faulty.

PCRR/Dave

If you can't control the voltage on the VAR channel it sounds as if the power FET or FETs are shorted and constantly conducting.  G

Pine Creek, Gregg & Barry,

I went thru all the steps that Barry recommended and it looks like I have a hardware problem on that channel only. The engine responds to all commands sent to it. Barry, do you think I will still be able to use this TIU, or should I have it updated to from 4.20 to 4.30 to see if it resolves the problem or replace it.

Thanks for your help, Joe B.

Joe B,

   I do not think this is a update soft ware problem you have a faulty TIU as GGG indicates, probably a FET or FET'S plural.  It will need repair work by an authorized repair person like GGG.

PCRR/dave

 How about one more try at this...... Disconnect the output of the var channel right at the tiu. . leave the input side  with  voltage.  Try the E-stop again  ..is there still  voltage on the out put side of the  var channel?? test with meter or light bulb.

Joe,

To confirm both that the engine starts missing the watchdog signal, and that E-Stop doesn't work, do the following:

• Disconnect everything from the TIU
• Connect a power source to either fixed #1 or the Aux. Power port
• Connect a short piece of track to the output of the suspect variable channel and place the engine on the track
• Connect a power source to the input of the variable channel
• Confirm that the engine comes up with lights and sound, or not
• Press startup and confirm that you can operate the engine on the variable channel
• Press E-Stop and confirm that the engine does not lose power.

Next, repeat the above using each of the other TIU channels. Tell us what happens for each channel.

Barry,

I wouldn't be able to get to that until the weekend but I will let you know as soon as I do. Thanks to all of you for your help.

Joe B.

Barry,

I didn't try your recommendation to test all the channels on the TIU but I did replace the faulty TIU with a different one this afternoon and everything including the e-stop work as it should. What I'm going to do is wait until the latest updated version of 4.30 is released and then send it to GGG for repair and have it updated all at once.

Thanks, Joe B.