Watchdog Signal

yes, just bring the power to zero. Anytime power is applied to the TIU channel, a watchdog signal is sent out.

If you have a DCS Remote Commander languishing in a box somewhere, you can make it into a WD Generator, then you'll never have a problem with engines waking up on the sidings.

DCS-RC Perpetual Barking Watchdog Generator

John, if this is the remote commander that you are referring, unfortunately I do not have one.

Besides shutting down the track after powering up (My engines starts up when I add siding track power - no real control other than whistle/bell due to no watch dog) if you are using the DCS remote, just hit the shutdown button immediately. Then, hit start the engine button, and it will work fine.  Guests will just assume the engine did not catch the first time, and the engineer had to hit her again! John has a dodad to aid, but this is easy also....and costs nothing!

After powering up a siding with an engine on it which puts the engine in conventional, I just hit the startup button (3) on the DCS remote after selecting it, and the engine immediately goes into command mode.

@upguy posted:

After powering up a siding with an engine on it which puts the engine in conventional, I just hit the startup button (3) on the DCS remote after selecting it, and the engine immediately goes into command mode.

Neat, I guess I will have to try that today...I thought I had to shut down, then start up. Thanks, Greg

@upguy posted:

After powering up a siding with an engine on it which puts the engine in conventional, I just hit the startup button (3) on the DCS remote after selecting it, and the engine immediately goes into command mode.

This works well but one word of caution: I've had brand new DCS engines come up in conventional and take off at full speed.  If this is how you choose to run your layout, I would make sure all of my DCS engines come up in conventional Neutral.  If not, there is a procedure to lock the engine in conventional neutral. 

https://ogrforum.com/topic/753...86#75340558691199886

Trust me, there are only a few worse feelings than watching a prized engine race to a crash.

Tony V

Maybe I am missing something, but if I have a dedicated handle on my Z4000 for just yard tracks, how can the engine take off at full speed if I hit the toggle to allow power to the track then slowly apply power to the track?  I guess for my method to work, a new watchdog signal has to be sent when I take the handle down to zero and then back to 18 volts.  Is the watchdog signal only sent when the transformer is first powered up or is a new watchdog signal sent when the voltage goes to zero then back to 18 volts?

did some digging into older threads and found one from 2017 where Barry stated:

The watchdog is sent on a channel-by-channel basis anytime the TIU channel's output voltage changes from 0 to any higher voltage. Of course, the TIU must be powered on or it will not work at all, let alone send a watchdog signal.