Wiring problem - all engines start

A couple of checks.

(1.)  Engine start-up indicates conventional operation no DCS signal.

(2.) The TIU power is from Fixed One.   Fixed one has to be on, for the TIU to supply signal to both Fixed One and  Fixed Two.  There is a red light visible in the TIU that indicates it is on.

(3.) The TIU can be powered separately via the Aux Input power, noted in the instruction manual.

(4.)  Both Var 1 and Var 2 can be set to fixed with the handheld remote.

If you're getting voltage on the var channel whether in fixed mode or var mode the tiu must   be on ,else the var channels would be dead,  .  Reversed wire someplace or ... Are you running version 5?   I had a little trouble at first with  one engine coming up in conventional on a  var channel and eventually got it to work... Power supply was a 1033  however ....is the watch dog  sending early before track voltage.  I have a way of tesing with an old AM radio. I can hear the watch dog and other bursts of data packets.   No today though.

Gregg,

is the watch dog  sending early before track voltage

A correctly functioning TIU's watchdog signal is 5 seconds in duration and begins broadcasting as soon as voltage at a TIU output channel becomes other than zero volts . As long as the voltage gets high enough in that 5-second time period (10-12 volts should do it), a properly functioning engine should always come up in DCS mode.

Once they startup can you add them, or if already added, shut them down with remote?  If so they just missed watch dog and it could be a combination or how it is being powered up.

As a test, power fix1 separately with one handle, and than power up fix 2 with other handle of z-4000.  Does it work?  G

Barry Broskowitz posted:

Gregg,

is the watch dog  sending early before track voltage

A correctly functioning TIU's watchdog signal is 5 seconds in duration and begins broadcasting as soon as voltage at a TIU output channel becomes other than zero volts . As long as the voltage gets high enough in that 5-second time period (10-12 volts should do it), a properly functioning engine should always come up in DCS mode.

Yep. we also know there is a slight delay when the var channels are set to fixed using a brick or a PW  transformer set to full. At least a full second maybe a little more. Yes I know you can't do that with a Z-4000 so maybe it's just a timing issue. 

I use only the variable channels set to fixed, one for each loop. I still have a couple conventional engines that I run once in a while. I leave the transformer handles on full and use the switch to power up. Never misses the Watchdog.