Re: SAMRA Show Jan. 27th-28th

[Scott A Smiley <sc.smiley@juno.com>]

A switch would be installed between the transformer and the control
units, either TMCC or TIU.  Only the power would go through the switch
not any of the control signals.  

Just an idea still.

Scott

On Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:05:35 -0600 "Ira Schneider"
<ira_schneider@Iname.com> writes:
> I strongly disagree with the idea of adding a switch to the track 2 
> power flow.
> 
> 1.  We don't know what effect adding a switch will have on the DCS 
> signal quality.  We have enough
>      trouble with signal quality now.  Adding another variable is 
> just asking for more problems.
> 
> 2. The board of directors previously discussed this option and 
> agreed to leave the MTH Track
>      Interface Unit (TIU) connected in series with the Track Power 
> Controller (TPC).  In fact, the original
>      agreement was to have ONLY the TIU control track 2.  We added 
> the TPC in series with the TIU
>      to allow track 2 to be shut down if anyone hits the HALT button 
> on any CAB-1 in case of a
>      major problem on the layout.
> 
> 3. If you want to run TMCC on track 2, all you have to do is:
>     a. Select Track 2, then Boost on a CAB-1.
>     b. Press TR, select TRACK 2 COMMAND, and turn the thumbwheel up 
> one click on the MTH handheld.
>     c. Use the CAB-1 to send commands to the engine.
> 
> 4. If you want to run conventional mode on track 2, all you have to 
> do is:
>     a. Select Track 2, then Boost on a CAB-1.
>     b. Press TR, select TRACK 2 CONV, and turn the thumbwheel up or 
> down to control the speed
>         of the train.  The DIR button controls the direction; the 
> BELL button rings the bell, and the
>         W/H button sounds the whistle or horn.
> 
> I have heard complaints before about not being able to power up 
> track 2.  However, I have rarely
> had any problems getting power to track 2.  I suspect the problem is 
> operator error, since
> you have to remember to power up the track using BOTH handhelds and 
> make sure the TIU
> is powered on.  Also, occasionally, after running for a while, the 
> TIU and handheld stop
> communicating with each other.  Turning the TIU and the handheld off 
> then on usually corrects
> this problem.  (There is a power switch on the power box for the 
> TIU.)
> 
> I have learned the minimum command sequences I need to use the 
> CAB-1.  Surely, our members can
> learn the minimum commands necessary to use the MTH handheld to 
> allow them to operate TMCC or
> conventional mode engines on track 2.
> 
> 
> Ira
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------
> TTAT members reflector.
> 
>