Conventional with DCS

Is your TIU powered through Fixed 1 or the Aux port?  I have mine powered through the Aux port and 2 Lionel PH180s (1 per channel) powering Variable Inputs 1 and 2.  This allows me to run either DCS or conventional with the DCS remote.  (Sorry, I do not know the capabilities of the Z4000)

Power runs from my z400 to the fixed ports on the TIU.

I have both of my main lines powered with bricks through the TIU variable ports. If I want to run command, I set the track voltage to 17-18v  via the remote & then just operate the DCS/TMCC engines that way. If I feel like running conventional,  I just use the remote to control the track voltage. If you are using a Z4K, just set the voltage to around 18 & then use the remote like I just described 

I have run conventional through both fixed and variable ports.  The guys seem to agree that it's better to run TIU power through the AUX port and to run conventional through the variable ports.  I've used a Z4000 and ZW's for these trials.  Didn't seem to make a difference, but many guys on the forum are very good with power issues and know a lot more than me.

Right now, I'm using fixed for one line and variable for the other on my overhead layout, but I run four MTH engines on two main lines, all DCS controlled.  Seem to run fine that way.

On the table layout, I have one section running the same way, with two MTH's running on separate DCS tracks.  The only difference is that this TIU is powered through fixed 1.  I run two conventionals through a ZW in another section and three LCP's through a Z4000 on my two uppermost levels.  

Jerry

Maybe I'm not the best one to be replying since I do not know how the Z4000 works (do you just set the handles for 18v and power it up when running DCS?)  I do know when you use the Variable Inputs, you can run them as Fixed (in the remote, go to system, dcs setup, choose the var input and select the soft key that says FXD) this to my understanding will change the tracks to 18v fixed.  With that, you can run in command mode.  If you want to run conventional, follow the same steps on the remote and hit FXD again, this will change the track selected to variable voltage and you use the thumb wheel to control the voltage output.  

Thats how I am currently controlling my PS1, PS2, PS3 and post war Lionel on my carpet set up.  I can have a conventional train on the inner loop and command train on the outer or vice versa running at the same time (or 2 conventional - 1 on outer and 1 on inner, or command on both)

Yep, that's what I do is turn on my z4000 and adjust both sides to 18 volts.  It's always worked fine hooked up to the fixed ports.  I have never tried running power through the variable ports.  

Okay, so that doesn't seem much different than using bricks like I am.  I dont know about adjusting the voltage through the fixed ports of the TIU though, I'd think that it may not work properly, or how you want it to.  I think there is a way though, maybe described in Barry's book that you can change the Fixed outputs to Variable (you can only do this with a Z4000 though.)  Or I think the other option would be to use the Variable ports, but you'd still need some power source hooked into Fixed 1 or the Aux port

One option is to connect the TIU in passive mode. In this configuration, the Z4000 is connected directly to the tracks. The TIU is powered by aux and no power is connected to the channel inputs. The channels are set to fixed. A TIU output is connected to the track for each track block. You can then control the voltage to the track with the Z4000 and run conventional and command engines on the same track. The command engines will be controlled by the remote, but will be limited to the voltage provided by the Z4000.

George

If you power your TIU through the Aux port then you should be able to run conventional with your Z4000 handles through the fixed ports, or through the variable ports set to fixed or with the DCS remote to vary the voltage on the variable channels.

If you are using more than one TIU channel you really should power the TIU through the Aux port anyway.

Ok I have provided some photographs...

will this z1000 brick power my TIU?  If yes should I then switch all wires to variable posts?

After consulting Barry's book it looks like I only need to put the loop on variable control that I am going to run conventional on.  So, is there an advantage to powering the TIU with auxiliary power?

Just an alternative thought:

Use on of those Remote control units for your Z4000 (don't know the MTH item number). That way you can "remotely" raise the voltage on each side independently, for either DCS (constant 18/19 volts), or vary the voltage for conventional operation.

The Z1000 will definitely power it, not sure if there is such thing as too much though?  Mine is powered with a Z500.

Whats nice with the Variable Input is you can change it to Fixed via the remote when you wan to run command on that track

Ok go ahead and feel free to make all the snide remarks, I just read powering the TIU with aux power.  I'm kicking myself for not breaking open the book first.

Mr Union Pacific posted:

Ok go ahead and feel free to make all the snide remarks, I just read powering the TIU with aux power.  I'm kicking myself for not breaking open the book first.

WHAT????   You mean your reading the instructions?   That is really NOT fair.

You won't get any type of remark from me, three weeks ago, I was afraid to even try any of this.  Now I have it work, thanks to the people on here and Barry's book.  

I have the Z500 going into the Aux port, one PH180 in Var 1 and one PH180 in Var 2.  Var 1 controls my outer loop and Var 2 my inner and the yard.  I was away this past weekend, but vefore I left I had a PS2 engine running on the outer loop, a PS2 in the yard, and a post war conventional in the yard (I have them on toggles to kill power since 18 volts would send the old Lionel flying.)  I switched my Var 2 inner loop to variable voltage and had the old Lionel running on the inner loop.  Once I was done, pulled it into the yard, killed the power to that track, turned the track with the 2nd PS2 on, hit the soft key to change Var 2 to Fixed and then I had two PS2s running.  One on the inner and one on the outer.

In my opinion, it is best to provide external power to your TIU. That way if you happen to have a short on the No. 1 channel, and the transformer trips its circuit brake, then the whole TIU doesn't go dead. When that happens, all the other channels you may be using also loose output power.

Ok I powered up the TIU with the aux power.  I moved my outside loop wires to variable voltage in (that's from the left side of the z4000) then variable voltage out to the track....I adjusted the z4000 to 18 volts and got no power to my outside loop.  So, what gives?

Mr Union Pacific posted:

Ok I powered up the TIU with the aux power.  I moved my outside loop wires to variable voltage in (that's from the left side of the z4000) then variable voltage out to the track....I adjusted the z4000 to 18 volts and got no power to my outside loop.  So, what gives?

Using your hand held, did you increase the output of that specific "variable channel"?

Well I use my iPad I'll give the hand held a try

If you have everything set up... An aux power supply.... Full power from a Z-1000 handle to the Var IN,

Var out to track.

But first.... Menu/ System/ Dcs set up/  select the var channel you're using and hit FXD.... This will set the channel to var mode... Each time the FXD is pressed it toggles the channel from fixed mode to var mode. The remote will tell you what mode you selected. Select var mode,

Here we go .. Press TR and select the var channel you're working with and  scroll up the voltage to whatever you need.   The dcs  remote now controls dir,  horn/ bell  etc.

Having said that.. Yes you could have used the handle of the Z-4000 to run conventional. Fixed 1 & 2 are straight through connections. 

Clint,

Well I use my iPad I'll give the hand held a try

The current Standard version of the DCS App does cannot. manage TIU Tracks, aka variable channel power. At present, you need to use a DCS Remote's TR screen to manage variable channel voltage.

Clint, if you want to power conventional using Z4000 handles, connect to fixed posts.  If you can find a Z4000 receiver, you can control the voltage from your remote.  If you want walkaround control, use the variable posts.  If you feed variables from a Z4000, I'd leave handles all the way up.

My layout uses 6 TIU circuits.  TIU#1 fixed circuits are fed by a Z4000 controlled by a Z4000 receiver.  TIU#1 variables are fed from a postwar ZW, set on 18 volts.  TIU#2 vriables are fed by a single Lionel Powerhouse 180.  I can run either DCS or conventional anywhere, everywhere, anytime.

Both TIUs are fed through AUX port by wall warts.

You say you connected Z4k's outputs to variable.  If you do that, you have to use remote to set variables to full voltage, or using the menu change them for fixed mode, if you want to control from handles.

Well, I do declare, Barry I was about to believe something was really wrong.  Do you think at a later date the app will be able to do that?

Mr Union Pacific posted:

Well, I do declare, Barry I was about to believe something was really wrong.  Do you think at a later date the app will be able to do that?

Yes at a later date. Been holding my breath for a year

Clint,

Do you think at a later date the app will be able to do that?

I gauantee that the Premium version of the app will do that.