Power supply for TMCC and DCS

No. The trains need AC power

Steve speaks the truth, read any Legacy or TMCC manual, they clearly specify AC power.  DCS, as it turns out, will run on DC or AC.

I new DCS would deal with DC and figured TMCC would as well as the system converts the AC to DC onboard for the Motors. just trying to avoid the expense of a lionel ZW or MTH Z-4000.

Rick,

   The guys are giving you good advise, use the AC Transformers.  You do not need a Z4K or ZW-L to run your DCS/Legacy.  Pick up a couple old ZW's at reasonable prices and put 10 Amp Breakers between the Transformers and your DCS TIU on each Red Channel.  Join your Legacy base with the TIU with the correct cable and you are all set to go, and powered correctly.  I also suggest picking up both the OGR Video Guide to DCS and Barry's DCS O Gauge Companion Book, lots of great education in both formats.  For a guy just getting back into the hobby, Rich Melvin does a great visual job in the Video Guide, saving massive time and eliminating lots of trial and error frustration.

Welcome back to the Hobby!

PCRR/Dave

 Quote from Dave .... Pick up a couple old ZW's at reasonable prices and put 10 Amp Breakers between the Transformers and your DCS TIU on each Red Channel.

Yes   breakers or fuses. We have 8 PWZWs powering the layout. The odd time the rollers on A or D handle have been over used so the B&C  handles  fill in just nicely.

If I had unlimited $$$$$$$, I  I'd use   Lionel 180 bricks.  (just for the fast circuit breaker).  We'd need 16. Ouch.

I still have one of the bricks somewhere. Are they still available?

I also have a working Lionel 250 watt Z transformer i am assuming if I use one output its the whole 250 watts two outputs would be 125 watts each and so on or is it already divided into four equal amounts to the four outputs. and I would need to provide some fuse protection correct.   thanks for the help.  Rick

Actually, you can draw as little or as much of the total transformer capacity through any of the outputs.  That's the same as the PW-ZW, any of the four outputs has access to the full transformer current.

Thanks for the info. it looks like the unit is in good working order and should do the job. guess I will spend the money I was going to spend on a power supply and upgrade my old TMCC with a new Legacy system.

Hey Rick. I don't know how many engines or your  power requirements but  the brick can feed more than one tiu channel  .

Example....The brick is hooked up to channel fixed 1 IN and fixed 1 out goes to a loop. You can jumper over Fixed 1 IN over to Fixed 2 IN and fixed 2 out can go to another loop. This way each loop has it's own dcs signal generator working  for a better DCS track signal.

Rick, you should be fine with the Z just get a couple of PSX-AC circuit breakers. They are fast and can be adjusted for different trip currents. FCTT is using them now. Check them out at the next show as they are probably on the trailer now.

The advantage of the PSX vs the Lionel TMCC Lock On is the PSX works for conventional as well as Command while the Lock on will not work for voltages below 13 or so so no good for conventional.

Pete

Another big disadvantage of the TMCC Direct Lockon is it stomps on the DCS signal!  It drove me a bit nuts until I found out that it mangled the DCS signal.

I have only used my TMCC Lock Ons on the input of the TIU. Don't TIUs have fuses and TVS's? 

Pete

Using the TMCC lockon on the input of the TIU would work.  Yes, the TIU does have a TVS, and the TMCC Lockon doesn't have one in any case.

Rick,

   Forget the TMCC lock ons and spend your money on the Legacy 990, run both DCS & Legacy with your ZW's.  Guns likes the bricks, I like the older ZW's, it's all in the way you want to power your full layout, no real right or wrong way, just different ways of setting up.  

Have fun

PCRR/Dave 

I hope this fits into this string:  I would like to incorporate some Lionel TMCC/Legacy into my DCS layout. I want to start simple and "quickly" (open house for club late Nov.); maybe just add Lionel base directly onto track separate from DCS hookup(?). Any recommendations?

Wally

Just connect the Legacy (or TMCC) command base to the outside rail of the layout, plug in the command base, and start running trains.  Since you have DCS, one presumes you already have constant 18V track power, so you're all set.

Rick,

Unlike new transformers that are rated based on there maximum output wattage, the older transformers were rated on their maximum input wattage.  Those old transformers used some of that power internally, so the 250 put out only around 180 watts or so, the same as a PH180 brick.

Dave, the Lock On and PSX breakers were recommended because Rick wants to use his old ZW which don't have breakers fast enough to protect anything. If he uses bricks then he would have fast breakers built in. Using unprotected PW transformers not a good idea in a command environment. 

Pete

Norm,

   In a prior post I explained how to set up the old ZW with the Breakers on each Red line, you may have missed that post.  The last post was just further info.

PCRR/Dave