Optional control system design

Note: These examples are an optional approach to implementing the MTH DCS system for O scale model railroading.  It is not intended as a tutorial which is best left to other references. Additional features have been designed to supplement the DCS system but are not essential to the operation when using the MTH DCS system but are merely provided as options for consideration by the reader.

Additional hardwired controls and LED display are shown here.  These controllers are used along with the DCS handheld for control of turnouts, blocks and other accessories.

The toggle switches control blocks.  The pushbuttons control turnouts. These boxes are used along side the DCS system itself.  A separate turnout control panel can also be used at the same time. Any of these panels are useable along with the DCS handheld controller via the AIU. 

This is a very simple "concept"layout built to demonstrate various innovative construction techniques. 

NOTE:

This posting is provided for informational purposes.  It is intended as an illustration of some "optional" techniques for wiring a DCS system.  However it is the option of the OGR Forum reader to apply some of these techniques to their control system in any fashion they deem appropriate.

Other wiring methods may be just as appropriate.

It is my understanding that the Forum is open to anyone as long as they abide by the rules governing the Forum.  As always helpful suggestions and comments are always welcome.  Comments from other Forum readers are useful since the model railroading experience of others adds to the value of the hobby. 

Just out of curiosity, is there a point to this thread?

pro hobby, Thanks for sharing your setup.  It's a treat to see how neatly you set up your control boxes and terminal strips.

It may or may not be on the right forum.  Perhaps the layout or electrical forum would be better, But, the point seems pretty obvious, to show a nice job building a set of control panels and such.  Lots of folks like to see a well built, neat setup.  It gives us all ideas to use on our own layouts, and I, for one, support it.  

So, I'm assuming you have the ZW wired to the track directly, apart from the TIU's for conventional control? Thus, all switches and blocks are also conventionally controlled apart from the DCS system. Or, can you integrate the AIU's for switches, uncoupling tracks, etc. while using the ZW's for track power, apart from the TIU's?

Note: These examples are an optional approach to implementing the MTH DCS system for O scale model railroading.  It is not intended as a tutorial which is best left to other references. Additional features have been designed to supplement the DCS system but are not essential to the operation when using the MTH DCS system but are merely provided as options for consideration by the reader.

This posting is provided for informational purposes.  It is intended as an illustration of some "optional" techniques for wiring a DCS system.  However it is the option of the OGR Forum reader to apply some of these techniques to their control system in any fashion they deem appropriate.

Other wiring methods may be just as appropriate.

It is my understanding that the Forum is open to anyone as long as they abide by the rules governing the Forum.  As always helpful suggestions and comments are always welcome.  Comments from other Forum readers are useful since the model railroading experience of others adds to the value of the hobby. 

The system is designed such that either conventional control or DCS control can be used. Although engines can be operated using the MTH DCS system along with DCS compatible engines the choice is left to the operator. In this example it was not intended that conventional engines would be running on the very SAME track at the very same time as DCS or TMCC engines even though this is technically possible using the TIU.

In this particular example power from the TIU outputs is temporarily disconnected when operating from other power sources. This is accomplished using an "interlock" which automatically disconnects the TIU output power if "conventional" mode operation is desired using the alternate ZW or Z4000 transformers.

Note:  In this instance the TIU/AIU combination is still available for block, turnout and accessory control using the DCS handheld.

However it is not intended that conventional engines would be running on the very SAME track at the very same time as DCS or TMCC engines even though this is technically possible.

This is not correct. The system was designed to be as flexible as possible. Further, it''s the only such system, of which I'm aware, that has this capability.

Power from the TIU outputs would be disconnected when operating from other power sources. This is accomplished using an "interlock" which automatically disconnects the TIU output power if "conventional" mode operation is desired using the alternate ZW transformers.

This is completely unnecessary if one uses the system as it was intended to be used. One may absolutely use the TIU in a conventional environment and benefit from walk-around control using the DCS Remote.

Please do not suggest that all of this extra work is necessary to use DCS as it was intended to be used. You are misleadingly describing DCS as a much more difficult system to use than it actually is.

Agreed that this posting could also be useful under the "electrical" topic. However since the TIU/AIU combination is a central component to this design it was considered relevant to the DCS topic as well.

prohobby, I can run either or both conventional and DCS anywhere on my layout at the same time, including on the same TIU channel and in the same block, and have no other switches or interlocks.  The system you suggest is unneeded and unnecessarily limiting complexity.

I agree this is the proper forum location.

I hate seeing neat wiring, for a reason I shall leave unstated.

Note: These examples are an optional approach to implementing the MTH DCS system for O scale model railroading.  It is not intended as a tutorial which is best left to other references. Additional features have been designed to supplement the DCS system but are not essential to the operation when using the MTH DCS system but are merely provided as options for consideration by the reader.

Note: All the additional hardwired control boxes are OPTIONAL. They are wired into the system using prefabricated patch cables. The various control boxes for selecting route or blocks provide an ALTERNATE method of controlling the layout.  The forthcoming wi fi system from MTH will also provide an alternative to the use of the MTH handheld controller.

Note: These examples are an optional approach to implementing the MTH DCS system for O scale model railroading.  It is not intended as a tutorial which is best left to other references. Additional features have been designed to supplement the DCS system but are not essential to the operation when using the MTH DCS system but are merely provided as options for consideration by the reader. 

Any comments on this forum are at the option of each forum member. Since different  methods may used to operate or control O scale model railroads each individual is free to choose the most appropriate brand and control system which is most suitable to the individual. 

prohobby, you are absolutely correct.  Any train layout owner can design their system to be as complex as he or she wishes, however unnecessarily complex it is.   And as you note, "Any comments on this forum are at the option of each forum member," which leads others to post, for the benefit of newcomers, whensomeone's design is unnecessarily complex and may confuse someone lacking a depth of knowledge and experience in electric train operation and design.

For myself, I prefer to keep everything as simple and straightforward as possible.