gladstone23 posted:I used to power my four DCS loops through the TIU with 2 PH 180 bricks. Last year I had a MTH local tech convince me to go to four independent MTH 100 was Z Controllers instead. I confess I do like using the four independent controllers because I can bring the power up slowly on each individual track. He said this is better for the engine...I used to turn my whole system on with the full 180 watt brick going on full force......he made the argument that my MTH engines will run better and be more protected using MTH equipment and was surprised I did not burn out more DCS boards. I'm not electrically astute in any way mind you...again he argued that MTH power supplies were engineered to work with MTH products as opposed to Lionel products...Can anyone weigh in on this? Fact? Fiction?
That is a load of something smelly IMO. First off, sending the chopped waveform into the TIU isn't the optimum solution. Second, the Z-1000 has a decidedly inferior breaker to the excellent electronically controlled breaker on the PH180 bricks. If you use the Z-1000 with it, I strongly recommend you add circuit protection between the transformer and the TIU. I think your local tech needs a bit of electronic education. 
