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Reply to "MTH remote control box, in line with Z1000 transformer doesn't work. I wonder why?"

stan2004 posted:

I'm thinking: less time messing with wiring, more time playing with trains!  So here's my recommendation. 

mth rev c

The DPDT switch now selects and switches BOTH red and black to the track.  The "penalty" is that brick power is applied to both the Z-controller and the DCS-RC all the time.  So even if only one is connected to the track at any given time, the other is nevertheless powered up (albeit its output goes nowhere).   Even if the DPDT is set to the "center-off" position with neither connected to the track, both the Z-controller and DCS-RC are powered up from the brick.

I did just measure the power penalty.  The Z-controller draws between 3-5 Watts (knob position OFF-max) with nothing connected to its output.  The DCS-RC draws about 1 Watt with nothing connected to its output.  So this method does has a small power "tax".  This tax is deducted from the 100 Watt brick capability.

While it may be possible to use a common Red (vs. Black) in this situation, it assumes facts-not-in-evidence.  I try to show this in the revised diagram above with Orange and Green being the 2-wire inputs.  In other words, I should not assume any commonality from input to output. 

Works like a charm. It was those commons, letting signal thru, or something. Thanks for all of the help. One more hurdle crossed, and now on to the next, but this was one of the most critical to getting the system running with out a DCS system.

Thanks again,
Roger

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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