Controller question for MTH RailKing trains

DCS System! End of discussion.

He did say he didn't want a remote. It's either just use throttle handles, or maybe a DCS Commander might work? I don't know much about them.

For "ALL" functions, sounds, lights, cruise control, and both at once, you need DCS. Can be full blown TIU and remote OR their DCS Explorer (WIFI) and a brick power supply allowing you to use phone or tablet to control them.  Full DCS supports 99 engines, last I heard and DCS explorer supports up to 3 engines. Probably your best bet.

For popular functions, bell, horn, sounds etc. you can get their basic"TV" style remote , the track plug in controller and a brick power supply. You can't run both at once using this setup.

For just conventional operation, speed, horn, bell, most transformers would would except maybe a Lionel CW, lots of discussions on those. Not possible to run both at once with this setup.

@John H posted:

He did say he didn't want a remote. It's either just use throttle handles, or maybe a DCS Commander might work? I don't know much about them.

Hey John, thank you and yes about no hand held remote.

Be safe and have a great day.

@MR_P posted:

For "ALL" functions, sounds, lights, cruise control, and both at once, you need DCS. Can be full blown TIU and remote OR their DCS Explorer (WIFI) and a brick power supply allowing you to use phone or tablet to control them.  Full DCS supports 99 engines, last I heard and DCS explorer supports up to 3 engines. Probably your best bet.

For popular functions, bell, horn, sounds etc. you can get their basic"TV" style remote , the track plug in controller and a brick power supply. You can't run both at once using this setup.

For just conventional operation, speed, horn, bell, most transformers would would except maybe a Lionel CW, lots of discussions on those. Not possible to run both at once with this setup.

Hello MR P, it looks like I will need a TIU for sure and then ?? I believe Dallas might have the system that will work for me.

Thanks again,

Just like PW Lionel, a transformer in the 80 to 100 Watt range, one for each loop.  You want something with a more pure sinewave and a bell and whistle button.

In conventional, per your instructions, there are Bell and Whistle combinations to activate both couplers, turn cruise on or off, and activate Station affects.

As stated you will have a better experience with some level of Command control, even the explorer.  G

@John H posted:

He did say he didn't want a remote. It's either just use throttle handles, or maybe a DCS Commander might work? I don't know much about them.

You can hardwire the DCS remote to the TIU via a coiled telephone cord.

Can two Z-1000 (40-1000) be hooked up to a TIU (50-1003) and block the track so that I have two equal separate tracks?

@ThomasT posted:

Can two Z-1000 (40-1000) be hooked up to a TIU (50-1003) and block the track so that I have two equal separate tracks?

It sure can!

You can can feed up to four individual power sources into a single TIU and have individual outputs. Or you can split one Z-1000 to two inputs of the TIU and output to two equal separate blocks.

@H1000 posted:

It sure can!

You can can feed up to four individual power sources into a single TIU and have individual outputs. Or you can split one Z-1000 to two inputs of the TIU and output to two equal separate blocks.

Hello H1000, remember that I am a newbie, so can one Z-1000 into a TIU control two MTH trains on the layout that I described above?

Be safe and have a great day and thank you.

Thomas, Yes!

The output plug of the z-1000 is a barrel style plug and will need to be adapted to be used with the TIU. They make adapter (https://mthtrains.com/50-1017) for sale or you can cut the plug off and strip the wires to connect directly to the TIU on the INPUT side. Make sure to at least power the "FIXED 1" input as the TIU itself is powered from these terminals.

Next, run jumper wires from the "FIXED 1" input to the "FIXED 2" input. This allows you to use a Single Z-1000 to power two separate outputs on the TIU.  Wire the first block to "FIXED 1" output and the second block to the "FIXED 2" output. As soon as you plug in the Z-1000, both blocks will be fully powered.

Perhaps this diagram from the MTH catalog can help a bit, It shows different power sources and also describes some of the ways to integrate Lionel's system as well:

@H1000 posted:

Thomas, Yes!

The output plug of the z-1000 is a barrel style plug and will need to be adapted to be used with the TIU. They make adapter (https://mthtrains.com/50-1017) for sale or you can cut the plug off and strip the wires to connect directly to the TIU on the INPUT side. Make sure to at least power the "FIXED 1" input as the TIU itself is powered from these terminals.

Next, run jumper wires from the "FIXED 1" input to the "FIXED 2" input. This allows you to use a Single Z-1000 to power two separate outputs on the TIU.  Wire the first block to "FIXED 1" output and the second block to the "FIXED 2" output. As soon as you plug in the Z-1000, both blocks will be fully powered.

Perhaps this diagram from the MTH catalog can help a bit, It shows different power sources and also describes some of the ways to integrate Lionel's system as well:

Hey again H1000, thank you very much. I have spent a lot of time in the MTH catalog but cannot remember seeing that page, however I will go find it now.

Thank you again

Pages 10 and 11 in the 2020 Volume two catalog.

Curtis

@CurtisH posted:

Pages 10 and 11 in the 2020 Volume two catalog.

Curtis

Hi CurtisH, yep it took me a while but I did find them. I went ahead and ordered two of the Z-1000s and in line on the next shipment of the TIU. I can go ahead and start to work on the table and layout. Thank you for the help.

Thomas

You will not be unhappy with DCS. I love it. I have Legacy also but now use only the DCS Remote or the DCS Premier app to run both Legacy and DCS also with conventional. All with no problems. App gives me 99% of legacy. Never hesitate to ask questions here or email me is in my profile. Great group on here. I also hope you joined, it is free. Heck spend twelve dollars and become a supporting member.

Curtis

@ThomasT posted:

Hello everyone,

I am new to model railroading and I am in the beginning process of building a 4' x 8' layout using Fastrack, O scale, 3-rail. It will be two tracks joined with a 90 degree Cross ( an inner track and an outer track ) so that I can run both MTH trains at the same time and also be able to reverse their direction. The two trains that I currently have are: MTH 30-4228-1E and MTH 30-1830-1 and would like to operate them using all of their functions. I prefer to have a “hard wired” setup and not a hand held remote unit, and keep it as simple as possible. Any and all suggestions and help would be appreciated.

ThomasT

@John H posted:

He did say he didn't want a remote. It's either just use throttle handles, or maybe a DCS Commander might work? I don't know much about them.

@ThomasT posted:

Hey John, thank you and yes about no hand held remote.

Be safe and have a great day.

OK .........THOMAS  T. ...NO....HANDHELD REMOTE. 🙄

Use 2 separate Z1000 bricks hooked up to 2 separate Z1000 Controllers to run two separate trains on 2 separate loops.    This is the simplest method I know of to operate without a remote using MTH equipment.

   I do believe that The DCS  COMMANDER  is another way to get along with no remote JOHN H........also the big Z4000 could be used without a remote.   Both of these two options would be a little more involved . 🤔

@Dallas Joseph posted:

OK .........THOMAS  T. ...NO....HANDHELD REMOTE. 🙄

Use 2 separate Z1000 bricks hooked up to 2 separate Z1000 Controllers to run two separate trains on 2 separate loops.    This is the simplest method I know of to operate without a remote using MTH equipment.

   I do believe that The DCS  COMMANDER  is another way to get along with no remote JOHN H........also the big Z4000 could be used without a remote.   Both of these two options would be a little more involved . 🤔

Hello again Dallas, sure do appreciate all the help and time you have given to me. This should be a fun project and will keep me busy through the winter. Hope to get started on the frame work for the layout real soon. Thanks again.