how to connect mth z4000, tiu,aiu,wiu & best way to run proto1

Attached is a picture showing connection of a Z-4K to a DCS system with WiFi.

The two pairs of blue and white wires at the top right come from the 10v and 14v fixed voltage terminals of the transformer and go to 24 terminal MTH blocks and then out to various accessories depending on voltage requirements. Those transformer outputs are generally used for powering accessories and should not generally be used to power the TIU or track which requires 18v for command control operation.

The two pairs of blue and white wires at the bottom right of the photo come from the two variable voltage, handle-controlled outputs of the transformer and go to the fixed inputs of the TIU. When the system is turned on, the handles are pushed up quickly to 18v each, one for each of my two main loops of track.

The two pairs of blue and white wires at the top left of the photo come from the fixed outputs of the TIU and go to two 12 terminal MTH blocks (one for each track loop) and then connect to multiple feeder/drops to each loop of track to power the track and feed the DCS signal

There is a Lionel SER2 module installed for Legacy operation and I do not have an AIU hooked up (yet).

Hope this helps.

BUCCA,

The Z-4000 with the remote receiver (40-4002) is the tops for running your Proto 1 engines. The variable channels make programming them very easy, but some early ones may have a problem with it not putting out pure wave form as the Z-4000 does, even though the Variable is powered by the Z-4000 transformer. The Z-4000 with remote receiver allows remote control by varying the voltage at the Z-4000 tranformer without using the handles which stay in the off position. Later Proto 1 doesn't have the problem it seems. It will also run your other conventional engines great such as PW Lionel.

Though you can run your Leagacy with DCS, I would still use Leagacy to run your Lionel command engines to get all the features it provides.

Joe Allen posted:

BUCCA,

The Z-4000 with the remote receiver (40-4002) is the tops for running your Proto 1 engines. The variable channels make programming them very easy, but some early ones may have a problem with it not putting out pure wave form as the Z-4000 does, even though the Variable is powered by the Z-4000 transformer. The Z-4000 with remote receiver allows remote control by varying the voltage at the Z-4000 tranformer without using the handles which stay in the off position. Later Proto 1 doesn't have the problem it seems. It will also run your other conventional engines great such as PW Lionel.

Though you can run your Leagacy with DCS, I would still use Leagacy to run your Lionel command engines to get all the features it provides.

While that may have been true using the base DCS system with TIU and remote, my understanding is that now when using the TIU, WIU and updated, premium DCS app, you essentially have full Legacy function of Lionel command engines.

Richie C.

 

While that may have been true using the base DCS system with TIU and remote, my understanding is that now when using the TIU, WIU and updated, premium DCS app, you essentially have full Legacy function of Lionel command engines.

While the DCS system will operate 99% of the Legacy features, you still have to buy the Legacy system to tie into the DCS system.  And as far as I know, from Lionel,  the Legact base isn't available for single purchase. So you end up with the whole package anyway, which BUCCA has already..