TIU grounds

Walt,

That only applies to the original, Rev. G TIUs. All newer TIUs do not have a Common buss across their channels.

Thanks Barry - that's one of the drawbacks at times of re-reading older stuff.  It's correct AT THE TIME.

RATS, actually.  Would have been nice to drop a few wires.

- walt

Walt,

    You were smart to make the post you did, asking the question.  You definitely were reading some old information that no longer applies to the more modern TIU's stay with Barry's book instructions, and watch Rich on the OGR Video Guide to DCS and you will have no problems, some of the old information here on the forum definitely no longer applies, to the latest revisions of the DCS.

Dave: as I've humbly said here before, I'm pretty comfortable after 10 years or more of using DCS.  But there always seems to be a new trick that comes along so I wanted to see if this was another one.  The column question from the reader did not state a TIU version but I guess in 2003 there must have only been the 'G'.

I have read Barry's book.  Can't say off hand whether it specifically offered a comment or not saying that the TIU commons were not connected to each other.  Might have though.

- walt

Walt,

I have read Barry's book.  Can't say off hand whether it specifically offered a comment or not saying that the TIU commons were not connected to each other.  Might have though.

How about this?

This and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Walt,

   As you can see Barry's book covers just about everything on a DCS layout, you may find other small technical TIU questions discussed way back that no longer apply,

can't remember if Barry talked to me on the phone or whether we discussed the original TIU without a fuse on the OGR, where he advised me to always use the 10 Amp breakers or fuse, in front of the old ZW & KW transformers to safe guard the old

TIU.  Even though the newer TIU has its own fuse I still recommend the Scott type 10 Amp breakers, and following Barry's original advise.  Mostly anything about the old TIU without the fuse you can disreguard now also, I doubt you have an original TIU.  Most everyone has the l or L revisions now.

PCRR/Dave

I'll fess up, I never considered looking in the book.  I just came right here and asked.  Typical me!

- walt

PineCreek:  Not all.  There are a lot of us still happily using Rev G's, so don't discard or disregard old information.  I have 2 and have no problems (externally breakered, of course).

What happened to Revisions J & K?

MTH went to L.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

What happened to Revisions J & K?

There was no released Rev. J or K.

That was cold! Or should that be hot?

Thanks, Barry.

I was just thinking about the grounds this week. I'm in the process of rewiring my layout and using my post war ZW's. Their grounds are tied together in the transformer. Does that pose a problem? Maybe the tiu outputs are seperated ? 

                                                                                           Thanks, Vic.

No, Vic.  All grounds should be tied together on the entire layout and connected to the U posts.  Of course, transformers must be phased.  Do be aware that on the postwar ZWs, the terminal posts sometimes become loose on the internal bus that connects them.

Vic,

   Make darn sure you still use the Scott type 10 Amp breakers, or quick blowing fuses between every old ZW & your TIU!  RJR gives great advise on the Phasing also, test the transformers prior to using them on the same layout. 

PCRR/Dave

Thanks for the reply RJR & Dave. I've been running the layout for 14 yrs. Now I've added another TIU & 2 AIU'S. I was trying to eliminate some wiring by running 0ne ground to the TIU and jumpering  to the other grounds on the TIU input since they're all tied together. I know about the fuse and the phasing. 

                                                                                 Thanks, Vic

Vic, a thought: I do not feed all grounds through the TIU, for rear of overloading one of more circuits in the TIUs.  I connect all black TIU outputs to the common bus, which is also connected directly (bypassing the TIUs) to the combined U terminals.  Since all accessories are grounded into the bus, the amperage flowing in ground can exceed the hot amperage flowing through the TIUs reds, a situation that would be magnified if (as does happen) a connection on the TIU could become loose regardless of whether or not accessories are grounded into the bus.

Works fine.  Layout was built 20 years ago, and DCS just dropped onto it.  2 TIUs and 3 AIUs.

I see you live in Pt Jeff.  During the 40s thru the 70s, my parents had a summer place about 10 miles east of you.  Used to watch the steam locos at the old station.