TMCC vs DCS operating voltage

18 volts only it will burn electronics up in tmcc or legacy engines and mth will run fine on 18 volts.  

I'm pretty sure Lionel recommends not using more than 18 volts with their engines. That's good enough for me. I have mostly MTH with some Legacy. I use the PH-180 bricks at 18 volts through the TIU for powering all my trains and have not had any problems. Legacy is connected to the TIU outputs.

while MTH recommends 22 volts.

Exactly where is that written?

I don't remember ever seeing that statement. Possibly you're confused because the TIU variable channels expect 22 volts so that the voltage readout on the DCS Remote is accurate.

There's nowhere in the literature that I've seen 22 volts recommended to actually operate a DCS engine.

Too bad we can't "calibrate" the remote so that you can set the maximum voltage and get accurate readings on the track voltage.   Many of us don't run with 22 volts and don't want to.

John,

The 2 volt expectation is there due to the 22 volt output of some of MTH's brick transformers.

I understand what they're doing Barry.  My suggestion is similar to how you set the minimum voltage now for the TRACK commands, to also be able to set the input voltage in a similar manner.  That way the voltages indicated on the DCS remote would be actual for the defined input voltage.  Hard to believe that would be terribly difficult to do.

Read the fine print of your signature...   I imagine the reading would not really be that accurate at that point.  I imagine if your really looking for a voltage setting on your track you have a meter installed to directly measure it, vice an assumed voltage from a software setting on a remote. 

The more complicated the code gets, the more bugs.  For a feature with relatively little use other than general setting.  G

George,

The more complicated the code gets, the more bugs.  For a feature with relatively little use other than general setting. 

I absolutely agree!

Gentlemen,

    I set the transformers at 18 Volts and test the actual track voltage with a Harbor Freight quick clamp voltage meter every once in a while to know what is actually being delivered to the tracks.  The Legacy says not to operate over 18 Volts to safe guard the equipment.  The DCS seems to run perfectly with 18 Volts also.

PCRR/Dave

George, the reading would be accurate for what is supplied to the track, the same as what is there now, if you feed the TIU 22 volts.  Why have the remote read voltage at all if that's the attitude?  How about from 0 to 100 relative voltage, that's even simpler than converting to a most of the time bogus voltage reading. 

The whole point of having the real reading on the remote is so you're not tethered to a single location.  If I wanted to stand in one place to run my conventional stuff, I'd probably just use the Z-4000 and forget about remote control for conventional operation.

As far as the usefulness of the feature, you're just one opinion.

John,

As far as the usefulness of the feature, you're just one opinion.

Make that two opinions, please!

Regardless if you want to know thew actual track voltage, ask a DCS engine!  

Gee, I'm running conventional, and the solution is to ask a DCS engine?  You can't do better than that?

Furthermore...3rd Rail tells you NOT to run on more than 18vac, it'll void the warranty if I remember correctly.

My Z750 puts out 21vac so I had to buy a PH180 when I bought my 3rd Rail E7.

Being they say not to hook up the Z750 controller (use the brick only) the 21vac can't be adjusted.  That's kind of a bummer and something folks need to heed when making purchases.

 I try and use whatever voltage is required to fire  the coupler. (PWZWs) however I don't  always follow my own advice.

I'm still waiting to hear where the OP came up with his original statement...

I think it was having to crank the variable voltage on the remote up to 22v to get the full 18v delivered to the track when that is the setting on the transformer, that's probably where it originally came from, long time ago.  Also perhaps having to set the transformer higher than 18v to get a true 18v on the track when tested with a voltmeter.  Or a combination of those two; take your pick ...

Perhaps here?  Page 13 of the DCS User's Manual.

In addition, check the output voltage of the transformer; it should not exceed 22 volts (or 18 volts if lighted cars are used on the track).

Thanks John; there's the third place from which it may have originated.

Using a voltmeter on the track is still the most accurate way to determine the voltage being delivered, assuming nothing is on the track to suck it up.

Using the transformer handles, set the voltage, then run something and watch the voltage move up and down across power districts.  Using the 4000 remote transformer controller, setting it at one voltage I've noticed it stays at that voltage, but won't handle as great a current draw without popping a breaker in the transformer.

At least on my layout ...

I run my DCS with a Z4000 set for 18 volts, but the track voltage is actually lower, about 16 volts. However, if you run conventional with DCS / TMCC on the same set of tracks, the voltage to the track must be much lower or else the conventional powered units will be airborne.

18v it is; then everything will be protected and we'll avoid the flying locomotive adventure.

John,

How about the whole quote...

To correct this problem, MTH recommends connecting only the brick to the TIU inputs. In addition, check the output voltage of the transformer; it should not exceed 22 volts (or 18 volts if lighted cars are used on the track). 

The intent of the above statement is to note that there shouldn't be more than 22 volts on the track, since that's the maximum that an MTH brick can deliver and is also the maximum voltage that he TIU can safely handle, and not to recommend 22 volts.

That's quite different from the Kerrigan's statement...

 while MTH recommends 22 volts.

So, this entire thread was founded on a false premiss.

18v it is; then everything will be protected and we'll avoid the flying locomotive adventure.

What a brilliant conclusion...

I guess my point is it adds additional steps as you have to enter the initial voltage to be compared against.  So you still need a meter to measure your input voltage.  Additionally this is still voltage displayed that is ordered based on an algorithm, vice direct measurement.  So why do to all the extra complexity for a marginal measurement.

Lionel doesn't offer the feature, so it is reasonable that MTH kept it simple and stuck with a voltage their transformers or brick produce.

I set track voltage for conventional based on how fast the train is going, not what a display says.  For command I do use a direct meter measurement.

I just think it is easy to say they should add this or that feature, but some of this is on the margins of what it provides.

If you believe everything you read on the forum (it is the internet so it must be true) folks are leaving Legacy in droves for the simpler LC+  So why complicate the system?  G