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I WANT TO ADD A SECOND TIU TO MY LAYOUT AND I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE INFO THAT I NEED IN THE DIGITAL DCS PROGRAM THAT BARRY PRODUCED. I MAY BE OVERLOOKING WHAT I NEED. RIGHT NOW I HAVE ON SECOND CHANNEL MY MAINLINE FREIGHT TRAIN WITH 2-3 ENGINES AND 1 SIDING, ON CHANNEL 3 I HAVE MY STEAM PASSENGER TRAIN AND 2 SIDINGS FOR THE FREIGHT LINE. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANOTHER TIU AND RUN THE STEAM TRAIN OFF CHANNEL 2 OF THE 2ND TIU AND HAVE CHANNEL 3 FOR LATER. I AM USING 1 REMOTE SO I WANT TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL BOTH TIU'S WITH 1 REMOTE.SUGGESTIONS

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HI, What type transformer are you using ? if your using a 1.Z-4000 put one TIU on one tap and other on the second TIU other on the tap. You could use the same remote for bolt. DO NOT PARALLEL ANY OTHER DIFFERANT TRANFORMER          .

( Also you may want to call MTH also prior just make sure.)

 

I'm using 1.Z-4000 TF, Using both TF Tapes and one TIU. Good Luck. Please let me know how you make out.  ALL YOUR DOING IS ADDING MORE CHANNELS FOR MORE  ENGINES TO THE ONE TRANSFORMER. TIU IS ONLY GIVING YOU MORE CHANNELS THAT'S ALL.           JOHN KB2AGPJOHN@AOL.COM 

Originally Posted by MrMoe50:

I don't see anything about what you have on channel 1 or 4 on your current TIU.  Why not just set them to fixed and use them instead of a second TIU?

Sure, you can make a var channel fixed as MrMoe points out. Here's how... Menu/System/ DCS set up/ select the var channel and hit FXD. The channel is now in fixed mode and will stay that way until you want to change back.  There is a light delay when the tiu is first powered up. You can even use the same power supply if you don't have another z-1000 , just jumper the IN puts.   good luck

One remote can run multiple TIUs with no problem.  Simply add new TIUs to the remote.  Barry's book covers it somewhere.

 

You need a separate power supply for the TIU itself, fed through the AUX port.  Also in Barry's book.

 

Your question lacks important facts:  Are all the trains being run DCS, or are they conventional?

Thanks Greg and Barry. I was just over in my copy of DCS companion trying to find that info. I am using the radio shack power transformer to power my TIU so I will get another z1000 and power channel 1 for my steam train and use channel 2 for the freight mainline and channel 3 for the 3 side tracks. I use a 16volt ac transformer to power my track switches and 3 12v ac transformers to power my buildings. I do have my z1000's and my 16v transformer in phase so I don't get any problems

RJR...you are correct, I don't run my controller thru the TIU. I can switch from TIU to controller for each track and the 3 side tracks but the controller cannot be switched to feed the TIU. I found a z750 and a z500 brick on ebay lastnight for 45.00 so I got them. I will take the z1000 off the controller and tie it to fixed channel 1 and put the z750 on the controller so I can use it if I ever need it for a conventional engine. I have some old Lionel Southern engines that I might run from time to time. I'm learning as I go along

please explain what benefit we get by adding a 2nd tiu. My board is o gauge 27 ft by 17 ft with two circles, 20 parking tracks, 3 6 foot sidings. dcs signal strength is 10 out of 10. ran 2 engines on 1 circle so far, because I'm still changing the track plan. working on a walkthru lift up with hinges & then the trackplan sb done. My sone & I will likely run 2 engines on each circle, total 4 engines, including some non led passenger cars. so far, have only 1 z4000 with a tiu and aui( no accessories ir landscape has been yet done) and all atlas track. Should we plan on a 2nd tiu. Only rab 1 or 2 engines around the layout to verify no dead spots with the star wiring. so, is it likely we will need a 2nd tiu?  The accessories unit (mth aiu) is not yet set up but I did notice this aiu will connect to and get power from the tiu use a wire to the tiu. Since we have more than 15 switch tracks (most ib the parking track access points), seems like that a lot of power to do our very many accessories & switches powered thru the aiu which gets its power from the tiu, not a separate transformer. Ive included my vlog video here to show you how much track we have. Please advise. we would hate to set it all up, only to find out we need a 2nd mth tiu. see my track layout here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm6yyi3WELE

I have for command mode 4 of proto 2 or 3 engines, probably 25 proto1 engines for conventional mode, but very much like the speed control of command mode on my inclines. we will probably try to upgrade some of the proto1 engines since they are all mth premier but the upgrade kit is $200 plus $100 or more for upgrade labor. None of my engines have more than 10 hours run time ( health problems kept me away from trains for 8 years, back now) so how would a 2nd tiu help?

Last edited by bucca

Unless you have switches with large incandescent bulbs, the number of switches is meaningless since the AIU will only throw one at a time.  If you power your TIU through a AUX port with a 2-amp wall wart, the AIU relays are getting powered from that.

My layout is about 38x16, and I use 2 TIUs.  This is because the layout was built to run conventional back in 1994 or so, and I needed areas separately powered.  I used 2 TIUs to retain the 6 separate power districts.  But there have been times when I had issues and had all running on a single TIU.

I'd say stick with one and see if you wind up with insufficient signal strength.  Use many relatively sort blocks, each fed via 14-gauge wires, to minimize in-track power & signal losses.

If you have that many premier PS-1 locos, you might want to consider learning ow to do upgrades yourself.  I upgraded everything I have that's can motored.

RJR posted:

Unless you have switches with large incandescent bulbs, the number of switches is meaningless since the AIU will only throw one at a time.  If you power your TIU through a AUX port with a 2-amp wall wart, the AIU relays are getting powered from that.

My layout is about 38x16, and I use 2 TIUs.  This is because the layout was built to run conventional back in 1994 or so, and I needed areas separately powered.  I used 2 TIUs to retain the 6 separate power districts.  But there have been times when I had issues and had all running on a single TIU.

I'd say stick with one and see if you wind up with insufficient signal strength.  Use many relatively sort blocks, each fed via 14-gauge wires, to minimize in-track power & signal losses.

If you have that many premier PS-1 locos, you might want to consider learning ow to do upgrades yourself.  I upgraded everything I have that's can motored.

much appreciated, I feel better since you have been down the path I am just starting. The ability to do command control to move up & down the one incline on my layout makes command control very appealing. and yes, I expect to try some upgrades, just unfortunate to start with my 2 N&W J premier steam or my 2 Daylight steam...I had intended to double head them since 1998. Your opinions were very helpful. This learning curve has been steep, being into trains since 1968, out for last 8 years, back in now. Much appreciated. Yes, I have 16 & 18 gauge feeders every 5 feet, but not in a star pattern and no feeders on the common( which I may add feeeders on common if I see problems). working still on finishing a hinged walkthru so I'm not required to crawl under the board. When done in a few days, I will try a steam upgrade to proto3. I bought an upgrade kit when it first came out but never tried an upgrade myself. Never soldered even once, but am very experienced with building my computers & stereo stuff. I will seek your counsel when I get there. 

file1man aka bucca    gary

Last edited by bucca

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