After a 12 year break, I am going to attempt to replicate what I used to do, but 12 years has not improved my memory. Worse, I can't find my notes or Barry's info that I accumulated, so I need a refresher.
If I wanted to run a loop on the rug, I run a Z1000 to the TIU fixed input, ( If I want, with a DC power to the AUX jack so the TIU has power in case of a track short.) I then run from the TIU output to the loop. This, after setting up the engine/remote/tiu properly.
Before, IF I then wanted to run TWO, small, similar loops, one inside the other, connected with 4 turnouts, so trains could enter/exit each loop, I think I used to run a hot & gnd to each loop, getting power from the single TIU output. That should work fine, for two small loops, and one (or more) engine(s). A fine setup for smaller loops....but not for larger, more complicated ones.
As I recall, for the latter. 2 loop situation, but with much LARGER loops, and more turnouts - for the OUTSIDE loop, I used to run multiple hot wires to drops from center rails, that had been insulated every so many feet, to eliminate voltage loss.
I think I remember creating 2 or three of those track blocks/sections for a loop that might be 6' x 18'. And a Z1000 should be able to power 2, maybe 3 engines on that loop. Does that sound right so far?
Now, for the LARGER inner loop, I think I insulated the inner and outer loop by by breaking the center rail connection of each switch/connecting hot, going to that inner loop, creating blocks - and feeding that loop power (to run 2 or more engines) from fixed channel 2 of the TIU which had another Z1000 plugged into it - to eliminate the same voltage loss problem.
The inner loop was like the outer: center rail broken in 2 to 3 places, with a drop to the hot from the channel 2 hot. (The TIU is numbered 1-2-3-4, so I am actually using the fixed 2 and 3 for the above.)
I think I only really have to check to make sure that the Z1000's are phased correctly (I think I recall from the old days, that MTH put some out with the gnd reversed) to get this all to work, and I need to have strong/reliable center and gnd rail connections for each track section.
Prior to writing this, I did a search for numerous combinations of "wiring dcs sections, wiring dcs blocks, dcs wiring procedure" and other combinations. I know he is gone, but I thought maybe some of Barry's posts might show up. And the emails he and I exchanged them have long since been deleted.
This came up Wiring Insulating Multiple Loops? but it does not go into the detail I thought I might need. My TIU's are quite old and out of date, but that should not affect what I am attempting to do. Everything I have is old.
Can someone chime in to insure that my memory is not 100% shot, and set me straight if I am wrong on procedure? I know a lot has changed over the last 12 years, (I visited a display last Christmas where guys ran the layout with their phone - I don't think that is me) but if it worked 12 years ago, it should work now. Sorry for the length.
Thank you in advance for any and all help. Greg
