Can I Overdue the Power Supply to my TIU

It's within the spec for an external power supply for a TIU.

If the supply is truly a plain AC supply and the voltage doesn't exceed 22 volts, it should be fine.  I'd want a circuit breaker on the secondary of the supply.

Thanks Barry.

John, when you say the secondary, are you saying I should wire in a circuit breaker after the power supply and before the TIU ?  And what rating circuit breaker should I use ?

The printing on the outside of the power supply says "Output:regulated 18.44, vac 4.5 amps".  Is that ok ?

Corvettte

Hi  Barry,

I know most people, when reading books they have bought, first think about how well they can preserve them, in the event they decide to eventually sell them.

I hope you will forgive me for what I am about to say.

I bought your book, The DCS O Gauge Companion.

I have folded over corners of pages, underlined passages in the book in INK, bent over the back in order to read at a table and still have room to eat at the same time.  And the book is getting dirty and food stained.

BUT I'M LEARNING

Please forgive me for the trangressions I have committed with your book.

I also bought Rich Melvin's OGR DVD on the DCS system.  I'm on the second time around.

I'm going to get this right if it kills me.

All kidding aside, thanks Barry and John for all your help.

Corvettte (Paul)

Paul;

Its not all that mysterious IMO.

I suggest start with a small section of your layout, or a temporary loop on the carpet.

This will allow you to get your feet wet and get a feel for DCS.

I agree with what was said above. That transformer sounds fine, with say a 10 amp inline CB or fuse in the hot wire to the TIU red terminal.

Good luck

Rod

Hi Rod,

I've been watching Rich Melvin's DVD on the DCS system.  Wiring up the system to a simple oval I have done.  Now I am looking at 680 sq. ft. of layout I have, and need to know before I start any wiring, which is the best way to go. 

Do a DCS wiring first - - then go back and add wiring for Conventional for my control center I'm going to build, or visa-versa ? ? ? ?

Paul

That's my vote and what I am currently doing with the 600+ ft2 layout I'm building...

Gilly

Follow the guidelines for DCS wiring as per Barry's book.

Use wire no lighter than 16 AWG for runs up to about 30 ft, and 14 AWG for longer.

Observe the recommended max track length per channel, and use all 4 TIU channels if necessary.

My bet is once you have it wired up to run in command you will never go back to conventional.

Rod

You know Rod, it isn't a matter of "never go back to conventional".  It's the love of the hobby and the memories I have of cranking on those two throttles when I was 8 that says, "let's do it again".  I agree that the DCS remote system is so far advanced over the old sytle conventional there's no comparison.  But I want to be able to crank on some throttles just once in awhile.

Here's an example of what I feel.  When I was much younger, my first new car was a 1966 Corvette (I was 24 years old).  I ordered it from the factory through my local Chevy dealer.  My intentions were to take it drag racing which I had been doing for about 5 years.  It was time to step up.

I ordered a 427/450 horse, 4 speed, side open pipes, knockoff spinner wheels, and a 4.56 to 1 rear end (no heater).  At that time the car cost me $5200 new.

The night I went to pick up that car, the dealership was closed and the owner met me there after closing.  As we walked the 150 feet of his underground garage to get to the car I started to get shaky in the knees.  I was so excited I could not contain myself.  When I got into the car and started it, I almost wet my pants from the excitment.

I drove home that night from Baltimore, Md. to Washington, DC and got 3 tickets that night for goofing off all night with that car.

I could be driving a way more advanced Corvette made today.  And in so many ways, it is a far superior vehicle to my 1966.  But it wouldn't be the same as the raw power of what I feel when I tromp on that 450 horses.

That's the kind of fun I want again (not on that scale) with my model trains by having the ability to wrench on those handles once in awhile.  It will probably be the lesser of the time, but none the less, "good memory fun".

Corvettte

4.5 amps isn't much.  Your around 83W transformer.  Granted that it is free, but you may find it doesn't support your needs, especially if you try running 2 trains at once.  G

GGG,

The wall warts are for just powering the TIU.  Of course I will be using my Z4000 to power the track through the TIU.  That will be enough power for a couple or more trains.

Corvettte

Now you are talking Paul.

Rod