Skip to main content

16 replies

Control panel WiFi MTH DCS, Lionel Legacy, NCE DCC

DansgnrrDansgnrrOGR Forum Member

After months of planning and putting together parts and trying to figure out what I wanted to do I finally came up with something that works and yes after putting it together and powering up it worked.

 

Figure 1 

Figure 1 is the control panel that consists of MTH TIU, AIU, Wifi and iPad then Lionel Legacy with Wifi. The old iPhone can run the Lionel iCab and that gives me another control device. I did my best to control all the wires in cable raceway. The installation was straight forward for me and I had no real problems. 

Figure 2

Figure 2 is the DCC side, I have two DC power supplies there the DCS Commander and 10 amp Bridge supply for running dc trains on the layout too. I use NCE command base and a MRC 10 amp booster, for the O scale or ON30. I have two other levels an HO and N and that is interesting. The switches above control the power distribution to the tracks and I have two computer power directors so I can control the power to all the devices. 

 

Figure 3

Figure 3 is a view of the Lionel Legacy controls and the operating iPad. 

Both systems have their strong points and weak points I like them both. 

What is up next:

1. Installing controls for all the switches which are NCE DCC controls and I can piggyback the open controls switches off the AIU and control them that way or use the JMIR Wifi to control them that way. 

2. JMIR  will be controlled by a Raspberry small computer.

After I completed the work today I put power to it and it all worked as designed. As a retired field engineer, electrician, and Navy ETC  I did not expect anything less for my work. I procrastinated enough about this and must have went thru a ream of paper.  After wiring the San Diego 3 railers layout I got a lot of insight to what I was doing. 

Attachments

Hide
Images (3)
  • Figure 1: Control Panel right side-MTH DCS WiFi -Lionel Legacy WiFi
  • Figure 2: Control Panel left side, DCC , DC, 10 amp DCC booster and 10 amp DC supply
  • Figure 3: Control panel far right, Lionel Legacy and the iPad sitting betweenhttp://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/sendTempFile/fileUploadProcessOid/38225/fileUsageType/ATTACHMENT/uniqueOid/59713325389666263/imageType/LARGE_SQUARE_THUMBNAIL/inlineImage/true/Figure%203.JPG.
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

rtr12rtr12OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

I think it's great that you have also added DCC to the normal 3 rail control systems. Not sure I have seen anyone else here on the forum that has done that? Your setup looks really nice and also very interesting with DCC thrown into the setup. Nice control panel as well and I see you have the NCE DCC system which is the one I have been admiring.

I would be interested in hearing more about your DCC setup. I have both DCS and Legacy with a WIU from MTH recently added for Wifi (no Lionel Wifi at this time). I don't yet have an AIU, but it's in the plans someday and I don't have TMCC (just Legacy).

I would really like to give DCC a try someday. I am all 3 rail and most of my engines are MTH PS3. I have no 2 rail engines and don't really want to get into those. I was thinking about trying the PS3 engines in DCC mode on my same layout as the DCS and Legacy is installed. I know a little about DCS and Legacy, but not so much on the DCC fitting into the mix. It will be a while before I add the DCC, I want to expand the layout some first, but it's in the long range plans.

I would certainly be interested in your thoughts, ideas, tips, how-to's, or anything else you wouldn't mind sharing, explaining, etc.

Last edited by rtr12
DansgnrrDansgnrrOGR Forum Member
rtr12 posted:

I think it's great that you have also added DCC to the normal 3 rail control systems. Not sure I have seen anyone else here on the forum that has done that? Your setup looks really nice and also very interesting with DCC thrown into the setup. Nice control panel as well and I see you have the NCE DCC system which is the one I have been admiring.

I would be interested in hearing more about your DCC setup. I have both DCS and Legacy with a WIU from MTH recently added for Wifi (no Lionel Wifi at this time). I don't yet have an AIU, but it's in the plans someday and I don't have TMCC (just Legacy).

I would really like to give DCC a try someday. I am all 3 rail and most of my engines are MTH PS3. I have no 2 rail engines and don't really want to get into those. I was thinking about trying the PS3 engines in DCC mode on my same layout as the DCS and Legacy is installed. I know a little about DCS and Legacy, but not so much on the DCC fitting into the mix. It will be a while before I add the DCC, I want to expand the layout some first, but it's in the long range plans.

I would certainly be interested in your thoughts, ideas, tips, how-to's, or anything else you wouldn't mind sharing, explaining, etc.

rtr12

I use DCC on Center rail and here is the setup.  NCE Power Pro and MRC 8 amp booster. Have not added JMRI wifi yet but do run it on computer control. It is interesting to see folks face when you run DCC on 3-Rail. You have to monitor  your current so the number of passenger cars has it limit. 

I have a MTH HO engine running on DCC and it works great.

O scale  you can turn on DCC and run it that way or switch it to the outside rail.

Running 3-rail you need the DCC you need to use center rail and outside rail leaving the power switch in center rail will do that for you. I got this information from MTH. 

Remember to measure the voltage on DCC you need to use a 'True RMS meter' that is because the waveform of DCC. 

This is a good start if you have questions send them to me and I will repost them for all to see. 

 

 

rtr12rtr12OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
gunrunnerjohn posted:
rtr12 posted:

I have both DCS and Legacy with a WIU from MTH recently added for Wifi (no Lionel Wifi at this time). I don't yet have an AIU, but it's in the plans someday and I don't have TMCC (just Legacy).

If you have Legacy, you have TMCC.

Poor wording I guess. What I meant was that I don't have a Cab1/Cab1L or bases to go with them, only have the 990 system.

rtr12rtr12OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Dan,

Thanks for the info. You said your switches control the power distribution, I presume isolating the DCS/Legacy and DCC. What are your two computer power directors? I would be interested in any wiring diagrams you might have as to how you have all the different systems connected, isolated, etc. My layout is wired for DCS, closely following Barry's book as best as I could. Legacy was added after DCS.

As I said it's a way off for me, but I really do want to have DCC to fiddle with someday. JMRI is also something I would like to fiddle with as well. I don't know much about JMRI either. It's wifi capabilities would be one thing I didn't know about.

Did you research all the DCC control systems? How do you like the NCE system? I have looked at DCC control systems a little and NCE was (still is) also my choice. Easy DCC looked interesting, but I think I still prefer NCE and they have some add on items that I believe they said will handle the higher power needed for O gauge. 

Thanks again for the info. 

rtr12rtr12OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
gunrunnerjohn posted:

And with the #990 Legacy system, you don't need any of those other TMCC systems.

Yes, and there are no plans to get any of the TMCC only stuff. DCC is the only other system I would like to add someday, but I have to spread this all out somewhat due to cost over-runs. Some of these new catalogs they keep coming out with every few months are killing me!

DansgnrrDansgnrrOGR Forum Member
rtr12 posted:

Dan,

Thanks for the info. You said your switches control the power distribution, I presume isolating the DCS/Legacy and DCC. What are your two computer power directors? I would be interested in any wiring diagrams you might have as to how you have all the different systems connected, isolated, etc. My layout is wired for DCS, closely following Barry's book as best as I could. Legacy was added after DCS.

As I said it's a way off for me, but I really do want to have DCC to fiddle with someday. JMRI is also something I would like to fiddle with as well. I don't know much about JMRI either. It's wifi capabilities would be one thing I didn't know about.

Did you research all the DCC control systems? How do you like the NCE system? I have looked at DCC control systems a little and NCE was (still is) also my choice. Easy DCC looked interesting, but I think I still prefer NCE and they have some add on items that I believe they said will handle the higher power needed for O gauge. 

Thanks again for the info. 

RT12

Yes I can isolate DCS/Legacy and DCC as they do not work with DCC different form of control signal. I got Legacy added to my DCS and it works great. When I wired the San Diego 3-Railers layout it was a big learning curve because everyone was telling me it would  not work. That system runs DCS and TMCC (Legacy) too.  I did a swan dive to speak of into the patents of both system  and they were compatible.  MTH engineering was a great help and I was asking questions at the time they did not want to answer but found that Jason Wenzel was very  helpful and steered me in the right direction.  Berry's books are great references when dealing with DCS but we're not around when I was dealing with it. I had been installing TAS and that was another big plus for me. Phil and Mike Regan will also great help and Mike is now service for Lionel. Lou F (IC-controls) was also helpful when I was doing the wiring   I learned some tricks with DCS by stumbling on them and they proved spot on into the workings of DCS. From my experience with EMI-RFI interference in the Navy it was easy for me to isolate most of the problems if not all of them. Craftsmanship on wiring is one of the biggest plus's. 

JMRI has a yahoo group that has some very good information,Check it out.

As for the NCE and DCC remember that the 2-rail O-scale has been using DCC for a long time and from what I have found their experience and be used in running DCC on 3-rail does cross over. All 3-rail does is move the power rail to the center of the track basically. They also run passenger cars with lighting and with LED's this has change current drain too. The engines motors run on DC and yes you can convert Lionel Pullmor to dc as well, 2-rail has done that for years. I have seen some great looking Lionel Pullmor engines running DCC. 

Add Reply

Tags: DCC, Lionel Legacy, MTH DCS, WiFi
Views: 1,122
Post

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×

Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership

OGR Forum Supporting Membership

Help support this forum with an OGR Forum Supporting Membership.
You will be able to watch the videos in the INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO FORUM!
A one-year OGR Forum Supporting Membership is only $12 per year, so sign up now!


    OR     


Access the ALL the OGR VIDEO FORUMS AND  over 300 back issues of OGR
with a DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION!



$12.00 per 12 Months (plus tax if applicable)
×