DCS and Conventional engines

Mike g, I run my wires through the fixed voltages on the TIU. When I want to run a DCS engines it is in the hand held and I just select it and hit startup and away it will go. To run my conventional engines I just use the handle on the Z4000 to start and run the conventional engine at the speed I want it to run..............Paul 2

Mike, do you have Barry's book? Very good info on your first question. It sounds like you have extended startup sounds turned on in the remote. There is a soft key to toggle it on and off.( maybe SSU?)

Thanks Guys, 

Paul, I could also do that but I bought a side receiver to enable me to run both with the handheld.

John, I do have Barry's book in paperback and on my tablet, I read both as much as I can, but I still don't understand. I have tried setting all tracks to Z tracks, but if I have a conventional engine on the tracks it just takes off. I know I am missing something! LOL

This is incredibly easy to do. It's in the instructions that come with the TIU.

1. Hook up the transformer you are using to either the Variable 1 or Variable 2 channel input. Connect the wires to the track to the Variable 1 or Variable 2 channel output.

2. Turn transformer throttle to full.

3. Hit the track button on the DCS remote. Select which ever channel the track is hooked up to (Variable 1 or Variable 2 channel).

4. Scroll the thumb wheel up. Voltage to the track increases or decreases if you scroll the thumb wheel down. The direction, whistle, and bell buttons will control your conventional trains. DCS locomotives on the track will ignore all commands unless they are addressed from the remote.

Lou, thank you so much for the information! I will check and make any changes I need to one the TIU and give it a try~! I am guessing if I have 2 conventional engines they will both start and run at the same time. I know it will take a little time for me to get use to it but it sounds like a great way to run both DCS and Conventional!

Thanks again Lou!

Hi Lou, I went out and switched everything from my Z4000 from fixed to var1 & var2. I also switched the input to the TIU and output to the track. I tried and all that happens is the horn blows on the conventional engine and the DCS engine on the same track starts up.

I also get a reading on my Z4000 in the amps window AC. I hove no idea what that means and there is nothing in the Z4000 manual about it.

Any help would be great!~

Here's the TIU instructions. Go to page 98 for conventional operation wiring, page 113 for conventional locomotive operation:  https://mthtrains.com/sites/de...ction/20as14017i.pdf

There is a 99% chance the reason you are having problems is due to incorrect wiring or incorrect TIU set up. Make sure that the DCS signal is turned on on variable 1 &2. Before I converted a few engines in my fleet to command control I followed the wiring in the TIU instructions for conventional/command operation and had no issues.

Thanks Lou, I will give that a try!

Did you get it working correctly?

Hi Mike,

First, I don't have a Z4000 (or it's side remote), I use the Lionel PH-180 bricks for all train running and I have command only, no conventional, so not a lot of experience there.

However, I did try conventional once using the method Lou1985 describes with a variable channel using the thumbwheel to control the conventional train. It worked well, but it was only to briefly test out an old train set my daughter had from 1982. As soon as we saw that the train worked for a few laps, I put the track feeds back to the fixed channels and put the conventional train back in storage. As I recall I used Barry's book to make the changes. That was about 5 years ago.

IMO, I think the easiest way for you to run your conventional engines is the way Paul 2 describes above using the fixed TIU channels and the Z4000 handles. Use the handles to control conventional trains. Then set the handles to 18 volts when you go back to command operation. That should get you up and running fairly quickly. You could at least run your trains until you can sort through the other stuff and get it all up and running the way you would like. 

The 2nd easiest method would be the way Lou1985 describes using the variable channels set to fixed so you can run your command control stuff and using the thumbwheel to control track voltage only for conventional operation. Not a lot more difficult, but that are a few more steps and settings to deal with.

Hi Lou, I did, the problem I was having was because  was also using the MTH Side receiver. It has to be set to fixed 1 & 2. now I can run my DCS and Coventional on the same track at the same time using ZK4 track function.

Ah. The way you described it I assumed that you did not have the Z4K receiver.

Lou, Either way thank you for your help!

RTR, With the Z4000 and side receiver its as easy as pie to run both with the remote, I just set all tracks to ZK4 tracks and off we go!

The way I described will work if one does not have a Z4K and reciever, but instead powers their TIU tracks with a brick or other transformer.

Sounds like you have gotten it all figured out, I'm glad to hear you have it all working now. 

Thanks RTR, I still have to work with it more to get better at it, but its nice to run both types of engines at the same time!