DCS and Fastrack switches

Try using them as currently wired. If there aren't any issues leave them wired as-is.

In another post on the DCS forum, I talked about the problems I was having with my small layout under the Christmas tree.  I am using the DCS Remote Commander, and I was having many problems: dead zones, engine not seeing watchdog signal, etc.

The layout is Fastrack and has 2 Fastrack Remote switches.  I was powering the switches from the track.  On a suggestion from GRJ, I hooked the switches up to use aux power.  That cleaned up all of the DCS signal issues.

On my permanent layouts, I have always used aux power on my Fastrack switches.  This is the first year I am running command control on my Christmas layout, and I didn't even think about the switches interfering with the DCS signal.

I tried a Remote Commander on my other layout and could not get it to work. I then bought a full DCS system and hooked it to the same layout and it worked great, even with multiple feeds to some blocks. About the only thing I had done right was to use star wiring with terminal blocks. I am building and wiring my new one according to Barry's recs, but With FT switches using so little power I wondered if separate feeds were necessary. I was hoping others  had some experience one way or the other.

John

If you want to use track power, use a 22uh choke and wire it in place of the track power connection under the switches.  This will prevent the switch from affecting the DCS signal.