DCS and Z-500

Goshawk,

    IMO although the Z-500 might be usable, I recommend the Z-1000 as the smallest

modern transformer suited for running DCS.  There is another way to go also, the old Lionel KW & ZW transformers, with Scott type 10 Amp breakers, also work very well.

My advise is to save your money a little and purchase the Z-1000 transformer then save some more and add an old KW or ZW in the future. 

PCRR/Dave

 

The CW-80 at full throttle has a fairly decent looking waveform and should be OK until you upgrade your transformers.  Use the Z500 to power the aux power port on the TIU.

 

Thanks to you both! I would love to save up and get a Z4000 eventually, so I am trying to get by until I can afford it. 

Goshawk,

   The Z4K is a great transformer, I use one and several ZW's & KW's, in fact my latest Christmas layout is powered by a Z4K and an old 275 ZW.  I fully understand the money object, especially when raising a young family.  Train Shows are in fact great places to pick up a good transformer for more than reasonable prices.  Our OGR forum has some real good transformer deals on it also, I just picked up a good old rebuilt KW transformer, from one of our members for $65.00, shipped right to my door.

PCRR/Dave

Guess I need to keep my eye out.  Thanks!

One must be very careful about buying a used Lionel postwar transformer, and should learn in advance what to look for internally.

 

They are fine if not in bad shape.  I use 2 old ZWs with my DCS layout, plus a Z4000.  External breakers should always be used.  Their output is a sine wave at all settings, perfectly compatible with DCS.

 

One ZW I got new in 1953.  The other I bought in late 80's in Tampa from a now-deceased gentleman who had a large train operation.  I forget his name.

Hello Dave,

 

Not to intrude, but will your suggestion regarding the use of the ZW work with a 50-1001 IR Commander as well?  If so, could you be more specific regarding the “Scott type” ten amp breaker and how I would make all of the connections.  Thanks in advance.

 

Chief Bob (Retired)

Im not trying to disagree with any of the advice given above as I too would prefer to use any of the above mentioned transformers (KW, ZW, Z4000) but I have been using a single Z500 to power my carpet layout and have found it adequate.

Typically I run either an Imperial steam locomotive with 8 lighted passenger cars or I have an FA-2 A-B-A set with 4 motors that pulls 12 freight cars and a lighted caboose.

For my living room carpet layout, this has served me very well and If you are only running one train and a few lights, it should be sufficient until the budget recovers and you can get a larger unit.

-JG

The Z-500 is 50W so it provides about 3A at 18V.  A MTH engine with smoke on is about 1.7A in motion.  Some older PS-2 5V run closer to 2 to 2.5 depending on model.  The TIU alone will take .3A.

 

So when you get the TIU you can try it.  If the breaker opens you are overloading it.

 

I also agree with John, try the CW-80 since you will be at full voltage.  The CW-80 is 80W, so that can provide about 4A.

 

If you decide to go with a straight brick plugged into the TIU, instead of buying the Z-1000 brick, I would buy a Lionel Power House brick.  It is 180W, 10A and the best circuit breaker out there.  The price is probably the same or less than the Z-1000 which is only 100W and 6A.   G

Thanks everyone for the help. My 50-1001 is on order. Does anyone have the link to the guy that sells the Complete Guide to DCS Manual? 

The "guy" who write it is Barry Broskowitz, who is on the forum.  The "guy" who sells it is MTH, on their website, as does Shopatron.  Very good reference manual.

Ask and you shall receive...  

 

Everything that you need to know about DCS and a whole lot more is all in MTH’s “The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book at MTH's web store!

Bob,

   You can pick up the 10 Amp Scott type Breakers from Train Electrics, one of our

OGR Sponsors, click on his Icon at the top of the page and give him a call, one of our other sponsors Hennings has the newer auto reset breakers also.  I happen to like the manual Scott type reset type myself.  They both work quite well.

Sorry I do not know anything about the IR Commander, never have owned one.

Bob when wiring, run the red wire from your transformer thru the resettable breaker to your TIU in red channel, then from the out TIU red channel, to the mid rail, very simple stuff.

 

PCRR/Dave

I couldn't remember all the details.  I'm fairly new around here.  Thank You for your help!

Exactly what I was looking for!!! You guys are awesome.  Thank You sooo much!

Dave,

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to my question.  The information is helpful!

 

Bob

PUFFERBELLY,

    Bob glad to help you any time, it's one of the great things about this OGR forum, everyone helps each other when needed, you can learn a lot here, I know I have learned a great deal about DCS & Legacy layouts myself.

PCRR/Dave