DCS "problems"

Nick,

But it says I need a barrel to banana plug adapter. Do I REALLY need this? And should it have come with the DCS? 

You only need the barrel to banana plug adapter if you use an MTH Z-brick (Z500, Z750, Z1000) to power a TIU channel. It is not included with the DCS set.

I also tried to hook it up using a z1000 brick plugged into the aux power plug. Will this work with it plugged in and using fixed output 1 to power the track? 

That will power the TIU only and will not power the track. You need power connected to Fixed #1 INPUT to power the track.

I attempted this and, I think, it worked. I saw a red light light up.

That red LED indicates that the TIU is getting power for itself, not power for the tracks.

 I then tried to add a ps2 engine (an Ohio State 2-8-0, Search Ohio state in the mth website, it's the one from the set.)

I expect that the engine could not be found, because the tracks were not powered.

 

Read the DCS User Guide and pay special attention to how the TIU and the tracks are powered. Even better, purchase a copy of The DCS O Gauged Companion 2nd Edition which has an extended discussion of this, and many, many other, topics.

 

This 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!

 

 

 

Nick,

   There are no Woes to DCS, however it is a more complex remote control operating system that does need the owner operator to educate himself on the system.

Purchase Barry's DCS O Gauge Companion & the OGR Video Guide to DCS, educate your self on the DCS, especially how to get started, many guys like your self, getting started make the same mistakes, eliminate all the frustration with a little education, then come back and the guys here on the OGR will help you as you build your DCS layout. 

Merry Christmas

PCRR/Dave

 

PCRR, correction noted.

Nicks trains,

    Good luck with your DCS, let us know if you have any questions as you read the book and watch the Video, we will do all we can to help you with your new engineering project.

PCRR/Dave

DCS is great, but like most new things, there is a learning curve. Be careful hooking up the wires. Always double check red and black. When I started, I had the same thought about the banana plug adapter, but soon you may need 4, so should they have included 4? Soon you may decide to use a power supply that has 2 wired outputs, then you would need none.....
Barrys book is a great reference. You can have the electronic copy pretty quickly. While you mull that, consider a small power supply for the tiu (I use a radio shack enercell 18V ac 1A with a type M adapter). It is less expensive than another mth unit and does the job. You can get started just powering the fixed 1 input, but as soon as you are using multiple channels, you won't want power to the tiu dependent on that port.
as has been said, please ask questions. We will try our best to help you enjoy.

All, yes, I do have Barry's book. I ordered the barrel plug adapter on Christmas and will be here soon.
Thanks
Nickstrains.

Nick,

  Marty is giving you the correct skinny, power your TIU with from the Aux with a Radio Shack power supply, for best running results.

PCRR/Dave

You can also use a wall wart with 12-18 volts output.  Depending on whether you also have an AIU, a 500 ma unit should work; with an AIU, I'm told you'll need more ampacity.