DPDT switch for command/conventional

Tie all of your Commons together, and then use the two poles of the switch to transfer the track center rail on one pole, and the brick Hot on the other pole.

Instead of switching the inputs, switch the outputs of the z1000 & the remote commander instead. I did this with my DCS system, and it works well.

I thank you both!

Dale- Great shortcut-At first, I didn't see it, until I drew it! Thank you!!

fec fan- Yes a great way also! Now I have choices! (seems the fec has been running extras-hear a lot of them late at night. cool enough for ya??) Thanks again!

Pete

yep, the FEC is busy again--- most of the time i hear 'em good, as there are 7 crossings that are within a 5 mile strech. Living less than 1000 ft from the line also helps.

You don't need to do any of that.

The DCS Remote Commander base will connect directly to the track in passive mode, and when you're running conventional, it will just be ignored.  I never try running power through that wimpy connector on the Remote Commander base.

I've run conventional and TMCC with the DCS Remote Commander connected this way, it's never been a problem.

And it's gunrunnerjohn for the win.

I also advise folks to use this method.

Very easy to demo DCS (limited) by just tacking on 2 wires.

Drop your Factory reset engine on the track, crank up the power, and demo away.

Gunrunnerjohn & Russel: Thanks a bunch- this will save a lot of effort  (they should have had that in the instructions!)

Fec fan: I'm about 1/4 mile west of CSX, and a crossing, but late at night I can their horns blowin'.

Pete

I am amazed that the instructions for the DCS Remote Commander don't mention the passive option, since it's a piece of cake to do.  When I went to connect it up, I looked at that little barrel connector, then looked at the two passenger trains that would probably pull 6-8 amps and just shook my head.

I forget where I found out that you could connect it this way, but I figured I'd give it a go and it worked perfectly!

This is true But, What if you have a dcs engine that is giving you trouble and you want to test it in convetional mode. Wouldn't this hookup prevent that? At the club we used 2 DPDT Switches to completely isolate the TIU from the track for this reason. this was a little overkill as we later figured that all we needed to do was switch the output side to the track but never changed it since it is working fine.

As per MTH Service Bulliten: "The IR Receiver was developed using a Z1000 transformer so it is capable of handling 6 amps the Z1000 puts out. "

If I want to test in conventional mode, I just have to disconnect one wire from the DCS Remote Commander base.  You could, in your scenario, simply add a SPST switch from the center rail to the base.

I know what they say, but I'll bet money if you check the specifications of that little barrel connector, it's not rated for 6 amps.

I finally did hook it up passively and it works great! The advantage was wiring into the terminal strip so it goes to all track feeders. However, I did have to install a SPST switch to allow for conventional running. (Not all my engines are PS-2) (also the jack on the I/R device does look the same as the one on the Z controller.....)

Thanks again John!

 Pete

Glad to see it all worked out.