Fastrack Switches and MTH DCS

There is nothing special required for FT switches to work with DCS.  Check your wiring.

Make sure your transformers are in phase.  Follow the common to make sure common is always common from transformer to TIU to track.

I agree with Dan.... Double check the wiring starting right at the brick.  Both bricks and tiu inputs & outputs  must be wired  exactly the same.   I'm guessing the bricks are in phase because  there's no shorting if DCS is out of the picture.. Good luck.

That makes no sense to me.  I can't imagine what DCS would be doing to create a short.  FWIW, I have the same setup, two loops with four switches allowing switching between tracks in either direction, and it's powered with two PowerHouse 180 transformers.

After you sort this out, I suggest you replace the track power link with a 22uh 500ma choke.  The electronics in the Fastrack switch can affect the DCS signal, the RF choke solves that issue.

Easy Phase test... Measure voltage  between  loops with a voltmeter or light bulb.

 Test leads ...Center rail on one loop to center rail on other loop. (hot to hot)  The voltage should be very low . perhaps 1 or 2 volts at the most... If the voltage is around 38 or so  the bricks are out of phase.

Do you have center rail  insulating pins separating the loops at each crossover?

Thank you for all your answers. I rechecked all my wiring and it was correct. I took the switches off the layout and hooked them up to 2 different bricks and they worked the way they were supposed to. When I put the switches back on the layout and connected them to the DCS they were shorting out.

I changed out 1 of the bricks and the switches worked correctly. The 1 brick must have been wired wrong. I was using a strip and there is only 1 way to put the plugs in. I will bring the brick in to a Lionel service center to see if they can wire it correctly. It was a brand new brick that I purchased a few years ago and just took it out of the box last week

BOBNJ1,

That is a possibility. Check the code on the bottom of the PH180. Bulletin(s) and fix attached.

bobnj1 posted:

Thank you for all your answers. I rechecked all my wiring and it was correct. I took the switches off the layout and hooked them up to 2 different bricks and they worked the way they were supposed to. When I put the switches back on the layout and connected them to the DCS they were shorting out.

I changed out 1 of the bricks and the switches worked correctly. The 1 brick must have been wired wrong. I was using a strip and there is only 1 way to put the plugs in. I will bring the brick in to a Lionel service center to see if they can wire it correctly. It was a brand new brick that I purchased a few years ago and just took it out of the box last week

Good move but take all your bricks so the Lionel guy can make sure they're all wired the same.  (in phase)

Thank you for the information,I have 6 of the 180 watt Bricks. 2 of them are dated 2000-46. I will contact Lionel to get the adapters needed to put the 2 bricks in phase with the others