right now I have 4 loops tied together with switches so you can travel all the loops and back again. 2 lower loops 2 middle loops with an incline between the levels then I have a third level single loop. right now it is setup with a single 135 watt ph-1 and tmcc with a mth small handheld from starter set hooked up to the 4 loops and the upper loop had a cw80 hooked up to it and all layout lights run off of the cw80 none of my switches are hooked up at the momentbut they get power from the track. today I picked up a DCS set 50-1001, and the connector cable 50-1018, and the ph-1 cable to tiu also I picked up a 50-1004 AIU. so since I know nothing about DCS other than I can control conventional, tmcc and proto engines with this I should be eliminating the cw80, the Powermaster 1 and the small dcs commander and replacing it all with what I bought making for a 1 remote system. Correct? and I can then control lights and accessories and switches with the AIU. I'm thinking I should pick up atleast another powerhouse either the 135 or the 180 but not sure. any suggestions.
Replies sorted oldest to newest
What you should make as your very next purchase is a copy of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition.
This will allow you to maximize your DCS experience and also go a long ways towards making for a trouble-free DCS implementation.
Everything you could ever want 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!
Just did awaiting the download
The PH-180 has a much better breaker, I would go with that one. The PH-180's are all I use for track power. Barry's book will get you up and running with everything else DCS.
my layout is already built in reading it says to break the layout into Blocks as it is right now I have no blocks it's all one is that going to be an issue.
Your best bet is to try it and see.
Is the layout star-wired or buss-wired?
one feeder on each loop going into a terminal block then the terminal block to the tmcc. I have been adding feeders where I can but like I said most of the layout is screwed down and or ballasted