fixed to variable

You can set the variable channels to operate as fixed, but you can't set the fixed channels to operate as variable. 

You will need some sort of additional equipment to do what you want.

What that equipment may end up being could depend on what you have set up now as a power source for the TIU (Z4000, bricks, other?) and if you have any spare transformers or bricks that you can use.

-Dave

Bobbie,

       Do you have a MTH Z-4000 transformer?  With a remote receiver plugged into the Z-4000, you can use the DCS remote to vari the voltage on that transformer, by setting up Z4K tracks. This way you can also eliminate the shark fin wave form from the variable channels. Some early PS1 engines need pure wave form or they don't run well on the variable channels. Though it may be a little hard to find the remote receiver that goes with the Z-4000.

thank you for your replies  I appreciate the help

Also, remember that a fixed channel is simply a pass through channel: Whatever the voltage is going in, that's what you get going out. So you can leave the voltage set up to say 16-18v, and run in command control mode. Or, put a conventional engine on the track and vary the voltage at the transformer. This is one reason why I like a variable voltage power supply instead of a fixed voltage power supply. As Joe Allen noted above, you can  use a Z4K transformer with a dedicated receiver and set up Z4K tracks. Then the remote can vary the voltage and you are not tied to the transformer handles. Make sense?

Chris

LVHR

I have all 8 of my outputs set as fixed, but when i run conventional, i just adjust the handles like Chris said above.  

All good suggestions, I assumed since the question opened with a new DCS setup, the desire would be to use the remote to control the conventional trains, especially since Bobbie was asking how to change the fixed channels to variable.

The adjustment of transformer settings is a fine solution.... as long as he is not powering the TIU with bricks.

-Dave

@Dave45681 posted:

The adjustment of transformer settings is a fine solution.... as long as he is not powering the TIU with bricks.

Well, they did specify variable transformer.   The cool thing with the Z-4000 and the Z-4001 remote receiver is you can control the two outputs of the transformer from the DCS remote just like the variable channels of the TIU.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Well, they did specify variable transformer.   The cool thing with the Z-4000 and the Z-4001 remote receiver is you can control the two outputs of the transformer from the DCS remote just like the variable channels of the TIU.

The suggestion posts did, but Bobbie didn't  ... so we don't know what his options are to try to help find the best/cheapest solution to get what he would like it to do.

We also need to figure out how much power is likely being pulled on each loop, I would think.  If it's not more than a small starter set type situation on the conventional loops, one handle of a Z4K can handle more than one loop, I'd imagine.  If it's trying to run 3 nine car passenger sets with incandescent lighting being pulled by ABBA F3 sets, then maybe not so much!  

But unless the current draw is such that you can run 3 of the loops (like one fixed channel and 2 of the variable channels on the TIU ) from the output of one Z4000 handle, we are starting to run out of outputs if we want to leave one of the handles as the work around for the 3rd conventional loop running through the other fixed TIU channel.

Of course if Bobbie doesn't have a Z4000 at this time, we are discussing an option that isn't viable unless he goes out and also buys a Z4000.  Rather than buy a Z4000 (assuming the transformer he does have is powerful enough), it would be cheaper to buy another TIU, if one can easily be found (I am pretty sure a batch recently shipped, but I have no idea if supply met or exceeded demand from pre orders)

Being the "squirrel" (maybe hoarder in some way.... no that can't be right..... ) that I am, I actually have a few more of those Z4000 receivers than I have Z4000s for the very reason of how useful they are.

-Dave

Well, we're all guessing until we know what we're dealing with, so we're just tossing out possibilities.