Is more power needed?

Why don't you go to a LHS that will allow you to try some of your subways with the Z4000 and see if you like it better. My guess is that there won't be much of a speed improvement. I have two Z1000s and it seems that my MTH subways run slow, except for my Lionel R27 set which runs much faster. I think the MTH subway just run slow imo regardless of the power source.

On my (conventional) PS2 subway runs, back before I acquired a Z4000, I always had to take them out of speed-control mode (horn-bell-bell) to get them to run at a decent clip.

 

I haven't made any runs with them since getting DCS or the '4000, but I imagine it would be most helpful with the bigger subways--especially if you're attempting to run 10-car trains like I did. (That, or switching the interior lights to LED's)

 

---PCJ

One suggestion I can make is to increase the voltage to about 20-21 volts.

 

What I fid running my subways is that if I run 2, 4-car sets at the same time, I get a voltage drop at the tracks of 4-5 volts. This can cause sluggish behavior and dimming of the lights while getting one set moving while the other is running.

 

Increasing the track voltage to 20-21 volts speeds things up a bit.

Barry
How would i go about increasing voltage if i am using a fixed channel on my dcs system? Sorry if i didnt mention this before but am using command mode. Thanks

My next question would be what is the max output for the MTH Z1000 as compared to the Z4000? Thanks

How would i go about increasing voltage if i am using a fixed channel on my dcs system?

 

what is the max output for the MTH Z1000 as compared to the Z4000?

 

The Z1000 puts out, I believe, 18 volts at 5.5 amps.

 

Each handle of a Z4000 puts out 18 volts at 10 amps, or up to 22 volts at 8.2 amps.

 

Hey Barry

 

I just took some readings with my multimeter I got from Radioshack, it giving me 19-20 on the display. I believe it has a variance of one or two numbers. So I believe its right. Also I just realized that since both of my transformers are phased correctly it will only put out what the max would be for one brick. So all Im doing with two z1000 is spreading that max voltage over a larger area. So I assume getting the Z4000 to put out 22 maybe helpful in getting my heavier trains to run faster and smoother. Like I said the ALP 46 is heavier than the subway power cars so may require more power.

First, even if your two Z10000's are phased together it's dangerous to have both of them feeding the same tracks without using a TCP or similar device to combine their outputs.

 

Second, the reason subways use more juice than other engines is that they travel as 4-car sets with lots of bulbs.

 

Third, a Z4000 handle will allow more voltage at sufficient amps to operate both subways. For even more "headroom" (perhaps to add additional subway cars), you can use one handle per loop

 

Regardless, you should isolate the center rails of the two loops from each other.

Also, the non-powered cars are essentially dummy locomotives, since the trucks are the same as the powered cars minus a motor and gears. (and the powered cars are using streetcar truck blocks)

---PCJ

Barry

 

I have one brick powering the two inner loops while the second brick is powering the third outer loop and the small yard tracks. So does this constitute powering the same tracks?

Would I still need the TPC if I changed my two z1000 for 1 Z4000 to power my entire layout?

No TPC needed if you are using one output on the Z4K to each loop.  If you are using two outputs of the Z to the loop, then the TPC would be needed.  Also, 400W to a TIU channel might fry the thing....