I have Rev L TIU and feed a layout loop that has about 200 feet of energized track. Thinking of adding a loop on level above which would have about 140 feet of track plus two ramps between levels of about 15 feet each.
My question would be could I feed the entire layout , ie both loops and the ramps from one variable channel. Using 14 gauge stranded copper wire to feed in a star pattern with a couple of parralel connections between sections which improved signal in these areas.
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If I understand the question, you want to run a star pattern to your lower level and then run parallel jumpers from your lower loop blocks to your upper loop blocks. Right?
My loops are about 120 feet each and each one has a roughly 16 foot siding. Each loop is fed by a TIU channel. One loop also has my staging area with seven sidings and about 80 feet of track. Signal strength seems to be OK. So, to answer your question, I would definitely say maybe.
But since you have four TIU channels, why not use one for each level? It would give you more flexibility, probably give you better signal strength and would only cost you a hundred feet of wire or so.
Yes essentially it would be as you mention with connecting the upper loop to the lower loop. It could also be done with individual runs from the main terminal block to the same location on the upper loop s the lower loop
I use the variable channel since I like to run conventional stuff also. So if I use the second variable channel for the upper loop, there could be a voltage difference between loops which might impact with a train going from one loop to another.
If I wired it as one large layout fed from one variable channel, that would take care of any voltage difference issue between two TIU channels.
So thinking what you said in the reply was that the amount of track involved was a maybe ok for one variable channel.
That much track on one TIU output will very likely create DCS operational issues. You're talking 350 feet on two levels, far more than the single TIU channel is designed to drive. I predict that wouldn't end well and you'll be back here trying to solve that problem.
If you want to insure you don't run into voltage differences, how about using a Z4000 transformer with the remote receiver. You can control the voltage for the Z4000 using the Z4K tracks feature of the DCS remote. That gives you remote control of the voltage and insures you don't have voltage differences on the different levels. Using that scheme, you can use the two fixed channels, one for each level. You'll have much better DCS functionality and you'll solve you voltage differential concerns.
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