MTH digital commander question.

You need a transformer to power it.  This is what you bought, right?  MTH 50-5001 DCS System.

I suggest you download the MTH DCS System User's Manual and take a look at it.

If you bought 50-1029 Digital Commander you do not need a power supply it comes with it

If he bought the 50-1029, I'd return it for the full DCS, especially if this is for O-gauge!  You are stuck with DC only on the tracks at a maximum of 6 amps.  It's a single channel vs the four-channel TIU, not to mention the TIU does AC and remote controlled variable voltage on the tracks for conventional use.

I bought the 50- 1001 remote with TIU. So will I need a power supply or does the TIU have one built inside? 

You need a AC transformer, the TIU is just a controller.  You can use a brick as the TIU offers variable AC control, my recommendation is for one of the Lionel PowerHouse 180 bricks.

Yes you need power supply either Z1000 or Z4000 or lionel ZW.

I bought the 50- 1001 remote with TIU. So will I need a power supply or does the TIU have one built inside? 

Like GRJ above, I am also a big fan of the Lionel PowerHouse-180, if you can find one. And, yes, as others have stated above, you will still need a power supply.

Wow this just keeps adding up.,.

for now I am just going to set up the tack on the floor for me and my son, we have a z500 power supply that came with the cheap remote I bought a few weeks ago. Can I use the z500 power supply? 

And thank you for the response everyone!

The Z500 is only 50 watts.  You can use it if you have a single train, but that's about it.

Yes, you can use the Z500 with your new setup. As you add more trains you will need more power (larger power supply(s)) which you can add as you need it.

whew....! thank god! I can only hide this **** for so long from my wife.. Okay for now I'll just use the z 500. At first I was under the impression the TIU had the power source built in, then I thought, wait just a second, that would make too much sense to include an appropriate power supply with the set I purchased for over three hundred dollars.

Again, thank you everyone for your help!  

Everyone on here is so helpful with all the questions I've had. It's really nice to have multiple sources to get help.

thank you again 

mike 

Mike, it's unfortunate none of us thought to ask what power supply you had when you posted your earlier question about the different remotes, etc. While your Z500 will work for 1 train now and the TIU gives you full access to the DCS system, sounds, etc., you'll need more power if you buy a 2nd engine. For right now, you should be good to go. I bought a set too, but only because it was actually cheaper than buying things separately. My set included a more powerful Z1000, so I can power 2-3 trains, but my goal is 4 engines, so I'll still need more power. The bottom line is this is no longer your father's or grandfather's hobby, it's only gotten more expensive, but with a lot more cool options.

lol, boy you ain't kidding this whole thing started out with me buying my son the lionchief polar express set, I had problems with the engine on it, took it all apart and fixed it, but after seeing the trains on YouTube, I wanted something a little better for us. Now we're into things for almost a grand. Oh well.. We'll have it for a long time to come! Lol 

thanks again Dave and for everyone's help!