[Answered] Need to Update my Wiring Schematic

Not sure why you have your brick wired in series to Fixed and Variable inputs

Fixed 1 is all you require sine you’re using one power source, and it’s not variable.

unless there is some requirement to the Legacy System…

I would connect the Z-4000 TRACK 1 to FIXED INPUT 1 and TRACK 2 to FIXED JNPUT 2 and use the Brick to power your legacy  

Even if you were running your TIU in passive mode-which is not recommended because it bypasses the TIU Emergency Stop function-there’s no reason to run feeders in series to both the Variable and Fixed inputs

The FIXED1 is the required input, and subsequently that makes FIXED OUTPUT 1 required, also  

In short you would not need to change your wiring diagram when using the Z4000; simply disconnect TIU barrel jack adapter and connect the wires from the TIU to either the Track 1 or Track 2 ports on the Z4000.

One possible tweak is to eliminate the Variable 1 Input - Fixed 1 Input jumper wires and moving the Variable 1 Output wires to the Fixed 1 Output. Doing so will eliminate the ability to set track voltage through the DCS remote, but the voltage can still be manually set with the corresponding the Z4000 throttle.

-John

@AcelaNYP posted:

In short you would not need to change your wiring diagram when using the Z4000; simply disconnect TIU barrel jack adapter and connect the wires from the TIU to either the Track 1 or Track 2 ports on the Z4000.

One possible tweak is to eliminate the Variable 1 Input - Fixed 1 Input jumper wires and moving the Variable 1 Output wires to the Fixed 1 Output. Doing so will eliminate the ability to set track voltage through the DCS remote, but the voltage can still be manually set with the corresponding the Z4000 throttle.

-John

Not sure if I understand your second paragraph.

If I eliminate the Variable Voltage connections how will I control the track voltage for my conventional steam locos?

If I use the Fixed Voltage 1 output won't that put ~18 volts to the track all the time? If so, would the Z-4000 throttle override that fixed voltage? Certainly confused.

So, you’re not just running Digital

you are running conventional also

So, with your old set up, how did you control the current flow to the conventional engine?

Yes running both conventional and commend control (DCS and Legacy).

As best as I can remember (recently moved and have got my new layout set up yet - just running the ""carpet railroad). What I did was set the track voltage - using the DCS remote to either 22 volts for commend control (and then run either MTH or Lionel using the appropriate remote) or vary the voltage if running conventional.

Have you seen the attached figure (from the DCS Operator's Manual Fifth Edition page 99?

So, you’re running 1 conventional engine with your Digital engines

all you need to do is wire your Z-4000 just as you connected your brick.

Paulp575-

The TIU fixed channels do not control track voltage; they convey whatever voltage is connected on the input side. So if you connect a transformer (such as the Z4000) to the fixed input and set it to 14 volts, the output will also be 14 volts. Raise (or lower)  the throttle and the track voltage will correspond accordingly.

The TIU variable channels work differently; for the variable outputs the voltage to the track may not be the same as the input voltage. In this case raising or lowering the throttle will not change the track voltage; this can only be accomplished through the DCS remote.

On my setup I use a ZW connected to the Fixed 1 input only; this gives me the ability to manually set the track voltage without having to adjust anything in the DCS remote. Since I'm only using the Fixed 1 input, I can eliminate the jumper wires needed to power the TIU from another channel. As an aside I keep the fixed voltage at 14-16 volts, mainly as a precaution in the rare event the DCS signal dies and the locomotive switches back to conventional operation, complete with the customary rapid increase in speed. Setting the fixed voltage to 18 volts is perfectly OK too, but I would be cautious at 22 volts due to the increased risk of damaging the circuit boards.... and electrical shock if the track is touched the wrong way.

So with the alternate wiring diagram you can still operate your conventional locomotive with the transformer, but not with the remote. The benefit gained is being able to quickly get trains running without the added steps of setting the track voltage in the remote.

Hope this helps!

-John

@AcelaNYP posted:

Paulp575-

The TIU fixed channels do not control track voltage; they convey whatever voltage is connected on the input side. So if you connect a transformer (such as the Z4000) to the fixed input and set it to 14 volts, the output will also be 14 volts. Raise (or lower)  the throttle and the track voltage will correspond accordingly.

The TIU variable channels work differently; for the variable outputs the voltage to the track may not be the same as the input voltage. In this case raising or lowering the throttle will not change the track voltage; this can only be accomplished through the DCS remote.

On my setup I use a ZW connected to the Fixed 1 input only; this gives me the ability to manually set the track voltage without having to adjust anything in the DCS remote. Since I'm only using the Fixed 1 input, I can eliminate the jumper wires needed to power the TIU from another channel. As an aside I keep the fixed voltage at 14-16 volts, mainly as a precaution in the rare event the DCS signal dies and the locomotive switches back to conventional operation, complete with the customary rapid increase in speed. Setting the fixed voltage to 18 volts is perfectly OK too, but I would be cautious at 22 volts due to the increased risk of damaging the circuit boards.... and electrical shock if the track is touched the wrong way.

So with the alternate wiring diagram you can still operate your conventional locomotive with the transformer, but not with the remote. The benefit gained is being able to quickly get trains running without the added steps of setting the track voltage in the remote.

Hope this helps!

-John

@AcelaNYP - So with this wiring:

I'm presuming I would do the following:

For conventional: Place the loco (or motorized unit) on the track and then slowly raise the throttle to the desired speed.

For MTH PS locos: Set the loco on the track and raise the power to 14-18 volts. Then use the DCS remote to control the loco.

For Lionel Command/Control (Legacy/TMCC): Set the loco on the track. Then use the Lionel (or MTH) remote to control the loco (I prefer to use the MTH DCS remote for all my command/control locos; to me it seems to be much easier).

Is this correct?

@paulp575 posted:

@AcelaNYP - So with this wiring:

I'm presuming I would do the following:

For conventional: Place the loco (or motorized unit) on the track and then slowly raise the throttle to the desired speed.

For MTH PS locos: Set the loco on the track and raise the power to 14-18 volts. Then use the DCS remote to control the loco.

For Lionel Command/Control (Legacy/TMCC): Set the loco on the track. Then use the Lionel (or MTH) remote to control the loco (I prefer to use the MTH DCS remote for all my command/control locos; to me it seems to be much easier).

Is this correct?

Correct.

-John

@AcelaNYP posted:

Correct.

-John

@AcelaNYP - Appreciate the confirmation.

Just received my Z-4000 and a conventional steam loco & tender.

Get to try it out.