Newbee needs a little guidance

There have been several posts here about the Z1000 brick not having a fast enough breaker to avoid blowing the TIU 20 amp fuse, and I've personally seen this as well.  For that environment, I'd put a quality fast breaker or a 10 amp fuse between the transformer and the TIU.  The TIU doesn't take kindly to over-current.  

Here and for our modular club, we use the Lionel PowerHouse 180 bricks.  They have an electronically triggered circuit breaker that is the best I've seen on a transformer, and we have tripped those countless times without ever affecting the TIU.

Thanks for the reply.    Does it still make sense to put breakers and TVS  between the TIU and the track?  (i have seen your post regarding TVS on the engine -- not brave enough to do that with my first engine...yet). will look at using the 180 and moving the 1000 for accessories.   

There is a TVS in each channel of the TIU on the outputs, so you don't need that.  I'm presuming you have a recent TIU, I don't know about the earlier versions.  I don't have any additional protection between the TIU and the track, but it can't hurt to have another breaker there.

Thank you!

Your Z-1000 controller has a TVS also.  Some folks believe having TVS at various spots to suppress voltage spike is appropriate.

The Power Traces on the TIU are rated for 20 amps and that is what the fuse is for.  It protects the TIU.

Most power supplies are limited to 10 amps on a single channel.  So a smaller fuse or breaker will prevent a short at the engine or a derailment from over loading engine or layout wiring while helping to protect your power supply.

The TIU that blew the fuse actually was not damaged, operator error made it seem like a channel was damaged.  G

GGG, that presumes he's using the Z-1000 controller and not just the brick.  Since he's going right off with the TIU, the controller is pointless in this configuration.

John, I wasn't assuming anything.  I just provided some additional information.  While MTH doesn't recommend using the controller in between the brick and the TIU it can be used.

The added benefit is the ability to use a toggle switch and be able to switch between conventional and DCS at the flick of the switch.  The ability to dial down the voltage on Fixed channels if your want to limit max speed.  The ability to gain control of a run away train without using emergency stop.  The ability to run conventional on the same loop with out having to change configurations of the TIU.

The display layout at the store used this with a Z-750 with no problems.  Great for running conventional or command and great for troubleshooting.   G

I run two loops on the variable channels configured for fixed mode.  This allows the same flexibility without having a variable transformer.  As you say, it's not really a recommended configuration, and not what he stated he's planning.

Plan is to start with the MTH 1000 transformer, DCS/TIU, 4 blocks, STAR design, that will run 2 engines.

Thank you gentleman, all very good information for me.    Right now I am running in conventional and switching or adding DCS shortly.   I have gotten some very good ideas and feel much more comfortable continuing with the design.

 John...do you have a part # for the electronically triggered circuit breaker?

It's part of the Lionel 6-22983 PowerHouse 180 Transformer.  The internal breaker is electronically triggered and is very fast.

How does 2 loops on variable configured for fixed give the same access as a readily available controller?  The only reason it is not recommended is if it effects DCS signal strength, which it doesn't for smaller layouts.

Regardless, now he knows his Z-1000 also has TVS protection and he can go forward more informed and with options.  His railroad.  G

When you select the track from the DCS remote and change voltage, the "fixed" outputs magically become variable outputs with no switches, just operated from the remote.  I do it all the time.

I guess my information wasn't "informative" enough for you.

John,  I don't think there is any sarcasm in any of my post, but it seems you continue to take issue with my post.  Are they non factual, if so I will correct them.

As far as the differences if you are running a VAR as fixed...you have to select Track, Select which Variable channel and then scroll down voltage.

I can just reach over and throttle down the voltage without touching the remote, or I flip a switch depending on the type of operating session I want to do.

Not saying which is better or which has to be used, just that they are different with different pros and cons.  G