Skip to main content

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Lionel's recommended voltage is 18 volts.  This is from almost any TMCC and Legacy manual.

Power your locomotive with an alternating-current (AC) transformer only. Powering your locomotive with a direct-current (DC) transformer, or in excess of 19 volts AC, may result in damage to sensitive electronic components.

 

Also, in the instructions you find this.

Power your locomotive at 12-18 volts with your alternating current (AC) transformer.

The one big plus with using a Z4000 is that, by adding a Z4000 Remote Commander receiver, one can operate the transformer "touchlessly" from the DCS remote. This allows complete power control from the DCS Remote. The Z4000 can be placed out of sight (even under the layout) so as to make more room available for other things on the layout.

 

Further, it also allows all 4 TIU channels to be used to control conventional trains directly from the DCS Remote, without having to touch the transformer to adjust power, reverse engines, ring the bell, or sound the horn or whistle.

 

One more thing that many would consider to be an essential part of any DCS layout is a copy of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition.  

 

Everything you need to know about DCS and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", now available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book from MTH's web store site!

 

CLICK HERE go to MTH's web page for the book!

 
Thanks! 
Last edited by Barry Broskowitz

How big is your layout and what type of trains do you have.  Some issues to consider are amount of power available, having meters to monitor Voltage, but more importantly current, having a conventional controller that allows you to run conventionally with a bell and whistle button.  This comes in handy for some basic troubleshooting and resets that may occur.  MTH engines prefer Pure sign wave or close too it.  G

I'd put in a plug for the Z-4000.

It has enough power for a good size layout for future planning.

I power 400 ft of track with one Z-4000 and all 4 TIU channels.

It has built in digital ammeters and voltmeters.

It also has fixed 14 and 10 VAC outputs. The 14 VAC output is ideal for the aux power for the TIU electronics, so that if you blow the CB or fuse feeding fixed input 1; you still retain control of the other 3 TIU channels. Quite important.

MSRP on a new one is around $430, but you can pick them up used for $300 to $325.

 

Just my .02 worth.

Rod

John,

Do you still have to do something at the remote to get voltage on the transformer, or just apply power?

You would create a pair of Z4K Tracks and use them to preset the Z4K Track starting, minimum and maximum voltages. Then, upon starting up the layout:

  • Press TR
  • Select a Z4K Track (or ALL Z4K TRACKS)
  • Press the thumbwheel and roll up voltage

As you might have expected...

 

This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", now available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book from MTH's web store site!

 

CLICK HERE go to MTH's web page for the book!

 
Thanks! 

John,

I just hit the main power and my bricks are on

The trade-off is that in order to turn off track power for a loop, you need to either shut down all power to the tracks via a switch, toggle-switch each loop or press E-Stop.

 

Further, none of these can be done away from the control panel, except the E-Stop, which necessitates a complete re-boot of the entire layout.

Post
The DCS Forum is sponsored by

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×