I have four PS2. Engines and one TMCC engine. I am considering selling my TIU and my command base and just operating conventionally with a ZW transformer. I believe I would still get the sounds and smoke is this correct? I two loops with spurs off both and I would isolate the two loops and run seperate engines on each loop.
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You are correct, you will still get sound and smoke. You will lose some of the ability to control individual sound volume and special sound effects but you'll be able to do most of the stuff in conventional. I do it and am very happy without DCS.
You can do that but use fuse protection if you are using an old ZW. If you have the right equipment already, give it a try and you may like it. Some people still run in conventional mode.
Thanks. I have in previous threads been discussing my problem trying to operate my lionel engine with the dcs system. This got me thinking why be frustrated trying to figure all this tech stuff out if I can just run conventionally and maybe recoup a few dollars of what I've spent to just get frustrated by selling my TIU and remote as well as the Lionel command base etc.
Marty Fitzhenry posted:You can do that but use fuse protection if you are using an old ZW. If you have the right equipment already, give it a try and you may like it. Some people still run in conventional mode.
My ZW is one of the new ones. One question. What do I need to do , if anything, to set PS2 engines to run off the transformer as opposed to through my TIU?
I would use 7 or 8 amp circuit breakers on the hot side terminals from a post war ZW and use a transient voltage suppressor or TVS rated at 32 volts bi-directional. They can be had for around $2.50 a piece and will protect your PS-2 engines with an older transformer. Mouser Electronics has them.
Lee Fritz
With PS-2 engines you will need an MTH Z-500 thru Z-4000 to use the remote uncoupler feature on any PS-2 engine, there might be another transformer that will work but it should have both bell and whistle. Of course the DCS TIU and remote control will give you that ability along with speed control.
Don't use a CW-80 transformer with PS-2 engines as they don't always play well together.
Lee Fritz
You will lose the slow speed control you currently have with DCS. I ran my PS2 engines using a Z750, TMCC CAB-1/PowerMaster (for handheld remote) and 1st thing I noticed when I went to DCS was better slow-speed control. If you don't want to do any slow switching it'll be alright.
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