Should I send DCS signal through switches

Brakeman,

You should not run DCS signal through the switches, It will de-grade the signal.

Use auxiliary power to run your switch and put the power at the switch and the ground at the AIU.

Joe 

Thanks Joe,

I will amend my configuration.

Cheers!
~Matt

Matt,

   JoeP gave you good advise set your switches up with their own power sourse.  In our case we used a ZW for powering all the different swithes and could add and subtract power as needed.  The DCS remote control switching via the AIU worked perfect in this manner.   If you have a small layout you can actually get away with running everything via track power, I do not recommend this however, if you have switches that take a lot of power to activate, such as my old Lionel 711's or 072's.    Other newer switches like the K-line 072 type with the newer motors

you can make work, decently well, however they work even better with an independent power sourse.

PCRR/Dave

How Can I hook up my Real Trax Switches so they work with manual control and the AIU I need a wiring Dirgram Please

Thanks Wayne Gilbert in VA

Wayne1326@juno.com

Wayne,

How Can I hook up my Real Trax Switches so they work with manual control and the AIU I need a wiring Dirgram Please

The DCS O Gauge Companion has the diagrams that you require.

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 on the link below to go to MTH's web page for the book!

Barry, I have the book By you, I downloaded it sometime ago on the inside cover it says Copyright 2009, I downloaded it from MTH web site, I have looked through the book but can't find what you are talking about, maybe you can tell me what page it is on, Thanks Wayne

Hi Wayne,

Switch wiring starts on page 71 of Barry's book.  The section is called Accessory and Switch Track Control. 

Another really helpful visual aid is the manual that came with the switch itself.

I don't think either describes configuring for manual and AIU control.  To accomplish this I attached my own wires to each track switch and ran it out to a terminal block.  Once at the terminal block I attached the the momentary switch provided by MTH as well as running additional cable to the AIU.

Hope that helps.
~MattS

Matt,

I don't think either describes configuring for manual and AIU control. 

Look at pages 81-82 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition, Parallel Operation of Switch Tracks.

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 on the link below to go to MTH's web page for the book!

Matt,

I don't think either describes configuring for manual and AIU control. 

Look at pages 81-82 of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition, Parallel Operation of Switch Tracks.

 

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 on the link below to go to MTH's web page for the book!

 

http://www.mthtrains.com/content/60-1279

 

Opps, My bad!

Cheers Barry! 

While we are on the subject.  The cables I created to extend the remote MTH switches are made of 18 awg solid wire.  Is that going to be an issue?  They are all roughly 4ft long.