Standard Gauge DCS Setup!!

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Hello, I got the eBook last night.  It's a lot to consume.  Lots of information.  I just wanted to make sure...the TIU needs power from either the transformer (Z4000) or a power brick from a Z1000.  Now, which should I use??  I want to run both conventional and MTH DCS Locomotives on the same tracks, but not at the same time.  I have 3 loops of track, not connected to each other by switches, they are separate loops.  But, I want to be able to take off a conventional prewar locomotive and put on an MTH DCS PS2 Locomotive without changing the wiring or anything. 

I have (2) Z1000 Power bricks and was wondering if I should wire plug them or wiring them into the Fixed, Variable or AUX ports??  I have seen people wire it to the fixed port and then run wiring from the fixed to the variable port.  ( Black to Black, Red to Red).  Daisy chained them together.  Is this safe??  Wish there were picture of how to wire this up the right way.  Thanks.

 You certainly have lots of power to work. .  I  would start with one loop using one handle on the Z-4000  powering  TIU  fixed  1 IN. (this will also turn the tiu on). Fixed 1 out to the loop. Red always to center rail.... Place a engine on the track and add it to the remote, Start it up and see what happens.    There is a small learning curve  so  start with something easy instead of hooking up everything at once. Barry's book will help with  most of the how's  Adding engines etc.    Can you get this far for now?

Yes, I can get this far.  It will power my MTH DCS PS2 loco just fine.  But, is it safe to put my prewar Lionel locomotives on that loop??  Such as a 408E or 400E.  Now, to do a 2nd loop, same idea but use the other handle on Z4000, correct?  Do I connect it to the TIU on Fixed 2 or variable?  Thanks.

 Yes  use  the other handle but this time use a var channel... Other handle to VAR 1 IN ,  Var 1 out to other loop..

The tiu need a power supply to function, Only 2 ways ... power to fixed 1 or an aux power supply   

Var 1 need full power on the input side to operate in either fixed mode or var mode.

so for now,, Both handle on the z-4000 set to full.

To run in convention mode  using the var channel .

Go to Menu/ System/ DCS set up/ Select the var channel and hit Fixed, keep hitting the fxd until the remote tells you the channel is in var mode.  The fxd key changes it back and forth from var to fixed mode , You want var mode.

To  use  the var channel press the TR button and select var 1.  Scroll up the voltage to whatever you need to run  just like a conventional handle on a transformer.)

(To run in command  on fixed 1  use the ENG key.... So far so good?)

Yes, got it!!  My outer loop is wired to the fixed 1 output and the fixed input is wired to the right handle on my Z4000.  The middle loop is wired to the Variable 1 output and the Variable input is wired to the left handle on my Z4000.  With both handles pushed to max throttle.  Now, can I run both prewar Lionel and MTH DCS PS2 Locomotives on either loop? 

Also, what about my 3rd or inner loop??  Do I need another Z4000?  Thanks.

Nope! you don't need another Z-4000. .  We still have var 2 to hook up  in var mode (do the same as var 1..( Menu/Dcs set up this time var 2)  Hook  one of the z-1000 bricks up to var 2 in, Var 2 out to  track.,

So far you can run Fixed 1 command only.

Var 1 conventional & command 

Var 2 conventional & command.

We need an aux power supply to keep the tiu turned on at all times. Wait a minute you have 2 z-1000 so one could be used  for the Aux power supply.... This will  now allow  to run conventional as well  on fixed one's loop but  only with the Z-4000's handle. 

There are other options re power supplies  . Maybe use the Zs but they would require fuse protection for  each tiu channel  . The Z-s would eat up a tiu for lunch in case of a short. 

Anyway give it a try..  good luck

 did you anything up & running?

Got my Variable channels into Variable mode.  But, my prewar loco still will not move when I throttle up on the thumb wheel.