Track power

JPW posted:

Hello from France. Am new to DCS and the DCS Companion book is great but my English is poor....

I have a 3 levels layout approx. 24x20 feet (diagram enclosed) and wish to run conventional and command trains and am seeking advices as to how to best

power the tracks. 

Which track and switches will you use?

How many MTH Z1000, which DCS input to use ( 2 fix and 1 variable ? ) and where to isolate the tracks and make blocks.

2 - MTH Z1000   variable 1 (Blue & Black)  variable 2 (green)  + 1 MTH Z500 to TIU AUX power + 1 MTHZ500 for switch + accessory power

Block every 3.5m - insulate center rail at block points - connect feeder at start or end of block (maintain start or end pattern)

Also can I hook on a same length of track several feeders, say every 10 tracks, from a same MTH terminal block ?

TIU Variable Out to MTH Terminal Block - use 3.31mm² wire - 1 block for Var1 and 1 block for Var2 

 MTH Terminal Block to Track -use 1.31mm² wire in pairs - hot (red) & common (black)

Length of feeders does not have to be equal - I recommend MTH Terminal Blocks to be centrally located

Thanks in advance for your help.

NOTE: I am not sure of the impact of 50Hz on MTH and DCS equipment & signal. Use step-down to 110-120v. Step down + frequency change can get expensive. Some convert to a 12v DC supply (230vAC to 12vDC 20A)  and use a 110VAC  60Hz inverter  (pure sine wave) as a less expensive method.

Thanks Carl for your advices. Clear and straight to the point.

I have MTH equipment: Realtrax, switches O72, Z500 for the TIU and a step down converter to 110V.

Wire sizes in France is limited to mm2  0.75 -  1,00 - 1,50 - 2.00 - 2,50 - etc ...

The layout in my message is in fact my control panel to the switches. I started wiring, but am having problem with the wire size as soon as I have a long distance. I am redoing the wiring using 0.75 mm2 wire. OK with you ?

Also, is it correct to wire the switches to the control panel and then the control panel to the AIU as I wish to create some scenes ?

Again, thanks indeed for your advises Carl. Good day.