A friend of mine made this for me to help when I run really large trains. My track is divided into four blocks, each powered by its own 180 brick. When I run long trains with helpers on rear or middle of train if one of the engines is in a block that shuts down because of short, the other locomotives keep pulling
and that can cause a lot of cars to derail.With this system of relays all blocks shutdown. 
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The "Clem Box" should help with those pileups. Good job Dennis and Clem.
Thank you Charlie Dennis does great work, I even have spare relays that just plug in. Past few days been running five trains on that loop, three are passenger and two freights one of which is a double header. Thats only six locomotives so far no problem. I'm ready for the next meet !
Clem
Where's the fun in that??? 
Really great to have that. You have a beautiful RR that seems to be growing daily.
Thanks for sharing!
Nice job there. But why divide the track into blocks in the first place? Just wanting to know.
Waddy posted:Nice job there. But why divide the track into blocks in the first place? Just wanting to know.
I'm guessing that was because he needed more than 10A total on the full loop. Our club track has around 450 feet of track in the main loop, and we use four bricks to supply it. At times, there can be 4-5 trains in operation, one 10A brick doesn't get the job done.
GRJ; that makes sense. I originally built four independent loops on my layout, one for each TIU channel. (Each "loop" two parallel tracks) The loops are not broken down into blocks, simply star wired (MTH recommends) back to a busbar.
Well, using multiple TIU channels, each TIU channel section of track has to be isolated from the others. If not, you'd be having all sorts of DCS issues.
Why is the limit on these transformers/systems 10 amps? Is it a law of some sort?
Couldn't all this equipment handle 12 or even 15 amps without a problem?
I'm guessing this is a UL requirement to get the UL rating.
Any truth behind the the rumor the UL specs/limits are at least 150% over reality? I was told by the designer the Right-of-Way PowerMaster, even though it has circuit breakers of 8 amps, can safely handle 12 amp breakers, ... and could go as high as 15 amp without a problem. Sound right?
Saw a transformer at friends layout, a "MainLine" I think, that had breakers around 20 amps I think .... ? Probably could use it as a welder ....
gunrunnerjohn posted:Well, using multiple TIU channels, each TIU channel section of track has to be isolated from the others. If not, you'd be having all sorts of DCS issues.
Picture an inner loop and an outer loop, with switches that allow moving trains to either track. I term that a "loop" for all practical purposes. That would be on one TIU channel. I have four such "loops" of two parallel tracks each. (Eight tracks total around the layout). Each loop is isolated from the other loops. Takes all four TIU channels. But none of these loops are divided into "blocks"; just star wired back to a busbar. So four busbars. If that one channel blows a fuse the entire loop shuts down, so no derailments, and the other three loops aren't effected. BTW; the MPI 650-36 provides 18v at 18 amps X2, two transformers to power the layout. Basically 9 amps per track, (eight tracks total) which is enough for running lots of trains. All that power for just under $100 on ebay. But I did read where one guy found an old organ transformer in a dumpster and has been using it to power his layout. You can't beat free. Just hope that organ transformer is an "isolation" type transformer.
Up to now I used four TIU remotes and would set the remote for each loop to "all" ( runs all active loco's the same speed) to synch the locomotive speeds. That way I can run several locomotives on each loop. (So long as those loco's are the only ones active in the remote). But soon I'll be going to WIFI and I don't know how I can run the loops on "all" on individual loops without running everything on "all". I have one old smart phone I plan on using, but I assume I would need three others to do what I do now with four remotes. Time to shake down family and friends for old phones, I guess. Can you run multiple phone (controllers) on WIFI?
Good morning
I think more information may be needed as to why I needed this protection. Looking at my track diagram I posted above, you will see it is one "1" loop 300 feet long, it is divided into four blocks, each with its own 180 brick and each with its own TIU channel. I like to make long trains 100 plus feet long. the train will be in more than one block at the same time with engines on the front and rear. If one of the bricks trip, all of the engines in that block will shutdown (180 bricks trip fast). The rest of the engines are still running which can cause a big derailment. At 100 feet long I can't always see the front and rear of the train. I have a video on youtube entitled "O scale train 100 feet long Blissfield Mich." These circuit breakers all shut down if any one block trips. I can switch the board to operate blocks individually which is normal operation.
Clem
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