Understanding The LCS SERIAL CONVERTER 2 (SER2)

The SC-2 gets it signal over the air like a locomotive.  The SER2 really shouldn't have anything to do with controlling the SC-2.

When you say control the SC-2 with LCS, do you mean the iPad app?

I thought the SC-2 was connected to the TMCC base via the serial port. My mistake.

But yes, controlling the SC-2 with LCS would be what I want to do. 

The LCS-ASC2 only controls 4 switches. The SC-2 will handle 6. Since I have quite a few switches I need to control, I was hoping I could go with the SC-2 and cut my costs.  It sounds like that's not a possible solution.

Thanks for the info Marty

Here is a thread on the LCS and SER-2.

Marty is correct as usual.  The SC-2 and the LCS system are totally separate.  If you want to control your switches with the iPad app you must have the LCS Wi-Fi module.  The iPad app will send out the old TMCC switch commands in LCS format to the LCS Wi-Fi module.  They will then travel along the LCS bus to the Legacy base where they will be converted to plain TMCC format.  They will then be sent out of the base to your track.  Your track will then broadcast them to the SC-2 and execute.  The SER2 will not be of use to you if you are using the iPad app.

However, (this is where I plug my software, I know, I am shameless) I am a Lionel LCS Partner and sell my own software.  My software will connect to the SER2 with a serial connection from your computer or to the LCS Wi-Fi module.  You will be able to operate your SC-2's and all switches from this software.  It even has STM2 functionality.  Please click on the link in my signature below for more information.

Please let me know if you have any question.

Harvy posted:

 It even has STM2 functionality.

Does this work properly with the DZ-2500?

There is a thread about that 6 months ago or so...

CAPPilot posted:

Harvy posted:

 It even has STM2 functionality.

Does this work properly with the DZ-2500?

I really don't have any knowledge of the DZ-2500.  All I can tell you is that my software will display the position of the switches hooked up to the STM2.  I don't know how the DZ-2500 is wired up or fits into everything.  If you could explain it to me, I might be able to give you a better answer.  If you are currently using your DZ-2500 with a STM2 and the iPad app, and that all works, then it should work with my software.

cjack posted:

There is a thread about that 6 months ago or so...

Chuck,

As we discussed last time, a relay is needed for each DZ-2500 for the STM2 to correctly indicate switch position after non-derailing or button activation of the switch machine.  I'm was trying to get away from adding a separate DZ-1008 relay to make it work, that is why I asked Harvy if his program would correctly indicate switch position with a DZ-2500.  Those relays add up.

As it turns out, Lionel is looking at releasing a replacement for the STM2 just for the DZ-2500 called the Custom Switch Machine 2 (CSM2).  The CSM2 will be all you will need, no STM2 or relay.  It will connect 7 DZ-2500s.  Here is a picture of it they had at York:

They had an ERR DZ-2500 Breakout PCB between the CSM2 and DZ-2500 which surprised me because I got the impression ERR was dropping it.  The B-PCB is not required but I may add it for a couple of reasons.

First, the CSM2 may not come out until later next year.  Since I'm wiring the layout now, if I put in the B-PCB now than it will be just two wires to easily connect a CSM2 in the future (one from each DZ-2500, and one common).

Second, and more important, David of Lionel stated the B-PCB should isolate its DZ-2500 from the other machines so when one fails, it will not bring down all the other DZ-2500 in the circuit like it can now.  No more lengthy troubleshooting to find the failed DZ-2500.