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Hi and Merry Christmas to you all. I have a 10x12 layout with two loops powered by Z4000 through TIU.  I am adding two more loops which for now can be allocated to fixed voltage and DCS operation only as I only have the one TIU. I have two MTH Z1000 transformers already and from what I’m reading it appears I could use the power bricks only connected to the fixed voltage on TIU and power two new loops? Am I missing something or is it that simple?

The reason I ask is that someone has a modern zw with 180 power bricks locally for sale. If I can make it work with what I have I’d prefer not to spend the $.  

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@Gerhardt posted:


...

Dallas, I am also wondering if you are using the bricks only or if you were going from the transformer into the TIU..

Well, I suppose Dallas might be using the Z-1000 "Z-controller" (set to max throttle) as a connection convenience to "convert" the male barrel connector to banana jacks.  This might make it easier to wire to the TIU fixed inputs banana jacks!  But I suspect he's using the aforementioned adapter cable:

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Even when set to max throttle, the Z-controller adulterates the pure-sine output of the brick and reduces the integrity of DCS communications.

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@stan2004 posted:

Well, I suppose Dallas might be using the Z-1000 "Z-controller" (set to max throttle) as a connection convenience to "convert" the male barrel connector to banana jacks.  This might make it easier to wire to the TIU fixed inputs banana jacks!  But I suspect he's using the aforementioned adapter cable:

Untitled

Even when set to max throttle, the Z-controller adulterates the pure-sine output of the brick and reduces the integrity of DCS communications.

Hi Gerhardt.

To keep it simple.......... .......the Z1000  ( aka  " brick  , aka  transformer  )  is plugged into a wall outlet ( after the following steps are completed ) ...................plug the 50-1017  TIU / Barrel Jack Adapter Cable ( that Stan shows above )  into the male end from the Z1000 ......................then plug the red and black ends of ADAPTER 50-1017 into the red and black terminals on the TIU at FIXED VOLTAGE IN 1........................then wire track from the TIU at FIXED ( DCS) OUT 1 terminals. ............this will take care of the one loop of track.

The above steps can be used with your second Z1000 for your second loop.

I use the DCS  HAND HELD REMOTE to operate the functions of the engines on both loops with Fixed 1 and 2.

The only difference from the aforementioned info .........instead of the wall outlet, I use a multi plug surge protecter strip with an on  / off  switch to plug the TIU into for convenience.

Last edited by Dallas Joseph

Hi Gerhardt.

To keep it simple.......... .......the Z1000  ( aka  " brick  , aka  transformer  )  is plugged into a wall outlet ( after the following steps are completed ) ...................plug the 50-1017  TIU / Barrel Jack Adapter Cable ( that Stan shows above )  into the male end from the Z1000 ......................then plug the red and black ends of ADAPTER 50-1017 into the red and black terminals on the TIU at FIXED VOLTAGE IN 1........................then wire track from the TIU at FIXED ( DCS) OUT 1 terminals. ............this will take care of the one loop of track.

The above steps can be used with your second Z1000 for your second loop.

I use the DCS  HAND HELD REMOTE to operate the functions of the engines on both loops with Fixed 1 and 2.

The only difference from the aforementioned info .........instead of the wall outlet, I use a multi plug surge protecter strip with an on  / off  switch to plug the TIU into for convenience.

Hi Thomas T.

I don't have a drawing right now but maybe this could help you.

I don't have a professional looking drawing but if you need one I could put something together for you .     Let me know if you still want one. 🤔

Hi Guys,

One other question. If I wanted to use the 14v take off on the brick to power some accessories would that steal any power away from the 18v going to the track or are they truly separate? I want full power to the track and am just trying to understand my power needs in the big picture for the whole layout. Thanks again!

Yes, the 14V output "steals" power from the 18V main output.  This is not at all obvious from the manual or the nameplate on the brick which says 80W 14V, 100W 18V.  That's the 100% power if used one at a time. 

You can use 100% (100W) of the 18V power leaving 0% of 14V power.  Or you can use 0% of 18V and use 100% (80W) of 14V.  If using both voltages, you'll get somewhere between 80W and 100W of combined output power.  For example, use 75% (75W) of the 18V and 25% (20W) of the 14V and you get 95W of combined output power.

Of course these are "textbook" numbers for back-of-envelope planning.  Planning a layout assuming you can squeeze every last Watt out of a brick is a fool's errand.

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