Using Z1000 as power source

I’m not sure what voltage you need. Connecting to the two screws on the Z1000 brick will only give you 14 volts.  If you need 18 volts then you need to use the controller also or use the PH180.

I thought there was a way to connect the bricks directly into the TIU?  14 v is just the accessory take off and that isn’t enough for the track.

Hi Gerhardt .

I run DCS only and only 1 TIU with 2 Z1000s  on 2 seperate loops.       

I have one Z1000 on the TIU FIXED 1 INPUT and a second Z1000 on the TIU FIXED 2 INPUT.

Wired to 2 separate loops from the FIXED 1 and FIXED 2 OUTPUTS.

MTH makes An adapter for the MTH bricks # 50-1017 to connect to theTIU.

https://mthtrains.com/50-1017

Or you can make your own adapter using a barrel jack.

Joseph, Is your Z-1000 "brick" attached directly to the TIU, or are you also using the controller?

Gerhardt, There is a TIU/Barrel Jack adapter cable, 50-1017, that I think was made to connect the bricks directly to the TIU.  May want to find one.

ADDED:  Looks like Joe beat me to it.  Need to type faster.

Ron,

I use the Z-4000 transfomers with the side remote receivers, but I know that the MTH bricks male barrel connects to the female barrel end of the adapter and the banana plugs go into the TIU and the adapter cable doesn't work with the controller.

Hi Ron and Joe,

Thanks For the information on the adapter. I did not know that and that makes sense.  

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

Thanks

@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:

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

I guess this isn't "quite" a sine wave.   This is the Z-Controller at full throttle with no load.

It really doesn't look any better with a 2A load.

Picture is worth a thousand words.

Let me be a broken record!  If you have a Z-1000 combo (brick + controller) use JUST THE BRICK to feed a TIU.

I'm confident you can sell the controller on eBay or the OGR Buy-Sell forum and use the proceeds to buy an adapter cable! 

Look at the bright side Stan, the Z-Controller output looks better than the Lionel CW-80!

Lionel CW-80 Full Throttle

Lionel CW-80 Half Throttle

Cool. Thanks I appreciate it. So back to my original question then I have all the power I need, most need the adapters. Excellent!

@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:

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.

I have 4 Z1000's power one of my TIU's on all 4 channels with no problems. Across the room on the other side I did have one Z1000 and one Z750 powering with a Z4000 powering the other TIU  until I purchased another Z4000. Use JUST THE BRICKS!

Curtis

Perfect. Thanks everyone. I just found and ordered those barrel adapters. I appreciate the help !

@Dallas Joseph posted:

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.

Ok thanks, that’s exactly what I was worried about. I want full power available for the track. I will plan to run accessories off a dedicated transformer. I appreciate the response. Happy New Year!

I use the two Z1000s for my two separate loops on the two DCS fixed channels and I use a L. 1034 for accessories

does a z-1000 provide enough power to run two engines thru the same tiu channel to the dame track?

@Semi-retired-railroader posted:

does a z-1000 provide enough power to run two engines thru the same tiu channel to the dame track?

Well, if a 50 Watt Z500 runs one train, logic would say a Z1000 which is 100W should run 2 since MTH trains are typically pretty efficient and low power draw, YMMV

I have an 18'x8' board set up. On the outer loop with 5 real trax turn out, I can run 3 PS2 engines w/ freight cars or 2 of them as passenger trains, with smoke on. My outer (and inner) loop is powered via fixed 1 with a Z1000 input. I am pushing the limit with the 2 passenger sets when I run....one has 5 cars, the other 6, all lit with factory incandescent bulbs. If I try to through one switch (mine are track powered, it is a temp Christmas layout) the light dims, and it does not through. I stop the engines to cut draw, it will throw. I only run both on the same track for grins once in awhile!

I would say you are safe with 2 engines. Try it....what have you got to loose?

Greg

thats awesome, thanks so much for your advice. im running two loops with a z-4000. and wanted to make the two remaining outputs in the tiu fixed as well but would be powering each with a seperate z-1000.  Using 12 awg wire to two distribution blocks at either end of the 80' oval shaped loops then 14 awg wire to the track lockons about 12 to 15' apart.   Thanks again  Chuck