What are my options; I’ve outgrown my original control arrangement

You have a Z4000 and a TIU. Are the 2 mains occupying just 2 channels on the TIU ?  

You added a subway loop to one of the mainlines. It sounds like you just added it to the output side. If you have channels not being used. It would be best to run the subway off one of the them. Variables can be set as fixed. You can jumper the the voltage in to the TIU so that one handle on the Z400O is powering 2 different channels. It’s best to seperate the channels with 2 fuses or breakers.

You mentioned interference. By that do you mean a weak track signal ?

About how big of an area are each of the mainlines and are there any sidings involved ?

@Dave_C posted:

You have a Z4000 and a TIU. Are the 2 mains occupying just 2 channels on the TIU ?  

You added a subway loop to one of the mainlines. It sounds like you just added it to the output side. If you have channels not being used. It would be best to run the subway off one of the them. Variables can be set as fixed. You can jumper the the voltage in to the TIU so that one handle on the Z400O is powering 2 different channels. It’s best to seperate the channels with 2 fuses or breakers.

You mentioned interference. By that do you mean a weak track signal ?

About how big of an area are each of the mainlines and are there any sidings involved ?

Thanks for you response and help!
Yes each handle powers one of the fixed posts. Yes the subway loop was bridged off the power loop to main 1. Can you recommend hardware for the breakers? Is the variable changed to fixed using the handheld?

The interference is when the subway seems to start up in conventional, it starts reciting all the stops and the lights are blinking. This upsets what ever is on the main. Sometimes I can start it up and then power it down but that doesn’t always work. Would using a separate channel stop that?

The overall layout is 8 X 16 with a few short sidings. Main 1 has a passing siding at one end. I bring a train in there and shut it down and then cut the power with a toggle.

@pennsyfan posted:

Thanks for you response and help!
Yes each handle powers one of the fixed posts. Yes the subway loop was bridged off the power loop to main 1. Can you recommend hardware for the breakers? Is the variable changed to fixed using the handheld?

The interference is when the subway seems to start up in conventional, it starts reciting all the stops and the lights are blinking. This upsets what ever is on the main. Sometimes I can start it up and then power it down but that doesn’t always work. Would using a separate channel stop that?

The overall layout is 8 X 16 with a few short sidings. Main 1 has a passing siding at one end. I bring a train in there and shut it down and then cut the power with a toggle.

Ok I just found the answer about setting variable to fixed.

My original thought was maybe you just had to much  going on if the main line and subway were on the same channel. At times DCS engines will miss the watchdog signal and start up in conventional mode. As long as your signal strength is good. As you mentioned just hitting startup and then shutdown silences the engine.

I think your fine as far as equipment needed to run your layout. I used fast blow fuses for years and they blow very fast. The only problem was. I’m not the best engineer. My layout was in the building stage. I moved trains just to work on an area and because I wasn’t planning on running them. I had a lot of brain farts and derailments. Years ago I purchased the PSX AC breakers. These work very well and reset with a push of the button. Only thing is. I believe at the moment they are not available. I bought mine from Tony’s Train Exchange. They are big into DCC.  Charles Ro carried them also. There are numerous threads on sources for circuit breakers.