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I'm using two lionel 180w power bricks for my layout, and I'm also using lionel fastrack. My question is I have a outside loop for one power brick, and a inside loop with a yard for the other power brick. Do I have to use blocks to isolate the power from one track to the other? And I'm using switch track to connect the loops together. I thought with digital you didn't have to use blocks. I'm confuse with this... Need help in understanding how dcs works.

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I would isolate the 2 loops and power supplies regardless of DCS. DCS works best with 1 power feed per block. 10-12 sections of track per block. Using 1 brick per TIU channel and 1 TIU channel per track loop would be good, depending on loop size. Each loop could be blocked accordingly.

 

You should get the DCS O Gauge Companion by forum member Barry B. it is all explained very well in that book. OGR also has a DVD on using DCS.

Last edited by rtr12

I haven't looked at a piece of Fastrack for a while, but was thinking there was a fitter piece or something on the switches that had a jumper you just removed to isolate them. I might be all wet here, but that's kind of how I remember them. This might be the block piece you mentioned?  I have a Fastrack book around here somewhere, will see if I can find it tomorrow.

 

Yes, I would isolate the loops between the switches where the loops connect. You should have no problems running trains between the loops. If you have everything connected that way now, the bricks should be properly phased or you would already have problems.

 

Found the book, it says the O60 & O72 switches include 3 isolation pieces with the jumpers that are supposed to be part #6-12073, says they are 1-3/8" long. Also included with 22-1/2 deg crossover, and available as replacement part. 

Last edited by rtr12
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