Wiring Help

Al,

My question is how do I wire the DCS Commander and the TIU to the Outer loop?  Can they wired in quazzy series or are each wired separately to the track?  I have read the DCS Commander & TIU manuals with no mention of what I am trying to do and that MTH says both will work together.

First, exactly why would you want to do this? The DCS TIU and remote encompass everything that the DCS Commander can do, and much more.

Regardless,  the DCS Commander must be connected to a completely separate loop than any of the channels of the DCS TIU, unless the TIU is wired in Passive TIU mode. Otherwise, power from the DCS Commander will be commingled with power from the output channels of the TIU, resulting in a potentially very dangerous scenario.

Further, there are other caveats of which you should be aware:

• Each DCS (PS2 and PS3) engines must have the same DCS ID# in both the DCS Remote and the DCS Commander, or one or the other will not be able to control the DCS engines
• The DCS Commander only allows a maximum of 6 amps for track power and is intended for MTH HO engines, not O gauge or larger engines
• The DCS Commander can only handle up to 10 DCS engines, while the DCS TIU and Remote can handle up to 99 DCS engines
• The DCS Commander has only a subset of the commands that are present in the DCS Remote.

Having both devices connected to the same loop at the same time is a very bad idea. I'm quite surprised that MTH didn't discourage you from doing so, or at least provide some cautionary advice.

If you want to understand the differences between these two devices, and their capabilities and limitations, I highly recommend that you purchase a copy of The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition.

This and a whole lot more is all in "The DCS O Gauge Companion 2nd Edition", now available for purchase as an eBook or a printed book from MTH's web store site!

CLICK HERE go to MTH's web page for the book!

Thanks! 

Barry

Thanks for all the info.  I was directed to the DCS Commander to ease operation for my grandson when he comes over.  I just found this user group and it seems like there is a lot of DCS knowledge amongst its members.  I will then wire it separately to the track and then just switch the Z-1000 back and forth between the TIU and Commander.

Thanks again

Al

Al,

I will then wire it separately to the track and then just switch the Z-1000 back and forth between the TIU and Commander.

You should not have both connected to the same track at the same time.

Al,

I will use the same transformer for both and just switch it from the TIU to the DSC Commander when my grandson comes over.

No, that won't be enough.

You must disconnect the TIU or the DCS Commander from the tracks when the other device is in use.

Barry,

Ok.  I'll wire it so I have to switch tack wires from the TIU to the Commander and still use the same transformer.  So I'll have two different connections to alter, back end and front end so to speak.

Your book is on order and should be to me by Monday.  Of course reading & truly comprehending, is yet to be found out.

Thanks for all your help

Al

Al,

You're very welcome!

Al, my grandchildren started running my layout years ago.  It wasn't hard to get them used to the thumbwheel for speed, and the DIR & whistle buttons.  Then they soon learned the red button for emergencies.  You mnight try teaching him; it would simplify your problem. 

Oh yes--a suggestion:  I drilled a hole in the bottom of the DCS remote (with cover off so I caould make sure I wasn't hitting anything inside).  Then inserted an small eye bolt, to which I have a tether a grandchild can put around his/her neck.  Learned this the hard way, after one dropped a remote onto a concrete floor.

I like the tether idea for the remote, I should do that for the Legacy remote.  More delicate I would imagine and more expensive!

I did suggest to MTH R&D that they include an eye on the next edition of the remote.  It has saved a few falls.