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Well, I am ready to do something I never thought I would, buy MTH engines.  The problem is when I designed and wired my layout only had Lionel Legacy in mind.  My layout is 26' x 12' in the loft above my garage.  Here is the track plan for the visible layout on top of the benchwork....

Tabletop Layout

Each color represents a power district powered by its own 180 brick and controlled by Legacy Power masters.  The track power districts of course share a ground bus wire that goes around the room.

Beneath the benchwork I built a reverse loop and storage sidings...

Under Table Storage

I realize I could control an MTH engine right now by using my Powermaster and treating it as a conventional engine.  That is too limiting to me and I do not want to do that.

I want to purchase the MTH DCS and operate MTH engines keeping constant voltage to the track and using the MTH remote or perhaps their app.

What would I have to do to install DCS in terms of wiring?

thank you!

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Last edited by T4TT
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T4TT posted:

Do i have to alter existing wiring?

Probably not. Just this week I brought my DCS system to our new large club layout to try it out. It is 25' x 43' and has 4 or 5 loops of Gargraves track and was not wired with DCS in mind. Mostly a single buss for each loop I think. I added the TIU with small alligator clips to a siding on the outside loop and ran a Premiere diesel around the outer loop. It appeared to be a solid connection and all went well.

You can always tweek it if necessary if you encounter problems.

I have both Legacy and DCS and have no problems.  I also have Wi-Fi, but you don’t need that immediately.

Each TIU can support 4 of your power districts.  So, as Susan said, you will need 2 TIU’s to cover your 6 districts.  You only need a small change in your wiring to insert the TIU between your power source and the track.  Each pair of wires from the transformer for a district will go to one of the input pairs on the TIU.  The wires to the track connect to the output pair.  Connect the Legacy wire to any of the ground terminals on the output side of the TIU.  That’s it.

As Scott said, if you are going to use DCS, Barry’s book will answer your questions.

T4TT,

   I also run DCS & Legacy, I highly recommend running both.  If you are running FasTrack drop me some e-mail I will help you out.  Pine-Creek@live.com

Try adding DCS to your layout without rewiring completely and see what happens.  I ran DCS 1st then added Legacy, a lot easier most times.

I also recommend the OGR Video Guide to DCS, especially for those just adding DCS.  Rich Melvin does a great job explaining 90% of what you need to know about DCS and for a visual learner this Video is just fantastic.  It starts from the very basics and moves to the more complex,.

Barry's O Gauge Companion book is a must for DCS running, covers everything in depth and his technical direction rivals the NASA Engineering Technical Direction writing, we did while building the Space Shuttle.  Simply outstanding technical writing, well worth the money expended.

PCRR/Dave

DSCN2500

 

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