Hey fellers,
I just got the DCS system for my layout. (A CSX SD70ACe DCS engine is coming in next week). I havn’t set it up yet, but on Rich Batista’s Toy Trains on Tracks video, he says that MTH recommends installing a light bulb to… "Improve DCS signal preformance as recommended my MTH"…
Do any of you install a light bulb to improve your DCS signal? Is it it really neccesary? Where do I get a bulb to use for this?
Thanks,
Grayson
Hello Grayson:
While I have a small layout, I do use the light bulb technique and I have a signal of 10s everywhere on my layout. Here is where I have attached them:
I have them wired across the terminals.
I got mine from:
http://www.scottsodds-n-ends.com/
You can also use lighted bumpers, they will provide the same benefit.
Regards,
John
Ok, thanks John!
Yes, I had to install bulbs to get things to respond correctly. from someone’s post:
As we all know, wiring a bulb across the output of the TIU (or alternatively, across the input to a barrier strip) can significantly enhance a DCS signal. I became curious as to what would be the best bulb to use. So I ran a series of tests looking at the DCS signal for a variety of bulbs. The test set up is as follows:
Layout, 2 rail DCS, with the TMCC signal active
Locos are two Atlas RSD-7s, running in a lashup. Both have been converted to DCS
15 scale mph speed
3 minute lap time
Train goes through eight blocks, which are distributed to two TIU channels
Each channel powered by a Lionel ZW running at 18 V nominal
The bulbs are located at the input to the barrier strip
The same type of bulb is used in each channel
I confined the tests to bulbs that have a standard bayonet base to make them compatible with my system
I recorded the track signal every time a new one appeared on the hand held. I recorded all the error messages as a zero. Typically I took 130 -150 readings in one circuit. I averaged the readings and calculated the standard deviation to get some idea of how much the signal varied. Results are:
Bulb Type: None
Track Signal Average 1.5
Standard Deviation +/- .86
Bulb Type: 1445 (14.4 V, .13 Amps, 2000 hours)
Track Signal Average 5.70
Standard Deviation +/- 1.73
Bulb Type: 363 (14 V, 0.20 Amps, 250 hours)
Track Signal Average 7.49
Standard Deviation +/- 1.70
Bulb Type: 1893 (14 V, 0.33 Amps, 7500 hours)
Track Signal 7.94
Standard Deviation +/- 1.35
Bulb Type: 1826 (18 V, .15 Amps, 250 hours)
Track Signal Average 4.69
Standard Deviation +/- 1.96
Bulb Type: 1818 (24 V, .17 Amps, 250 hours)
Track Signal Average 4.59
Standard Deviation +/- 1.19
Obviously any bulbs helps. I would h