TMCC & DCS Operation Question

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Trying to figure out if I am doing something wrong, or if this is standard operating procedure.

I have a new ZW powering TMCC with DCS installed.

The ZW is connected as follows:

A to Track 1, through a Ckt Bkr, then to DCS Var 1, then to Track 1 (primary track power source)

B is connected to DCS fixed In 1 (providing fixed input volt to DCS)

C is connected to Terminal Block via Ckt Bkr, (providing voltage for building lights)

D to Track 2, through a Ckt Bkr, then to DCS Var 2, then to Track 2 (primary track power source)

Operation is fine in either TMCC mode or DCS mode, with either TMCC engines or DCS engines and controllers.

Upon powering up, I must select TR 1 (A), with the TMCC controller, and increase the voltage. At start up the initial voltage is only about 8v, meerly touching the “throttle”, and the voltage jumps up to 17v. And of course everything is fine. But I need to do this everytime power is turned on, same thing for D, or “TR 4” on the TMCC controller. I assume this is because these are the variable outputs on the ZW.

Both the TMCC and DCS remotes will then work fine with the appropriate engines. DCS anything, and TMCC everything but DCS engines.

Now to run convential this is what I have to do upon turning on the power…

Have the DCS controller in one hand with “Var Track 1” selected, select TR 1, on the TMCC and move the throttle, immediately the voltage jumps up. The convential engine begins to move at full speed, until I move the throtle knob on the DCS hand controller. Then I have full control.

So the basic question is this “normal” ?

I can’t seem to have the potential 17v at start up without adjusting it with TMCC, and then the minimum voltage on the DCS is set at 5v (lowest setting), and in the mean time the engi

2

No help here Don, I use a Z-4000 and a Post War ZW plus a brick to power DCS TIUs.

3

I don’t know about “normal” but you best shot at conventional control is to not use the TIU. Just run conventional off of the ZW through the CAB-1. The TIU/DCS remote can not directly control the ZW (DCS can only send ENG comads to the command base, not TRain/Track) so the only way to do this it is to stuff full voltage out of the ZW and into the TIU. The ZW can provide much finer speed step control (up to 96 steps) vrs the TIU’s 32. Alternative is to provide the TIU variable input taps with direct power from a PowerHouse and use the DCS remote to directly control the track voltage (with 5.5 volt starting voltage and 32 speed steps).

4

I think you will get better operation by feeding your track voltage through the DCS fixed channels. By running track power through the ZW and DCS variable then both the DCS and the New ZW/Cab 1 are trying to regulate voltage. Run the track voltage through DCS fixed and let only the new zw control voltage. When you turn on the zw / power controller it starts in conventional mode 0V. Then you must select track 1 and increase the voltage. Otherwise your conventional loco’s could start off like a jack rabbit. Here is how I do it.

  1. Turn on TMCC command base.

  2. Select handle position for maximum voltage from ZW. Partial voltage position gives you smaller speed steps for finer conventional control.

  3. Turn on ZW and DCS.

  4. Use cab 1 track1 and turn dial to increase voltage. Use only the Cab 1 to control conventional engines (select track 1 whenever want to control voltage to conventional engine), use DCS to control only PS2.0 engines, and use only Cab 1 to control TMCC engines. DCS with a cord can control TMCC engines but why bother?

Jim H

5

Jim,

Everything you said makes sense, the obvious escaped me. Control the conventional with the Cab 1, I do have fixed voltage going to the TIU, from the B throttle from the ZW. I have found it beneficial to run the TMCC engines with the DCS remote. I can switch between engines much faster, and have equal control. (The only cable was a $5 cable that runs between the TIU and Command module). Also provides for multiple engineers running different TMCC engines.

Thanks for your reply it has realy helped, and puts it all in perspective.

6

Just make sure your TIU fixed voltage ports are the ones you use to provide track power (not the TIU variable ports).

Jim H

7

You can of course change the variable ports to fixed ports, which gives you four fixed ports.

8

Local Dunce Here … [D)]

Simply stated resolution… AND it works…

Upon turning on the power, use the TMCC Cab 1, at the TR ‘x’ mode and control the conventional, then when it is running simply assume control with the DCS controller, and everyone is happy.

Conventional under control with either controller.

DCS or TMCC under control (on seperate track of course), and everything working perfectly.

DUH…

Thanks for all the thought!!!