dcs system overloading

[Anonymous]

can anyone inform me of how many engines can be operated off a single fixed system on the dcs system without tripping the relay due to electrical overload-after running three enginges on two diiferent loops for a short period, the relay is tripped shutting down the system- i thought the system could handle 5 engines at once on one fixed line-help

[spankybird]

Hi Tom,

Well we have to ask some question to give you the proper answer.

What size and type of power supply are you using [?]

A simple answer to your question is yes you can run several engines at one time on one loop with DCS. The amount that you can run depends on size of your power supply, (volt-wattage output) and the power draw of your engines, etc. I believe each channel is a max of 10 amps. Or at least that is the size of the breaker that I use, therefore, the max draw that I can have.

BTW the forum that can really help you the most is Classic Toy Train forum, and here is the link for it

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=95

This is where you will normally find me.

The other thing that will help you is to power the TIU from an aux. power supply. Radio Shack sales a 1amp 18 volt one for around $20.00.

Hope this helps.

tom

[Anonymous]

Hellloooo Tom (Spankybird).

Fancy meeting you here!

Tom Taras,

I agree with the other Tom's answer. 10 Amps per channel (I believe you can actually pull 12 amps per channel, but my breakers also pop at 10).

I am a part of a demo group for MTH. We have four Lionel 180 Watt power bricks connected to one TIU (one per channel). Each channel is connected to one loop of track. We have run 10 trains simultnaeously with this set up.

From one channel, I can run two long lighted passenger trains (four motors each train, 8 lighted cars on one, 9 on the other). This puts me just under 10 amps. If I turn the smoke units on, the breaker pops. You can run more trains on one track if you are not running lighted passenger cars, as they really draw a lot of current. I have run 7 or 8 locomotives at once, for test purposes, without popping the breaker.

I hope this is useful.