MTH DCS Question

[Anonymous]

I just came back from a train show and have this question of owners of the MTH DCS system. The operator said there were inputs for 4 different transformers and that limited the system to operate on only 4 different main lines.
Is this true? Boy if it is then am I glad I have lionmaster command as I already have ground wires to 8 different main lines and just use different Ids for the engines on the mains.
It is hard to believe Mth would limit their system this much.
Dave Roxin.

[spankybird]

The answer is Yes and No.

Yes the TIU has four channels: 4 input and 4 out puts.

No it does not have to only power 4 mainlines. The limit of each channel is the limit of watts each input is having and how much draw of power is each main line requiring. How many engines is on each mainline.

I do not recall from memory the max wattage of each channel.

Also you can add more TIU’s if needed.

tom

[willpick]

Dave, the limit for each channel is 12 Amps. As for the four outputs, each output can drive a "power district" which might be one loop, or parts of multiple loops/tracks. there is a practical limit to how much trackage 1 channel can drive and still have a usable DCS signal, but i can't recall an exact number-- but I know it was in excess of 50 ft of track.
You can also run DCS in "Passive" mode, where you power up the TIU with an external AC(16V or so), and connect the output of the TIU to the track. The transformers that power the track are connected in the usual way, straight to the track. The DCS signal gets injected into the track, and you can run at more than 12 amps(if you need to). HTH

[Anonymous]

Bill August..... Is that you?!