DCS Commander and Lionel 042 Switch Problem

[RRaddict]

I was running conventionel locomotives on my layout and using a Z 1000 transformer and my Lionel 042 switches worked great of of the track power.  I switched over to the MTH DCS Commander and now only one switch will light and power if thrown.  Do I need to connect AC power since the DCS Commander only has DC output? Any help would be great I'm very new to DCS.

Thanks

Kevin

[phillyreading]

All the Lionel switches that I have dealt with use AC power to the solenoid, in order to throw the switch. Maybe you can power it by the seperate voltage screw or voltage plug, also need one side of the AC power to the outside rail however this may shut down the whole operation because of the DCS Commander working with DC power. YOU may have to remove the solenoid's ground from the switch and run it straight to one side of the AC power.

[RRaddict]

Thanks, that's what I was thinking but wasn't sure.  I will give it a try and let you know. 

Kevin

[RRaddict]

Problem solved AC power is the cure thank you.

Kevin

[RRaddict]

Ok the problem was not solved. The switches worked until I switched the DCS commander over to DCS from conventional the switches totally lost power even with AC power hooked up. Do I need to remove the insulating pins? It's baffling.

[ADCX Rob]

There is something else going on that needs more sleuthing.  The Lionel track switches will work on AC or DC.

UNLESS these are the SuperSnap O-42 switches formally made by K-Line.  These may have an issue with DC or DCC.on the track.  Use an external AC power source for these.

[RRaddict]

These are the K-Line type  Supersnap switches.  I hooked AC up to them and they still won't function with the DCS.  Do you have any more ideas.  If I have the insulating pins in the wrong rails would that make a difference?

Thanks,

Kevin

[ADCX Rob]

Use a separate transformer dedicated to powering the switches.  Remove the switches from track power completely(remove jumper or whatever).

What are you running on three rail O that you want to use a DCS Commander?

[RRaddict]

Rob I have tried hooking up a seperate AC power supply to the switches but it doesn't work. I don't think there is any way of totally removing them from track power.  I moved the jumper out of the way and hooked the power up but they still shut down when the DCS commander is fired up. I would try out the 022 switches I have but I have never had good luck with those.

Thanks,

Kevin

[phillyreading]

To remove the switch totally from track power you will need to cut or unsolder the wire from the solenoid to the frame of the switch, then hook up the solenoid to the alternate power source. The solenoid MUST BE powered seperately. Anything short of that will cause a short effect, because of dealing with A.C. voltage and D.C. voltage on the same circuit or wires. To make it simple as to why you can't use a common wire with the DCS commander is because you have two differant types of voltage being used. A.C. alternates the positve and negative wires and D.C. the positive and negative stay the same.

[lionelsoni]

I don't know what the trouble with the DCS commander is, nor even what a DCS commander is.  But I do know that there is no reason why AC and DC circuits cannot generally share a common return.

[gunrunnerjohn]

Well, I'm sure removing the insulating pins is NOT the answer, that will drive the switches crazy and likely cook the coils!  As to why you had issues with 022 switches, you'd have to be more specific.  Since most 022 switches are getting long in the tooth, you have to recondition them if you expect reliable operation.  However, once you do that, and also run them on 16-18 volts, they seem rock solid to me.

DCS should run pretty much the same as plain old AC on the rails, so losing power totally sounds like some other issue.

Did you try wiring the power feed in a star pattern from the TIU to each of the track sections separated by the switches?  If the center and outer rails are not contiguous around the layout, the DCS signal will indeed disappear.

[RRaddict]

Thanks but I am not even sure what a solenoid looks like and the frame is plastic.  These are the K-Line switches that Lionel got after they sued K-Line.  It definitely makes sense that AC and DC cannot run together on the switches. If you know of anywhere I can get graphic instructions how to do this that would be great.

Kevin

[bigdogjeff]

i have dcs and run  8 022 switches and the switches i use as dedicated power to its own zw 275 power and track on the other zw 275 and never had any problems like you are having. And as for the 022 switches you say are problems i wouldnt use any thing else love these switches i buy them when ever i see them redo the wires and use them flawless on my layout