I've just sold my Digitrax system and purchased an MTH DCS system (the TIU based system not the Commander) to run my small fleet of SD70 engines which I really enjoy. My layout is a tiny 4'x12' oval with a passing siding. The problem I'm having is the lack of HO DCS wiring info (I understand that I'm part of a minority) . I was getting spotty results with my old DCC wiring so I re-wired using a terminal strip and four feeds in a star like pattern (generally recommended for MTH in O scale.) My DC power input is a MRC Railmaster 2400 running off of the fixed DC terminal at 15 volts DC. Any help would be most appreciated.
PRRALCO,
In My Opinion,,,,You should have kept the Digitrax system,,got a better Power Supply and did a properly wired DCC,Buss,with more feeders to the track,,,it would have eliminated,your spotty results....Can't help you at all with the DCS,system...
Cheers,
Frank
I've been working in DCC for the last 12 years. The wiring on my layout was fine. Its the DCS that I'm having some problems with. Perhaps its a new learning curve. I spent the evening under the layout disconnecting some feeders in hopes of eliminating some DCS noise with some success.
Hi PPRALCO,
Given the size of your layout you could easily get away with a single pair of wires, but I would suggest three pairs (one pair per siding and one for the single track main). The key with DCS is to isolate the track between power connections. Any electrically isolated segment of track should only be fed with a single pair of power and ground wires. This prevents multiple iterations of the DCS signal arriving at the locomotive out of phase. Use plastic rail joiners to insulate your track at the switches and you should be good to go.
There are other wiring considerations when you get into larger layouts with DCS, but you're a long ways away from needing to worry about that. In general, there are two rules of thumb that will help you get excellent track signal with DCS. Rule 1 - less is more. You are better off soldering your rail joiners and having fewer power connections. Rule 2 - divide and conquer. When layouts get large it's best to break them up among multiple TIU's. This is very similar to breaking a DCC layout up among multiple boosters.
Don't let the nay sayers get you down. Enjoy your trains as you please.
Hope that helps.