dcs user manual.qxp
Contents
1. DCS Command System User s Guide ENA 9 Introduction To DCS Recommended Wiring Method It is important for good operation to make the most efficient use of the power and digi tal signal available on your track Poor wiring and bad connections offer resistance and can interfere with receipt of the DCS signal and limit the number of engines and cars you can run on your track Be sure to use proper wire we recommend 16 gauge or larg er paired wire like speaker wire and good connections good connections mean crimp or solder Because center rail blackening is not conductive you may find that the blackening on your track creates resistance that drains power and signal If so use Scotch Brite fine grit sandpaper or an LGB track cleaning block to clean the blackening off the top of your center rail Advanced wiring information and diagrams including wiring for layouts using blocks for conventional operation are located in the Universal Locomotive and Accessory Operation section of this manual Optimal Performance Wiring Principles Use 16 gauge or larger paired wire such as speaker wire Use a star pattern home run wiring to wire directly from the TIU to each lock on Use a terminal block to carry power and signal from one TIU channel to multiple lock ons Avoid common bus wiring Solder for tight connections not required Clean the blackening off the top of the center rail if necessary Power acc2. s U L standards install inline fuses or circuit breakers between the transformer and the TIU input channels An AG3C fast acting or fast blow fuse rated at 15 amps would be suitable protection These can be obtained from most hardware or electronic stores including Radio Shack Users will also need an inline fuse holder to house the fuse Radio Shack sells a heavy duty model part number 27 1217 Recommended Wiring Method Electronic Transformers Any transformer employing two parts a brick step down transformer and a controller used to vary the voltage output may cause opera tional problems due to low power or poor DCS sional To correct this problem MTH recom mends connecting only the brick to the TIU inputs In addition check the output voltage of a Bue the transformer it should not exceed 22 volts or 18 volts if lighted cars are used on the track When using the Z 500 Z750 or Z1000 electronic type transformer use an adapter cable MTH item 50 1017 to connect the brick directly to the Bice TIU input as shown below DO NOT use the controller portion of an elec tronic type transformer gt TIU Barrel Jack Adapter Cable 50 1017 DCS Command System User s Guide 13
3. Audio AIU Input Proto Dispatch MIC Plug mini to muni cable from Pug AIU in here to operate Plug microphone in here if you audio DOUTE here ta play accessories and MENOU Wid choose not fo ise the microphone 3 3 1 tr CS handheld 1 3 rable sounds through tran DCS handheld built into the handheld or to Variable Voltage In2 record custom sounds Connect AC transformer here Controls trans on arial l Er r Variable Cony DCS Out connected track in Wire to track from here for conventional and command modes conventional or command mode via the DES handhelel Fixed DCS Outl and Out2 Wire to track trom here for command mode Variable Conv DCS Out Wire to track from here for conventional and command modes Fixed Voltage Inl and In2 Connect transformer Aux Power Input Plug a 4 500 or 2 750 back in here if you do not connect a Ara L Ty Hiber Ep here Controls trains on connected track m command mode via the DECS handheld The Fixed channel also transformer through Fixed 1 channel Also for remote use away from layout to Serial Interface RS 232 download files from Plug TMCC Command Base in PC here Plug PC m here for program upgrades sound set one of two ways that operiting power is Power Indicator Red LED light blinks ar initial power up The TIU address corresponds to the number of Variable Voltage In times the Red LED Blinks Connect AC transformer here
4. Chapter 1 Introduction To DCS DCS woolen re 7 Track Interface Unit CVG scscssspsaccasces 8 Accessory Interface Unit AIU 9 Recommended Witing 10 6 DCS Command System User s Guide Introduction To DCS DCS Remote Control This is the device you will use the most when controlling your trains It communicates with the TIU via a 900MHz signal in much the same manner as your cordless phone communicates with its base The remote does not talk directly to the locomotive or accessory you are controlling m L DGS REMOTE CONTROL Cees LELLI BIL Screen backlight on off AUX Auxiliary menu ACC Accessory menu BELL Rings bell ENG Engine m to select and oat engines MENU Access 4 main menus Sound Control System Advanced LABOR REV UP OR DRIFT REV DN Makes an engine sound like it s working harder or easier BOOST BRAKE Temporarily Raises or Lowers Speed SMOKE Turns smoke unit on amp off ki VOL Globally increases all sounds ss ak ENG SND Silences engine sounds VOL Globally decreases all sounds 0 9 ont er HDLT Turns headlights on amp off 9 PROTOCAST Activates Proto Cast Se READ Search for TIUs AlUs and _ o Proto Sound 2 0 Engines on the track READ DOPPLER ESTOP MICROPHONE LCD DISPLAY SOFTKEYS Activate locomotive features MIC Turns Proto Dispatch on amp off TR Track menu Access various tracks blo
5. Controls trains on connected provided to the TIU downloads ete Cable sold separately Remote Input a La f Sr i f r are ne r D ATTENTION lug handheld into this jack ija track in conventional or fh ae software upgrades and to operate sommand mode via the DCS TIU contains internal 7 i aE Son ai os with tether peat fuses If there is no output open the case 6 Screws and check the fuse Mote information on Page 133 8 DCS Command System User s Guide Introduction To DCS The Accessory Interface Unit The Accessory Interface Unit also known as the AIU plugs into the TIU and controls any accessory or switch wired to it Each AIU can control up to 10 switches and 10 accessories and features the ability to turn the accessory on or off or activate it momen tarily The AIU essentially acts as a large relay and simply replaces the manual switches that are normally used to turn on and off model railroading accessories Connection to the TIU is done through a special cable included with the AIU and up to five AIUs can be daisy chained to one TIU ATTENTION Connecting the TIU to the AIU output may cause damage to earlier model AIU s TIU Connection Accessory Switch Input Connection Banks AIU Connection ACC Output IN Armature of Relay 1 NO normally open For Future Use 2 NC normally closed For Daisy Chaining Digital Input Multiple AIUs SW IN AC Common 1 Straight
6. cks on your layout SW Switch menu W H Blows whistle horn THUMBWHEEL Throttle amp selection scroll amp press tool DIR Changes locomotive direction CPLR F CPLR R Fires front amp rear couplers START UP Activates sound smoke amp lights SHUT DOWN Deactivates all sound smoke amp lights PFA Activates Passenger Freight Sounds E STOP Cuts power to all tracks DOPPLER Activates Proto Doppler Programming Port Tether LT attaches between remote and TIU for programming new software features DCS Command System User s Guide Introduction To DCS The Track Interface Unit Also known as the TIU the Track Interface Unit is the brains behind the DCS system Connected between the transformer and the track the TIU receives signals from the DCS remote control and relays those signals to each train you are controlling via the rails The type of signal relayed to the train depends on the operating mode at the time If operating conventionally the TIU will raise and lower track voltage to control engine speed If operating in command mode the TIU will send a digital signal to each train you are controlling via the track rails This digital signal is very powerful and contains a lot of information much like the digital sionals used in today s high tech products These digital signals are what allow DCS to perform the hundreds of functions designed into the system Proto Cast
7. essories and turnouts via auxiliary not track power Place a lock on or wire directly to track approximately every 25 linear feet both center and one outside rail 10 DCS Command System User s Guide Introduction To DCS Recommended Wiring Method to center rail Maximum Power Input 0 22VAC 190VAC 10AMP OR 0 24VDC 10AMP to transformer power or red to transformer ground or black POWER 10 8 5103 Note This very quick wiring scheme through the Fixed In I and Fixed Out I inputs allows for operation of the connected loop of track in DCS command mode only Please see the Advanced Connection section of this manual in the Universal Operation chapter for all the wiring options if you have more complex wiring and operational needs including conventional mode and TMCC operation DCS Command System User s Guide 11 Introduction To DCS Recommended Wiring Method Basic DCS Wiring for Command Layouts Large Layouts May Require Lock ons Every 20 25 Feet TERMINAL BLOCK M T H tem No 50 1014 12 port or M 1 H Item No 50 1020 24 port To Center Rail To Outer Rail POWER SOURCE Optional Additional Equipment Shown M T H Terminal Block Item No 50 1014 The screws in each terminal strip of this terminal block are electrically connected to one another making it easy to wire the TIU s output into the binding posts and then wire out to several lock ons
8. from different terminal pairs Transformer Note Although we do not recommend using the DCS System with home made transformers or those that put out more than 12 amps virtually any commercial AC hobby power supply will work with DCS See Transformer Compatibility Chart p 114 Bear in mind that as you begin to run more and longer trains together you need to have lots of power on the track For this reason we recommend that railroad ers with large layouts and long trains use M T H s Z 4000 Item No 40 4000 which is the most powerful UL rated transformer on the market 12 DCS Command System User s Guide Introduction To DCS Recommended Wiring Method Older Transformers Older transformers like the Lionel postwar ZW or KW models employ a bi metallic strip to act as a circuit breaker The strip responds to heat as high current flows through the transformer If enough heat is generated by the high current the strip will open the fuse circuit and prevent further current from flowing out of the trans former The bi metallic strip is not a precise overload protection l ee POWER when excessive amps are being generated by the short circuit Should SOURCE the strip thus fail to trip excessive and potentially harmful current could be sent through the TIU device and does not measure the current As a result it may not trip MTH therefore recommends that any user employing an older transformer that does not meet today
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search