Availability for Lionel TPC 400

I don't believe Lionel manufactures them any more. They are available in the secondary market as people change them out for Powermasters. You may want to post in the Wanted to Buy section.

I have one TPC 400 and two 180 watt Legacy Powermasters. The Powermasters are definitely easier to use especially when changing from conventional to command control. The advantage of the TPC 400 is that you can connect two 180 watt power sources to get 360 watts at 20 amps. Just be advised you may want to look at installation of a faster circuit breaker with that much amps flowing to your track.

Joe

do they make anything to replace it ?  they have so many different devices and not much info. I have more conventional equipment than TMCC or DCS but i like the walk around feature of the hand held's. The MTH DCS in conventional does not seem to have the fine control that the TPC did. any help would be appreciated

Rick:

Since I don't use it I don't know anything about DCS. I have a friend who has it and he seems able to use it in conventional mode - how I don't know.

With respect to Legacy or TMCC the replacement would be the appropriate Powermaster. One is made for TMCC and one for Legacy (different signal frequencies). There is a slide switch on the side of the powermaster that controls conventional verses command control. In either mode the speed is controlled by your hand held CAB remote. So basically you need a power source like a 180 power brick or a transformer, the appropriate powermaster, and the TMCC or Legacy control box / CAB remote and you are off and running.

Joe

The Legacy power masters is the replacement for the TPC. Like someone said, you cannot put 2-180 watt powerhouses into 1 Legacy power masters like you can do with a TPC. The 300 and 400 versions act the same , just you can put more power through them and the amps they handle are different.

Also,the TPC has to be hooked up to the Legacy base to get its communication whereas the Legacy power masters does not need to be wired to the base'salary computer port.

It has been a while since I worked with TPCs, but there are issues between the TPCs and LCS/iCab.  I believe the issue was not being able to vary the track voltage with the TPC in conventional and using an iPad/iCab as the controller.  Maybe a minor detail, but I still like to run my old Post War trains once in a while.  When I talked to Lionel they said they did not plan support the TPCs.  Also, the Legacy PowerMasters work great.

thanks for all the help. looks like I need the legacy powermaster.  this should allow me to run conventional and still fire all my DZ2500 switch machines as well from the hand held. I also saw somthing called the powermaster bridge not much info what's it for? Rick

Rick:

If you are running a Legacy command base and Legacy Powermasters you do not need the powermaster bridge. The bridge is a box that changes command frequencies from TMCC to Legacy. I can't remember exactly why the bridge was needed. I believe it was used between a Legacy command base and a TMCC powermaster  before the Legacy Powermaster came out - I think.

Hopefully someone can clear this up.

Joe

The Legacy PowerMaster Bridge receives serial data from the Legacy command base and outputs the 27mhz signal to emulate the old CAB1 remote.  The TMCC PowerMaster receives it's commands directly using 27mhz RF, the bridge generates that signal in the Legacy environment.

RPerras posted:

Does anyone know if Lionel is manufacturing the TPC 400? Is there an alternative to the TPC400? I have an interest in obtaining one.

Thank you.

RPerras,

You did not give us much info.  Are you running TMCC or Legacy.  Any conventional running?  First off, there is no true alternative to the TPC until the Legacy PowerMaster360 arrives.

If you are running TMCC (Cab-1) for command and conventional, then you need the original TMCC PowerMaster or the TPC 300/400.  If you ever want to run MTH locomotives in conventional mode with access to the PS2 features in conventional mode, or want more than 180W of power to the track* then choose a TPC.  Also, the TPC for conventional trains has 80-200-400 speed steps and you can run any engine made from 1900 and on.  TPCs are no longer made, so to get one search the for sale forum here or the auction sites.

If you are running Legacy (Cab-2) for command and conventional, then the best bet is to get a Legacy PowerMaster; the TMCC Powermaster is obsolete and the cab-2 does NOT talk to it without the PowerMaster Bridge which adds complexity.  Like the TMCC PowerMaster, the Legacy PowerMaster is limited to 180 watts/10  amps.  If you want more power*, Lionel is suppose the be releasing the Legacy PowerMaster 360 soon which will support up to 360 watts/20 amps like the TPC400.  When the PowerMaster360 gets here is unknown, so in the short run find a TPC if more power is desired.

*Many on this forum do not support the concept of more than 10 amps to the track.  If you really want more power, do a forum search and you will find much discussion on this.

Rick Rubino posted:

thanks for all the help. looks like I need the legacy powermaster.  this should allow me to run conventional and still fire all my DZ2500 switch machines as well from the hand held. I also saw somthing called the powermaster bridge not much info what's it for? Rick

Rick,

Not sure what you need the Legacy PowerMaster for to fire your DZ-2500s, unless you are using it to set the voltage level.  You can use any AC transformer that puts out more than 12 volts for reliable DZ-2500 operations.  I use the 14 V accessory outlets from the brick from a MTH Z-1000; you can find these for sale here on the forum or the auction sites for not much money.  I would not recommend track power.

Below is how I have my DZ-2500s wired.  The diagram on the left side was my original plan using Dale's MANCO signal booster.  The booster was needed because I was driving a lot of stuff (TPCs, ASCs, etc.).  It would not be needed if only driving the DZ-2001.  Unfortunately, Dale is gone and there are only a few of these boosters.

The diagram on the right is how I have it now.  The Wi-Fi module is not needed if you are not using the Wi-Fi app.  The SER2 has the signal strength to power several TMCC items, although I am now going to use Legacy PowerMasters which will get their signal from the track.

If you want to buy a TPC 400, I have one for sale. My email is in my profile

I'm still using an old TPC 3000 and a PH 1 to power the TMCC part of my current layout.. Also have an adapter harness to add an additional PH 1, but the additional power is not needed on my layout.. all the turnouts and accessories are run from an independent power source. Any potential problems with any of that?? My layout is wired in blocks with  spdt center off control so I can run the layout from separate power sources. The other power source is an LW, properly phased of course. I run mostly conventional, PS-1 and a few TMCC units, and some Legacy engines that I have not run.. I have purchased the Legacy 990, but have not set it up.. Working out the control details on the current layout while I'm building the new one.. Thoughts?? Don't beat me up too badly.. The current layout has served me well, but I know it's out dated..

Woodson:

If you are running the IC TPC 3000 and a Power house (I assume the 135 watt version), it still functions and the power output meets your requirements then stick with it. Everything including Legacy should run with it (there is a question about "updated firmware" for the 3000 you may want to get more info on). I am not sure about PS-1 since these are MTH DCS engines. They will run conventional but it sounds like you have no DCS command control. Down the road if you don't want to pay for DCS command control you could have the engines switched to TMCC / railsounds or just pull the DCS components, install an updated railsounds or proto sounds board and run them conventional.

You will need a communication cable to connect from the Legacy command base to the TPC (6-14191) then you are good to go. Everything should be explained in the Legacy manual. Using the Legacy command base /TPC 300 / Powerhouse 1 you will have 7+ watts available to control Legacy / TMCC and conventional engines. Again I am not sure about PS-1.

Another thing I am not sure about is how you have the LW connected in the circuit containing the TPC/PH 1. Because you are using a double pole toggle switch I assume you run either the TPC or LW independent of each other and not together????

In either case if you want to update and be sure Legacy runs then switch to a Legacy Powermaster (replaces the TPC) and the power transformer of your choice. I run two 180 watt powermasters independently connected to two Legacy powermasters plus an MTH 4000 connected to a TPC 400. I have three independent blocks I use these to power. The MTH 4000 and TPC 400 are left overs from my earlier layout power scheme and function just fine. Eventually (pocket book permitting) I want to replace the TPC 400 with another legacy powermaster plus an 180 watt powerhouse and set the MTH aside for signals, accessories and turnouts.

Joe

Joe thanks for the information!!

"Another thing I am not sure about is how you have the LW connected in the circuit containing the TPC/PH 1. Because you are using a double pole toggle switch I assume you run either the TPC or LW independent of each other and not together????"

You are correct in your assumption.. All the blocks are wired LW/ off/ TPC with TMCC. Totally independent of one another.. 

Thanks again for your input!!