Ken,
I love your layout. Welcome back to it.
Nothing has changed in Lionel's command control product line, fundamentally, since TMCC was introduced in the mid 1990's. So, between the time you exited the hobby, and now ,we are still talking the same language, and using the essentially the same products to run the trains.
What has changed is the present shortage of electronic parts making up the products. This has resulted in a very recent skyrocketing of prices for them, a resulting change in plans going forward by the players, Lionel and MTH, and approaches by all of us to deal with both of these situations.
We'll be seeing Lionel's plans shortly. It appears to be only a matter of days now.
Just as a reminder, there are three main pieces to TMCC/Legacy as it has existed for the last 25 years:
1.) A method to power the tracks -- You can purchase a PowerHouse, which is a fixed-voltage AC power supply designed primarily for command control use (TMCC/Legacy/LionChief), or you can still use an old-fahioned transformer, like a ZW, KW, or other. The newest PowerHouses, such as the well-liked PH-180, have top-notch circuit breakers, much better than traditional transformers, which will help prevent damage to locomotives and rolling stock when short circuits occur. The old fashioned transformers need "help" with this. Fortunately such "help" is not too expensive if you want to stick with your ZW or other.
2.) A method to control movement of the trains, and activate their other fun features -- For all TMCC/Legacy command control stuff this consists of only a CAB device (CAB-1, CAB-2 or CAB-1L) and its appropriate Base, or for LionChief the LionChief remote that came with the locomotive. Newer Legacy or LionChief can also be controlled by a smartphone app via BlueTooth. LionChief cannot presently be controlled by CAB-1, CAB-2 or CAB-1L, except for LionChief 2.0. If you're using a PowerHouse to power the tracks simply turn it on before attempting to run the train. If you're using a ZW or other traditional transformer turn it on and set the throttle, for the output connected to the track, to maximum.
If you want to control traditionally-controlled (conventional) trains instead you can certainly use the ZW or other just as it was connected back in the day, and move its throttle up or down to control the train. Where this gets interesting is if you want to use a CAB-1, CAB-2, or CAB-1L remote instead to control traditional trains. In this case you need a PowerMaster, which goes between the power source, either a PowerHouse or a traditional transformer set to maximum, and the track. The PowerMaster will take your commands from the CAB-1, CAB-2 or CAB-1L and power the track as if, together, they were a traditional transformer. Turning the knob up on the handheld remote here is the same as pushing the throttle up on a ZW or other, but you can do it walking around instead of standing in one place.
A PowerMaster bridge is ONLY necessary if you use a first-generation PowerMaster with a CAB-2 or CAB-1L. All later PowerMasters do not need a bridge.
3.) A method or methods to protect your expensive equipment from short-circuits and overvoltage spikes -- The electronics in modern locomotives, cars, and accessories are sensitive to accidental overloads. There are two types of these overloads, overcurrent (usually due to a short-circuit), and overvoltage (usually coming from a collapsing magnetic field associated with a rapid change in the power being delivered to motors and solenoids).
This means that you'll need a fast circuit breaker, like the one inside the PH-180, or one or two aftermarket alternatives that can be used with your ZW or other. You'll also need a transient voltage suppression device (TVS) to combat any overvoltage spikes. It's wise to use TVS's with either traditionally- or Powerhouse- powered track setups.
Stick with us here on the forum, as the next few days unfold, for the new stuff coming out. It probably won't replace everything detailed above, perhaps some of it, but is expect to add features to it as well.
We're all on pins and needles.
Mike
