Purchased this MTH Railking tender to go with my Lionmaster Big Boy from 2019 since Lionel only makes a scale version that would be too big. The tender comes with a back up light and electro coupler, which I knew would not operate without a PS3 engine. Happy to use as a dummy non-operating tender, but wanted to see if there is any way to convert to Lionel TMCC where the electro coupler and back up light would operate?
 | 30-30001Auxiliary Water Tender |
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Sure, it can be done but worth the $ and effort?
The manual link for that tender https://mthtrains.com/sites/de...ction/30st10332i.pdf
#1 if it was a PS3 coupler, then that must be changed to a PS1 unit that is compatible with the way (voltage and current) typical Lionel boards fire the coupler.
| DD4000001 | $12.00/ea |
#2 PS3 would be a normal white bare LED no resistor in series. Not the hardest thing to adapt, but again something that needs done.
#3 being a massive diecast tender- what are you going to use for TMCC antenna? Isolate the entire shell from the frame insulating and using nylon screws?
#4 program and run switch location? I don't know if there is a stamped hole location in the frame currently as configured for PS3.
#5 picking the board- a simple LCRX would work, but others could also work, example ERR mini commander.
Another option would be to swap out the coupler to Lionel or PS1, add a proper resistor to the rear light, then add a tether to the main tender. Add a switch to the main tender so when the aux tender is coupled, power is switched from main tender coupler and light to the aux tender.
Pete
@Norton posted:Another option would be to swap out the coupler to Lionel or PS1, add a proper resistor to the rear light, then add a tether to the main tender. Add a switch to the main tender so when the aux tender is coupled, power is switched from main tender coupler and light to the aux tender.
Pete
Sounds logical, but I would have no clue where to begin!
@BAM Railroad posted:Sounds logical, but I would have no clue where to begin!
I guess the key question is, would you be comfortable doing some simple rewiring of the existing Lionmaster tender to switch the light and coupler function between the primary tender and the tether to the aux tender? You'd also be adding a 4-pin tether between the tenders and then swapping out the coupler and at least adding a resistor to the LED for the MTH tender.
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