Defining TPC 300 to Legacy

It's simple - set the TPC to program mode and hit "TR" and the track # you want to address it with and then "SET". Then set the TPC back to run mode - from that point on when you select the TR # assigned to the TPC on your legacy remote the TPC will vary the voltage through the legacy functions, i.e. Wheel, Boost, etc. Whistle and Bell will work fine. You'll have no problem.  You can even set multiple TPC's to the same track # and they will all respond as if they were one.

Thanks much, Don.  It sounds as simple and straight-forward as it should be.  I'll soon find out if I can do it.  I assume that you would string multiple TCPs so that your track could supply additional watts for more trains, correct?  Thanks

the TMCC instructions for the TPC's are the same for the legacy.

I run 2 trains on one track powered by three TPC's/Powerhouse 180s divided into 6 blocks using 5 block relay boards. It sounds complicated and I guess it is, but basically what it accomplishes is that the two trains run on one track at least one block apart and are always power by different TPC/powerhouse 180's. The reason you need three is to enable power passing. Power passing means when a train moves between two blocks powered by different TPC's it switches the power source on the existing block to match the block being entered. This prevents the train from being across two blocks powered by different power sources which could create a problem.

All totalled I have 7 TPC/180 combos that provide all of my track power including the other mainline, the yard and a siding.  If you stay with 4 or less you'll have no problem, but if you want to go with more than that you'll need to add a booster to the serial port which you can find on the forum.

Unlike your Powermasters, you can also assign a TPC to any of the ENgine codes (avoid 99!)

Why do you have to avoid the number 99? My two TPC 300's are programmed as #'s 98 and 99.

Also you don't add additional TPC's to put more power to a track just connect an additional Powerhouse using the twin connector cable.

Isn't 99 the universal Legacy "wake everyone up" ID?  I think that's the reason to avoid it.   Note that he was talking about assigning the TPC to an engine code, not a TR code.

Don M,

I'm blown away by the description of your layout.  I would love to come and pay you a visit to see it myself. 

I do have one follow-up question if you have time to respond:  You indicate that you are deploying 3 TPCs but all on one track divided into blocks.  However, I'm assuming that you have at least 3 tracks defined to Legacy so that you can control the blocks (or at least the TCPs) independently.  Is that correct?  If that's not the case I'm definitely missing something.  Thanks much.

Using engine ID 99 will cause many of the new Legacy engines to respond, its similar to an ALL button for them. Eng ID 1 is also one to avoid

The only reason I know to avoid #1 is that's the default that new locomotives come with.

Yep that is why 1 is not a real good choice. Early in the TMCC days we set up Cab1 and Command base up on the club layout, amazing how many engines were set to 1, probably since most people were still running conventional. Kept most of them from crashing, one ended up in the pit around the turntable

Also read the TPC manual on how to switch between "conventional" mode and "command" mode.  When in command mode, 18 volts (or whatever voltage you set it at) is applied to the track immediately and at all times.  In "conventional" mode, the red knob on the cab2 controls the voltage that is applied to the track.

You don't want to have a couple of conventional engines on the track if your TPC is set to start up in "command" mode....or off they'll fly!!!

Floyd,

I'm in New Jersey near NYC which might be a little far for you to travel.

I run all three TPCs as TR 1 so the voltage level is constant and they are controlled as if they were one.  It doesn't have to be that way, but the track is level so there is really no reason to change the voltage levels between blocks. Power to the blocks is controlled by the relay boards. Each TPC controls 2 blocks and the boards are configured to also route power to the block behind the 2 it feeds when a train enters it's two block segment. That block switches back to its normal power source after the train clears it. 

When a train is in a block, there is no power in the block behind it until the train clears that block.  This keeps the trains automatically 1 block apart. For the older trains that you can lock in forward it works fine. For legacy and command engines, I simply run a recording that periodically jiggles the throttle to restart the engines. 

I also installed some custom signals which work independently, but in sync with the relays so the trains seem to obey the signals which show stop when there is a train in the following block, approach when there is a train two blocks away, and clear when the train is three blocks away. 

Here is a picture of the relay panel that controls the 6 blocks. 

Don,

I think that you have answered my questions about as clearly as possible without the use of a diagram or flow chart.  It sounds like the key to keeping the trains from colliding is your clever use of relays which trip  as the train approaches a block and completes the circuit from the first rail over to the third rail.  At least I assume that is what trips them.  I like the fact that you can run your Legacy and TMCC trains at the same time as your older conventional ones.  Thanks again for responding to my post - and for that matter all who have responded.      

Floyd,

I can't take all of the credit here - these boards were made by 3-Rail innovations.  The board itself is called a Train Block Controller.  It has three block outside rail inputs which work as you assume - one rail is insulated and the train completes the ground when it enters the block.  It also has interconnect terminals so one TBC can send and receive signals to another. 

There are other variants of this board which I use for everything from an Automatic Train Exchange where one train runs for three laps and stops and a second train sitting in a siding runs 3 laps, to a lighting matrix which turns lights on and off automatrically based on random and time of day simulations.