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I need some help/advice.

I have 4 TPC-400's connected to 4 180-Bricks connected to a modern ZW.  All four are daisy chained, most often used in command mode with a Legacy Base/remote and run a decent sized layout.

I have had these for over 10 years and never had a problem...until now.  Shortly after powering up they all just shut off.  I do have a lot of engines on the layout but they are not even powered up before the TPC's shut off!  I try to turn them back on pressing the red reset buttons on both the bricks and the TPC's.  The bricks come back on, but not the TPC's ... unless I let them sit for unpowered 20 minutes they will eventually turn back on but after only after being on for a few minutes they shut back off!  I noticed the TPC that runs the passenger terminal felt a little warm but only two block sidings with passenger cars were powered...surely that was not a huge load to override 1 tpc. 

Yes, I did reprogram all 4 TPC and got the same result mentioned above!

Is it common for this type of equipment to just start "failing"?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Greg

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1. How many engines do you have on the layout? Except for the most recent offerings in the last few years. Tmcc and early legacy engines are technically  powered up even when you haven't addressed them. Merely the sound is off.

It's a good idea to have unused locos parked on a siding with a toggle so you can shut down power to them.

2. You said you reset the breakers on the 180w powerhouses too. Are those popping as well? I've never had a tpc unit breaker pop. The 180w breaker will pop before the tpc unit even has a chance.

It's normal for a tpc unit to get warm. Mine just turned 14 and it's still hanging in there.

Last edited by RickO
farmerjohn posted:

Why do you have them daisy chained. Each TPC should control a track or block They should be wired independent of each other so if you have a short or shutdown it doesn't effect all of them. The grounds will all be the same but not the hot .I have found them to be temperamental. 

Sorry...I meant the neutrals are daisy chained.  And correcting myself again...the red buttons on the tpc never popped out...I pushed on them thinking that was "resetting" them...but from an earlier post, I was mistakened.

I just tried to turn all four on again after sitting for 30 minutes...the bricks come on but the TPC do NOT even light up.  Could this be a dat/com issue?

 I thougt I recalled something had to be unplugged to clear a breaker trip. I bet this is it.

  I also wonder if somebody didn't unplug something (charge a phone, vacuum, etc) and revesed the phase on you. (Are the plugs on the old stuff marked?)

  Isolating the suspected unit(s) is is key. If it performs ok isolated, it's track or wires.

Ok, so I have an update,..Its not the TPC's; its the ZW!  This is the ZW fitted for 4-bricks...#7-22982 from 2003.  When I turn on the power, the is juice for about three seconds and then....nothing...The green light stays lit but the red light NEVER light up...I don't hear any trip of a circuit breaker etc...

Any thoughts??

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