Handles and Legacy remote

The only connection that needs to be made for Legacy to work is a wire from the base to one or both outside rails of track.  (the "U" or common).

To accomplish both conventional and Legacy operation, I'd just simply connect the "A" channel and leave it at that.  If you want conventional control, use the handle.  If you want Legacy, open the handle all the way to give a constant 18v and use the Legacy remote for control.

For some reason I had it in my head that this would drive the Powermaster crazy or mess up the legacy electronics.

TMCC and Legacy transmit commands via radio, so adjusting the track voltage manually does not affect TMCC or Legacy. With that said, as long as the TMCC/Legacy system is powered and grounded (the U post on the TMCC/Legacy base is connected to track ground), command-equipped locomotives cannot be run conventionally as they will sense the presence of the TMCC/Legacy base.

If you want to run TMCC/Legacy locomotives conventionally, then you have to disconnect the ground between the command base and the track. If you want to run conventional locomotives side by side with command equipped units, then all you would need to do is manually raise or lower the track voltage via the transformer as Wanderer suggested.

-John

I am trying to dray up a wiring diagram and trying to figure out how I could incorporate switches to kill the TMCC and Powermaster.  I thought about switching the U wires.  Have not tried it yet to see if that will work.

Could you buy one of the wireless remotes they use for Christmas lights and run the Legacy unit that way? All the ones I've seen are three prong plugs. While it is a long shot, with your TMCC or Legacy base is plugged in and on, engines could pick up the weak signal from the base or the wire to the switch where you have interrupted the "U" wire.

Our layout signal is strong enough to use on the work bench 6 feet away with another transformer powering the test track.