History of the 180-watt PowerHouse

http://www.lionel.com/search?query=powerhouse

I'll look for catalogs...

The earliest catalog I have of the modern era is Volume 1, 1999 and it has the 135 watt (6-12866) and "190" watt (6-22983) powerhouses advertised. I think a later 135 watt powerhouse is 6-12897 called a Powermaster (command controlled?).

The 135 watt and 180 watt "bricks' are and have always been "Powerhouses". The "Powermaster" is the brick that sends TMCC/Legacy signals to the track. "Powerhouses" only supply the voltage/amperage part of the equation.

The 135 watt Powerhouse was the original "brick" that debuted with TMCC in 1996(????).

Lou Kovachs developed the original "Track Power Controller" (TPC's) that allowed ganging two of the 135 watt bricks for large power-hungry layouts. Lou's "IC Controls" was eventually sold to Lionel and the TPC400 followed soon thereafter which allowed ganging two 180 watt bricks together for further power advances.

D&H 65 posted:

...The "Powermaster" is the brick that sends TMCC/Legacy signals to the track...

The PowerMaster has no such capability.

phil gresho posted:

In what catalog do they 1st advertise these;  and ditto the smaller  [130-watt?] version?

The smaller was 135 watts.

ADCX Rob posted:

D&H 65 posted:

...The "Powermaster" is the brick that sends TMCC/Legacy signals to the track...

The PowerMaster has no such capability.

Then what is the function of the PowerMASTER ?? vs the PowerHOUSE brick

GVDobler posted:

ADCX Rob posted:

D&H 65 posted:

...The "Powermaster" is the brick that sends TMCC/Legacy signals to the track...

The PowerMaster has no such capability.

Then what is the function of the PowerMASTER ?? vs the PowerHOUSE brick

It is the other way around, more or less.  the powerMaster receives TMCC commands, directly from the CAB remote, with no need of the track signal, allowing you to vary track voltage to operate conventional trains.   Because the Legacy remote uses a different frequency to talk to it's base, a powermaster bridge device is needed to use powermasters with legacy.  

edit:  the powermaster device is also not a power brick.  it looks almost the same as an original TMCC base, the difference being the powermasters have the 'modern' lionel logo on top, and the command base has a "TrainMaster" logo.  I think the case is a different color of plastic as well, but not sure if this is consistently true.  

JGL

My layout,   (2) 135Watt PH's lower left in picture supply power to a (1) TPC 400's lower right picture.  There is a wye-cable connector that parallels the PH 135's to the TPC.    The TPC 400, (Track Power Controller) in command mode, is a large on/off switch, for track power.  Power from the TPC is then distributed to (2) BPC. Block power controllers (8) track circuits and then to the (8) fuses pictured.

BPC's and track fuses.

A similar power supply for the Fort Pitt High Railers turntable modules.  (2) PH 180's upper center of power board,  and a TPC 400, lower left.

JohnGaltLine posted:

It is the other way around, more or less.  the powerMaster receives TMCC commands, directly from the CAB remote, with no need of the track signal, allowing you to vary track voltage to operate conventional trains.

More or less... the PowerMasters are completely independent from TMCC and function on their own w/o a Command Base or Legacy Base using only the 27mhz CAB-1 signal. They are for power management only, including remote operation of conventional trains on the track("transformer style").

180 watt PowerHouses linked to Track Power Controller 400s[TPCs]. Serving two railpower districts for both TMCC and Conventional from handheld remote.

I DID see the 1999 catalog,  wherein the 135 and/or the 190 were mentioned in conjunction with the announcement of their new ZW.  The PowerHouses almost seemed relegated to 'auxiliary ' devices,  in that their was no 'hoopla' advertising how great THEY are....with fast-acting circuit breakers, etc...  Somewhat surprising to me.

ADCX Rob posted:

JohnGaltLine posted:

It is the other way around, more or less.  the powerMaster receives TMCC commands, directly from the CAB remote, with no need of the track signal, allowing you to vary track voltage to operate conventional trains.

More or less... the PowerMasters are completely independent from TMCC and function on their own w/o a Command Base or Legacy Base using only the 27mhz CAB-1 signal. They are for power management only, including remote operation of conventional trains on the track("transformer style").

I mean, we are saying the same thing here... no point in being contrary just for fun.

I wouldn't say "the PowerMasters are completely independent from TMCC", however, as TMCC is the designation for the over-arching command system and NOT any specific piece of hardware used in it.  You still need a CAB1 and the protocol used is TMCC.  A PowereMaster IS a TMCC component, it just receives commands directly from the 27MHz remote signal rather than a 455KHz track signal or 9600 Baud serial signal provided by the TMCC Command Base, that other TMCC devices use.  

JGL

Wow, I use 2 newer Lionel ZW Transformers, with 4, 180 watt bricks each to power my layout. These are funneled into 2 TPC 400's  to control 20 blocks each via the 5 BPC's for track power.  I use 8 ASC's powered by an older 275 Watt Postwar ZW to power the turnouts.  I use a new 80Watt transformer to power  the accessories and lights.....The 180 Watt Bricks work fine.  The older Powermasters were strictly for TMCC to Conventional operation.  The latest Powermasters for Legacy are supposedly fantastic....This hobby, and the wiring of track operation has really changed in the last 20 Years...Its really neat how we can control our trains. Lou Kovach said in one of his videos, now we can run trains, and our friends can run trains with us. Its really neat that several people can run trains together, each with their own Remote, Cab Unit, and have fun and walk with our trains.....2016 looks to be a Great Year, Happy Railroading