How to you control your Atlas Switches with TMCC?

This can be done with Lionel ASCs (Accessory Switch Controllers) available on the secondary market, or ASC2s which are an updated version for Legacy.  If you are planning on controlling them with a CAB1 controller, use the ASCs as they are half the cost or less.  

Understand that you have to remember the switch number (or have a cheat sheet) in order to activate it with the remote. Each ASC will control 4 switches (or up to 8 accessories). You can set it for momentary activation, which is what you want if you are using Atlas or other twin coil switch machines.  Mine are set for continuous activation since I use Tortoise Switch machines which are low powered stall motors.   Here is the manual for the ASC.

I activate my switches using ASCs controlled with the LCS app on an iPad.  This has the advantage of allowing you to map out you layout on the screen and simply tap on the switch to activate it.  This setup requires the LCS wifi module, the SER2 module, and the ASCs.  If you use the updated ASC2 modules, you won't need the SER2 module.  Lionel does an excellent job with the instruction manuals, covering setup with very clear wiring diagrams.  

(LCS App picture from Lionel.com)

Bob

Bob, Thanks so much.  I have a Lionel ASC.  I think I may have had two problems:  1)  assigning a number to each Z-stuff controller; 2) Keeping the little springs that connected them tot the atlas switch from popping off.  Any suggestions on either point?  Are there better ways to control the Atlas switch?
I like the idea of controller from an IPAD - Thanks!   I will look at the LCS wifi module and the SER2 module and maybe consider moving to the ASC2.

Is there a set of good blog posts, web sites, youtube videos that you would recommend for updating my TMCC knowledge (I have not following for 15 years).  Thanks so much!

Sandy

I assume you have the DZ-2500 switch machines.  These are capable of reading and responding to the TMCC serial data signal.  These do not require an ASC.

Our modular club used these to control Ross Switches.   We have only used the Z-stuff controller button, not TMCC to control them.  The DZ-2500s have been nothing but trouble. They fail to throw at times, 2 devices in a crossover get out of sync, the red and green indicators get out of sync, they frequently need to be reprogrammed, and sometimes they just stop working.  The guys in my club are fed up with them and we are moving on to another option, probably the DZ-1000s.

We have not had any problem with the springs with our Ross switches.  You should note that the ZD-2500s are supplied with different springs for different brands of switches.  Maybe try one of the other springs.

Besides the manuals that Lionel provides with their devices (just google the device name + "manual" to find it), there are excellent YouTube videos by Mike Reagan that walk you through setting up their devices. Here is his video on setting up the ASC.  These older TMCC videos are in the LionelCS2011 YouTube channel.  There are also some useful videos in the LionelEngineering channel.  All of Lionel's videos in the last 5 years or so are in the Lionel Trains channel, but they are greatly outnumbered by product promotion videos.

Sean's Train Depot Channel has excellent explanations of train control systems and how to use them. Here is the first of a 2-part series titled "TMCC, Legacy, DCS, Lionchief, Cab-1, 1L, 2, & 3. Comprehensive explanation of All Systems to Date!".  Sean also just released a great 3 part video on using the new Base3 and Cab3 phone app.  

An overview video of Lionel's LCS (Layout Control System) is here.  This allows the use of an iPad to control the switches, accessories and locomotives.  Note that it requires a Cab2 Base (no longer made) OR a Cab1-L base, OR the newly released Cab3 base.  It does not work with a Cab1. Here is a diagram of the use of all the LCS modules with the new Base3.  The LCS Wifi module is not needed if you use a Base3.  It is built into the Base3.

I should mention that while the newer LCS (blue) modules are more expensive than their corresponding old TMCC (grey) modules, they are easier to set up, especially the wiring with PDI cables (blue wires in the diagram above).

Here is Lionel's LCS page which reviews all the products and what they are used for.

This ought to get you started.  Let me know if you have other questions.

Bob