IC Controls TPC vs Lionel TPC

This is a total guess on my part but the Track Power Controller Platinum (TPC) Reference Manual v1.3.pdf in the reference manual section above states that it has "increased capatibility with PS1 & 2".    Do you have the older 300 watt version?  If so maybe they are not that compatible.

On my layout I have 2 Lionel TPC300 and an IC TPC3000, all connected to 135w bricks.  The only issue I have had while operating any of my PS1 & PS2 engines is with one of the early PS1 engines the horn and bell buttons work in reverse.  Other than that everything seems to work as it should.

I don't recall the specifics but some of the early IC Controls TPC's needed a firmware update.

Back in the day, I would search eBay for all things IC, and of course I would run across IC Controls units.

One day I was baffled as to why a Mini-Commander would work on one TPC, but not another, so I hooked up a scope. The waveform on the older units was different. I could also see a difference in the labels of the units.

There is definitely versions 1.3 and 1.2, and going from my memory, a 1.1, based upon the manuals I received along with the units. Unfortunately I did not keep track of which was which.

The TPC also has two more terminals, something like Ax+ and Ax-, which was supposed to be a something like an RS485 'back channel', but I had assurances from I believe Jon Z. that I was not missing much, if anything. And yes, between versions, IC Controls added capabilities between units.

I believe Dale Manqueen (sp?) knows something else, like one of the units has a hardware problem or is lacking an internal fuse, or something like that.

I use mine with 180W bricks and TMCC only. Previously I had a MTH CTA 'subway' (we call them El's) set with PS2, and I would say, it worked pretty well in that mode, using the TPC, nice ramp up in speed.

The +/- terminals were intended to be part of a collision avoidance system that was never developed because Lou Kovatch was no longer with Lionel and management decided to go in another direction.

There were also some additional capabilities in some of the early Lionel production units that were never activated.

If are willing to pay the postage I'll send you a couple of bi-directional capacitors that might solve your problem. They smooth out the chopped sine wave allowing the MTH engines to run without the bells or horns constantly going off.

Sorry for getting back to all of you so late but my wife has some health issues .  Really appreciate the input. 

Trainman9 thanks for your offer and I  may take you up on it. 

Did receive the following reply from Lionel and later will do the DC test.

"Is this happening on all three TPC? I am thinking you might have some other issue causing the DC offset to be put on the track, or interfere with the DC offset being put to the track? If you have a volt meter you can test the DC offset on the track. You will be looking for +1.5VDC for the horn/whistle and -1.5VDC for the Bell. You have a tolerance from about 1V to 2.5V and it should still work. I would suggest removing all cars and locos from the track, turn track power on and see if you have any DC volts. If you do, remove the TPC from test, take it off the transformer and test at the transformer. This will clue us into where the DC power is leaking from, help us figure out what needs fixed.
 
The TPC that Lionel manufactures that I am aware of is of the same design as IC controls used."

Will get back to you with the results.

Thanks to all

Lou Kovatch at IC Controls redesigned the TPC 300/400 to be compatible with MTH PS2 engines and allow single keystrokes to operate the PS2 functions. Basically what Lou did was redesign the hardware and software for the TPC's to send out the fast bell and horn signals that triggers the sound effects like station sounds and the electrocouplers.

Early versions of the TPC's could be upgraded and this allowed some of the features of the future units but they were not all the same.

Units being produced today are different from earlier versions in both design and function.