Just Added TMCC and inconsistent running?

Is your Cab Lite base plugged into a properly grounded 3 prong electrical outlet ?  That will give you the loss of control your describing.

@Dave_C posted:

Is your Cab Lite base plugged into a properly grounded 3 prong electrical outlet ?  That will give you the loss of control your describing.

It is, But it’s a different outlet from the transformer. I was going to add a power strip to power the transformer and cab-base from the same power but as of right now it isn’t.

I have to ask. You do have the command base wire connected to the outside rail. I’ve seen a few assume it goes to the center rail. It should attach to your common buss  you described.

I saw the video and your layout seems pretty straight forward and should easily function with TMCC.

@Dave_C posted:

I have to ask. You do have the command base wire connected to the outside rail. I’ve seen a few assume it goes to the center rail. It should attach to your common buss  you described.

I saw the video and your layout seems pretty straight forward and should easily function with TMCC.

Yes, it’s on the outside wire. The first attempt was with a long lead and a ring Terminal onto my common buss. I thought that might be an issue so it’s hard soldered to the outside rail now.

not really sure what’s up other than maybe track being dirty, but that seems odd since everything running on the transformer runs good.

Looking at the Cab # 1334 in your first post. Lionel lists this engine as Command ready. The product number 6-18085. If this is the engine. I believe Lionel sold these because many didn’t want to pay extra for a command engine if they were strictly conventional runners. They shared the same driver board and sound. You could purchase an upgrade kit that would have the receiver board. Not sure what else it included.

See if the engine has a Run Program switch.  What number are you using to address the engine ? It should sit there silent until addressed.

Try putting the engine in program. Follow the instructions for your Cab Lite and try programming in a number. The engine should acknowledge with a whistle blow if everything’s good.

You mentioned it was all factory. Just trying to establish that it has a receiver board. No board. This would explain the engine running away at full voltage.

Does the headlight flicker? Any other TMCC locomotives to check track signal with?

I would also try resetting the R2LC according to the manual for that engine after setting the TMCC ID hit “Aux1 43”

@zhubl posted:

Does the headlight flicker? Any other TMCC locomotives to check track signal with?

I would also try resetting the R2LC according to the manual for that engine after setting the TMCC ID hit “Aux1 43”

Sometimes the headlight flickers. I’ve had to reprogram it a few times but it doesn’t get any better.

I found a service bulletin that there was a typo and the reprogram was 34 not 43?

@Dave_C posted:

Looking at the Cab # 1334 in your first post. Lionel lists this engine as Command ready. The product number 6-18085. If this is the engine. I believe Lionel sold these because many didn’t want to pay extra for a command engine if they were strictly conventional runners. They shared the same driver board and sound. You could purchase an upgrade kit that would have the receiver board. Not sure what else it included.

See if the engine has a Run Program switch.  What number are you using to address the engine ? It should sit there silent until addressed.

Try putting the engine in program. Follow the instructions for your Cab Lite and try programming in a number. The engine should acknowledge with a whistle blow if everything’s good.

You mentioned it was all factory. Just trying to establish that it has a receiver board. No board. This would explain the engine running away at full voltage.

This one is listed as the upgraded version. I even pulled the cab and tender bodies to make sure the boards were there, the jumpers were in the right place and the wires had been added to the connectors.

the coupler works, bell and whistle works, crew talk works and the speed sensitive chuffing works if the engine decides to move. The motion control is just a mess.

Just on a lark, try AUX1/4 for the engine type, not AUX1/43.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Just on a lark, try AUX1/4 for the engine type, not AUX1/43.

Lol GRJ I feel like we had this same conversation on a different thread a month or so ago thinking about it now

Maybe you know this- the "ground" pin of the command base cord/plug is what connects with the house wiring to create the transmission "antenna".  The 3-prong plug on the command base cord MUST be plugged into a wall outlet- not through a power strip.   And the cord must be an original - in the off chance that it was replaced with a "regular" cord- that will also not work.

Many people use an extension cord or a power strip to only find that is their problem.

This is strange.  I have the unit you are referring to as well as everything I have plugged into power strips powered by as extension cord.  I have never had any signal problems.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Just on a lark, try AUX1/4 for the engine type, not AUX1/43.

I have not thought to try it but I will when I get home later.

i found a post from 2 years ago with the same issue on the same engine. The OP never found a resolution but did say lionel tech support said there was an error in the manual and the reprogram code for this series of engine was 34 not 43.

@RON ARNDT 091718 posted:

This is strange.  I have the unit you are referring to as well as everything I have plugged into power strips powered by as extension cord.  I have never had any signal problems.

Power strips are not all created equal.  There have been numerous reports of issues when connecting the command base through a power strip, it can and does affect the TMCC signal at times.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Power strips are not all created equal.  There have been numerous reports of issues when connecting the command base through a power strip, it can and does affect the TMCC signal at times.

I have t thought to try it yet, but should I flip the plug on the KW transformer in case the hot side of the plug is different than the hot side of the tmcc transformer?

That will have no effect.  The only thing that will do is reverse the phase of the power on the layout.  With only one transformer, no effect at all.  However, if you have other transformers, you'll want to make sure they're all in phase.  The transformer secondary of any model train transformer is totally isolated from the primary.

In any case, the earth ground that is being used by the TMCC command base is not involved in this discussion.

You might try setting up a short, isolated test track and connecting the transformer and Legacy wire and see if the engine responds properly on the test track - that should narrow down the source of the issues.