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I have a goofy situation.  I bought a new legacy powermaster the other day.  It has been a learn curve for me. First thing I didn't realize it needed the legacy base on the transmit a signal. I stumbled on that by mistake. So much for not reading the manual real goo's. I just assumed it would work like cab1. You know they say about assuming. So here's the deal. It works great in convential mode. But when I want to go to command mode no power on the track. Multi meter says no power at the post. So here is where it gets goofy. I go back to conventional mode, address the powermaster, turn up the power and presto I have power on the track. But engine does not respond as it hasn't been addressed. Address it crank up the dial away it goes. Crank the power down and I full on the tracks and engine stops on command. I have now command mode on the track but still the button in conventional mode. Does not make any sense to me. What a challenge to figure this one out. I am sure it has to be but I am stumped. Sure would appreciate any thoughts you feel like sharing. Thank you,



    V/r Charlie Criss 20240624_114639

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Well, I think it's an expectation issue:

The powermaster ONLY controls power. It is a receiving device- meaning again, you figured this part out, it gets it's commands from the base.

So- changing the switch from command to conventional doesn't magically change anything other than the MODE this device (the powermaster controlling track power only- not TMCC signal) operates. It's this simple- in command mode- there is no variable voltage- either ON or OFF. In conventional mode, the voltage varies as commanded. Again, all this device ever does is receive a command signal from the base and vary the track power.

This also doesn't change your engine- if it is TMCC capable- then it acts like TMCC operation because as long as it has voltage and your base is transmitting a TMCC radio signal the engine will be in command mode operation as long as there is some track voltage.

Suggest you read a little more of the manual- https://www.lionelsupport.com/...0PowerMaster_web.pdf

it explains the 2 modes and the commands to turn on or off track power.

Command mode:

VS conventional mode switch

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Again, you can run a TMCC equipped train in EITHER mode of the powermaster- it just affects how you turn on track power.

If in command mode- a simple address and boost turns power full on. Then address the engine which now has power and command it.

If in conventional mode- again address what you used for the powermaster- then turn the red dial all the way up. Now address the engine and run the engine under TMCC.

Command mode is there so when running in command, you are ensuring full power ON or OFF to the track. The powermaster also works in convnetional mode- just as if you had a normal manual transformer handle.

The mode switch on the powermaster doesn't suddenly block the TMCC radio signal from the base- forcing your engine into conventional operation.

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