legacy problem

I was going to suggest first turning on Legacy and then applying track power.

Assume you were not getting a "base not found" message. See if the legacy works on its own without the TMCC. Also only one track connection is made from Legacy. The TMCC base should not be connected to the track.

tmcc base is not connected to track legacy is

Does the Legacy base lights respond to data entry on the Cab2?  What does the Cab 2 read when you push the CTC button?

Also just double check all your connections to the track common.

Did you try the Legacy on a short piece of track without the TMCC command base in the mix?  I'd start there.

Does the CAB2 read the software version of the base and the CAB2 when you press the CTC button?

it reads channel 1, cab1.4,base 1.4 (TMCC base not connected)

Legacy engine will run off transformer no control from cab 2

So, the CAB2 is talking to the Legacy Base.  That's the first step.  Did you try a separate short test track with the Legacy base connected just to that?  It's hard to screw up the connection, it's just one wire.

i have no unused track to do that,i do have isolated sidings how would the wire have to be connected ?I have realtrax could the wire from the base be connected to the

black terminal of the lockon?You are talking about the wire that is connected to the

transformer from the Legacy base ,right?

You can use any kind of track to do the test, Realtrax is fine.

I'm talking about connecting a transformer directly to the test track, then wiring the Legacy base signal wire to one of the outside rails of that track.  No other connections.

This is a simple setup that should wake up the locomotive.  If that fails, I'd say something is amiss with the Legacy since you've tried multiple locomotives.

I will give it a try today,thanks will let you know

Tried it still no control from legacy system engine on siding conventional control from transformer only.I think I need to call lionel and send it in for service.

Thanks for all of your help

if a legacy engine is running in conventional, then it is not seeing any command signal.  you must verify if the legacy system is working.  legacy engines will not operate in conventional if any legacy signal is present.

How do you verify its working.Cab 2 contols nothing engine runs in conventional only.

If Legacy is removed and TMCC hooked up all engines run off of cab 1

If TMCC/Cab1 works, and Legacy doesn't, time to send the Legacy to Lionel.  "Legacy doesn't" implies that the engines are in conventional mode when the Legacy Base is attached.

Its kind of worth a shot perhaps. Try running legacy set on its own to that single track section you tried before but this time use a fresh set of alkaline batterries in the handheld.

Batteries were changed as soon as problem came up

Called Lionel and I am impressed, after choosing number from menu they picked up on second ring asked what problem was and after I described problem they sent e mail w/ra # and address.WHAT A PLEASENT EXPERIANCE THAT WAS

Lionel service is what they say it is.

They typically turn them around pretty quickly.  Remember, if you're a veteran, they'll pick up the shipping both ways, but you have to tell them.

Wow, Bill!  This exact same thing just happened to me last night (Saturday).  I have been using the system without 1 problem for well over two years.  What really supprised me was the CAB 2 talks to the base and appears to function with bar and graph but no controls.  Like you, I removed the Legacy system from the hook-up and hooked the TMCC base up and the TMCC base and CAB 1 function flawlessly.

From your discussion with Lionel, I now know what my next step is.

Happy railroading,

Don

Did you guys have any storms or any weather that might have cause an issue?

hey it looks like I have some company.........I had the same thing happen to me. One dy it worked the next it didn't. Tried the test track and it worked reconnected to the layout and it didn't. Contacted Lionel and sent it back for repair and sent it back saying it was fixed but had only changed parts in the charging system.   Tried the test track and it worked attached it to the layout and it didn't. Then added drops every 6 feet on the layout for the ground and wired in a whole new ground still nothing. Trains work fine in conventional but not in legacy even tried different channels, finds the base but no control of the trains.

Sounds like you may have your earth ground connected to the common side of your track/ transformer. That will short out the signal. Check with an ohmmeter to see if there is continuity between the ground (the round hole) at a socket and the outside rail of the track. There should be no reading (infinity). If there is you have something connected between track common and earth ground.

Ron

think I know what you re talking about but I have not installed an earth ground, the only ground hook up I have is where the Z4000 plugs into the wall and all of my grounds are tied to the Z4000.

You say all of your "grounds" are tied to the z4000. Do you really mean all of your "commons" are tied to the z4000. I would still do an ohmmeter test to make sure.

Ron

Ground! Ground! Ground!. And we have problems again. Please, the outside rails on our trains are NOT GROUND. They are Common, or Neutral but not Ground. Ground can only be that which is connected to earth ground. This could be directly, such as the building structure or via a wire such as the third prong on a grounded outlet. On any TMCC/Legacy system these must be insulated from each other. The use of proper terminology would go a long way to preventing confusion.

Al

OK Ok, so I slipped upand used the wrong word. I disconnected all of my commons, disconected all of the commons from the z4000. Turned on the power and the engine fired up in conventional, not the strongest connection but the sounds activated and the cab lights came on dimly. My next step is to start disconnecting everything under the layout to see what got put where it didn't belong. Tank god everything is color coded. Will let you know what happened once I'm done checking everything out did use the meter and got a 00.0 reading on the commons. 

You need to test for an earth ground to common connection. By testing with your meter from the outside track common to earth ground you should read infinity or a no connection. If you read anything else but infinity you have something shorting out the TMCC signal to ground. Track common= outside rail, Earth ground= round hole in a 120 volt receptacle. You cannot have ANY DIRECT connection between the Earth ground (round hole in socket)and the track common (outside rail).

Ron