Legacy RCMC Board Question

They are not interchangeable. A few might be the same but most are programmed for a specific engine to maintain the same speed for different speed steps as well as features like dual (multi?) smoke units, swinging bells, etc.

Pete

Thanks Pete

Dave

I should have added, it may work but you wouldn't be able to do a lashup unless the wheel diameter and gear ratio was the same as well as the motor itself.

Pete

For example.....an RCMC board from a dummy B with smoke and electrocoupler.

Could it be used in the engine of the same set as a replacement?

Thanks

Soo, I can't answer that for sure. I only know the Lionel programs them for the engine they are meant for. A board for a dummy engine may or may not have information programed into it drive a motor. You will have to ask Lionel service on this one.

Pete

My experience says no.  I tried that once last year, and the engine didn't respond to throttle at all.  My guess is the motor control code wasn't included in the dummy one, and they do typically have a different part number.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

My experience says no.  I tried that once last year, and the engine didn't respond to throttle at all.  My guess is the motor control code wasn't included in the dummy one, and they do typically have a different part number.

I was thinking about checking the part number. If they are the same then maybe. If different then probably not.

Soo, go to lionelsupport.com and search for parts using your lionel item number 6-xxxxx. It should show parts on one page for the powered engine and on another page for the dummy and check the part numbers for the RCMCs. That will confirm if you have a chance of it working.

Pete

Thanks John ....I was hoping otherwise.

And Pete......I did that.  The last three digits were different.

So I guess Lionel loads them specific to the engines they are going into.

Now I would think that dummy RCMCs might be interchangeable.  The ones with only smoke would be one type but the powered B units would be different type.

Now there is another question.....might the Powered B RCMC be a substitute for the Powered A RCMC?

Dave

It may Dave. One thing you might want to try is contact Lionel and see if they will reprogram your dummy board. I know they charge 20 bucks to test and verify a board if you send it to them. Plan B is just buy a new RCMC for your engine. 120 bucks plus shipping would be less than a new powered engine.

Pete

Maybe irrelevant, but I transferred the entire legacy electronics from a powered B unit into a MTH, FM switcher successfully.  of course, no sound from the B workings but the FM finally got a smoke unit courtesy of Lionel.  Sure was complicated dressing the wiring to suit its new home without excessive splicing.  Otherwise, the most creative part was ducting the smoke.

Bruce

Thanks Bruce.....interesting to know and not a bad idea.

I agree Pete...........just saw those $120 US boards sitting in a dummy and thought......maybe...I wonder if ........now I know.  Lionel thought this thru very well.

Dave