LIONEL TMCC DIRECT LOCKON:CHOPPED SINE WAVE.?

The TMCC Lock On is simply a fast circuit breaker. It doesn't modify the input at all. 

Pete

IMO, chopped sine wave only matters for conventional operation. When running under command control, track voltage should be at a full 18vac.

Looks like I`ll need to get a LEGACY POWERMASTER.... Thanks..

Are you running conventional or command?

I`m running LIONEL VISION LINE Steam Engines...

Do you have a link to the video?

I have a LEGACY CONTROL SET on order and I just ordered a LEGACY POWERMASTER... Thanks..

I don`t know how to post Videos, but it`s under LIONELCS2011 on Youtube or on the LIONEL Website... I believe it`s titled HOW TO USE THE POWERMASTER... Thanks.......Actually it`s 'LIONEL POWERMASTER INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO' and another is 'TRANSFORMER SINE WAVE .WMV' About 24 minutes in Mike describes the Smooth Wave of the POWERHOUSE`S and the converting feature of the TPC`S [That`s TRACK POWER CONTROLER]and POWERMASTER`S... Thanks..

I don't know why you need a PowerMaster with command stuff, are you planning on running conventional as well?

I`m getting a 180W POWERHOUSE LIONEL TRANSFORMER which has a Smooth Sine Wave and I want the Chopped Sine Wave Power that the POWERMASTER will convert it to, according to Mike and LIONEL, also I might run some Conventional Engines sometimes... Thanks..

Again, are you running with Legacy or TMCC, or are you going to run conventional?  There is no benefit to the PowerMaster if you're running strictly command.

I changed My last post a little, so I suppose you didn`t see it, but I want is the 180W POWERHOUSE Wave converted from Smooth to Chopped for My LEGACY Steam Engines [In particular their Smoke Units]and occasionally run conventional [Were the LEGACY POWERMASTER can be switched from CONV to COMM and the Remote can be used for both operations]  ... I have a LEGACY COMMAND Set on order which now won`t be coming, probably until March.... I had bought a TMCC DIRECT LOCKON thinking that the 180W POWERHOUSE put out a Chopped Sine Wave, which apparently it does not.. Thanks for everyone`s help...

I thought I`d mention that in LIONEL`S Video from Mike about 'Transformer Sine Waves', about 24 minutes in He describes the Smooth Wave of the POWERHOUSE`S and how it`s converted by the TPC`S and POWERMASTER`S to Chopped...Thanks..

It's only converted to chopped at lower voltage settings.  At full throttle, it's pretty close to a sine wave with just a small step at the rising part of the waveform.  In any case, running command the Powermaster is not needed and will give you no benefits.  I can't comment on conventional, as I don't run that except testing other folks equipment.

Have you tested and does that include the new LEGACY POWERMASTER..?... I have an MTH Z-1000 and Mike mentions that as Chopped, do you know if this is correct.?.. I suppose the LIONEL ZW-L really works well, but that`s nothing I can afford right now... Thanks..

This happens to be a premise that I don't have to test.  The way a triac controls the power is cutting off a percentage of the sine wave.  Rather than trying to type it all in, consider the following three waveforms of a typical triac circuit controlling the voltage to a light bulb.  The lower waveform in each graphic is the triac output to the lamp (or whatever load we'd be using).

I think I wasted My money... Do you know if the MTH Z-1000 has a true Chopped Sine Wave.... I don`t know if LEGACY Smoke Units require a True Chopped Wave, but Mike seemed to Me to say it did, to work at peak performance that is ... If you put a True Chopped Wave through a POWERMASTER would it interfere with it and distort the Waveform.?... Thanks..

When using a chopped wave transformer controller, like a CW80, Z1000, and many others, at full throttle (18 volts) there is none or very little wave chopping happening. 

When running your trains under command control it is generally assumed that your track voltage is at full throttle, 18 volts.

Therefore, when running under command control, pure sine or chopped wave does not matter 

Using the z1000 brick without its controller is pure sine wave. 

Its the z1000 controller that does the wave chopping. 

The truth is, the is not one single o gauge 3transformer andn that requires a chopped sine wave transformer. But there are some trains that run better with a chopped wave tranformer and some trains that run better with pure sine wave. 

I don`t know if you`ve seen Mikes Video, but what`s described as necessary is the abrupt rise to 18V to charge the Capacitors [which to the Capacitors is quite a lot more because of the RMS --ROOT MEAN SQUARE] then a slow Dissipation to Zero Volts...Thanks..

I don't think you've wasted your money from your description.  The Powermaster allows you to control the voltage to the track from your Legacy handheld.  This is useful if you want to adjust the voltage up or down in the command range, or to control conventional locos.  The Direct Lockon is an excellent fast circuit breaker that protects some of your electronics when there is a short on the track.  Useful whether you are in command or conventional mode. So if you're doing command ± conventional, both components can be useful when employing the Legacy system.

true Chopped Sine Wave

What would a "false chopped sine wave" look like?

  --Joe

I`ll have to wait for a reply from LIONEL and wait for My POWERHOUSE and POWERMASTER to come and try them out on My VISION LINE SANTA FE 3000.... Thanks..

I have ten Legacy locomotives, both diesel and steam.  I also have a bunch of TMCC locomotives, diesel and steam.  None of them require chopped waveforms, they all run just fine on the Lionel PowerHouse 180 with nothing else in the picture.

I think you misread Mike's video.  He was saying that you will probably get more smoke for a specific throttle setting in conventional mode with a chopped waveform, not that it was a required operating condition.  Truthfully, I get plenty of smoke from all my locomotives running command without any chopping, and if I have a deficiency, I simply fix the smoke unit!

LIONEL has gotten some complaints from customers that they could not get the couplers to work and Smoke Units to produce much Smoke, according to Mike Reagan, and He did demonstrate how LEGACY Engines work conventionly and with LEGACY Control, but I certainly could be mistaken about exactly what He meant...Thanks..

If you run most any engine whether it be conventional, TMCC, or Legacy in CONVENTIONAL mode you might stand to see an improvement in smoke output if you use a chopped sine wave voltage source. The reason is for a given average voltage there is a higher peak voltage in a chopped sine wave past 50 % power. If there is a regulator controlling the smoke unit then there is negligable difference in smoke output.

if you run TMCC or legacy engines in COMMAND mode then the power source makes no difference since either way the engine is getting either a pure sine wave or slightly distorted full sine wave. 

I think a few here have already tried to make this point already.

Pete

Maybe MIKADO will post something here about His Video`s...

I went and watched the LIONEL Video again and He is running the the Engines at 15 1/2 Volts for demonstration, but doesn`t run them at 18 Volts, so apparently you only need the Chopped wave at lower Voltages for the peak 18V for charging the Capaitors, so all I did needed was the TMCC DIRECT LOCKON for Breaker protection ... I do see the new LEGACY POWERMASTER has 'Current Foldback' protection and a Chopped Wave which I can use until My LEGACY COMMAND Set comes next year, probably,so I don`t think it will be a waste of money...Thanks for your help...