MTH WiFi how to operate Lionel Track Power Controler

You need to add the TPC ID#'s as new TMCC engines.

Barry I am trying my setup at home.  Again I can run Legacy/TMCC engines.  We have the Track Power Controllers set up as Engines.  I tried this and set as TMCC 30 steps but I cannot turn the power on/off or dial up.  Any ideas?  Thanks Bruce 

Bruce,

Are you sure that they're set up as TMCC engines and not as Legacy engine, that they have TMCC ID#'s that match what you told the app and that the command base is connected to the TIU that you told the app?

When you operate the TPC "engines", does the led on the command base flash?

Barry the TPC is added as TMCC Engine 8 and is set as engine 8 and works with the Legacy controller.  The center green light on the Legacy base flashes when I operate the MTH Wi-Fi as the engine 8 - TPC or when I operate a Legacy engine.  When I operate the TPC with a Legacy hand held I hit engine then 8 then aux1 to turn on the buttons.  9 gives full power and 0 shuts off all power.  Turning the red knob will raise or lower the track power.  Some how I am not sending the correct signal to the Legacy base?  Thanks Bruce

Bruce,

Did it work at the club? How is your TIU connected to the Legacy Base?

Barry the setup did not work at the club so I am trying to get it working at home before the next train show that we set up our modules.  I have the pieces set up like you show in fig A10 in your Addendum  to The DCS WIFI Companion 1sr Edition.  To send signals to the Track Power Controller I have a PDI port of the Lionel 6-81326 wired to Track Power Controller.  The TPC is set as engine 8, TMCC and 32 step TMCC.  With the TMCC or Legacy controller the normal procedure is to push, engine - 8 - Aux1 [ to turn on the 1-10 buttons] and 9 to turn on full power, 0 to shut power off, or turn the red speed know to turn the power up or down.  I have tried to duplicate this with the DCS apt but it is not working.  Once I have engine 8 as the active engine what is the procedure to operate the TPC? ie do I start with startup engine?  Thanks Barry or anyone else that has a setup like this.  Bruce

brucefclark posted:

Barry the setup did not work at the club so I am trying to get it working at home before the next train show that we set up our modules.  I have the pieces set up like you show in fig A10 in your Addendum  to The DCS WIFI Companion 1sr Edition.  To send signals to the Track Power Controller I have a PDI port of the Lionel 6-81326 wired to Track Power Controller.  The TPC is set as engine 8, TMCC and 32 step TMCC.  With the TMCC or Legacy controller the normal procedure is to push, engine - 8 - Aux1 [ to turn on the 1-10 buttons] and 9 to turn on full power, 0 to shut power off, or turn the red speed know to turn the power up or down.  I have tried to duplicate this with the DCS apt but it is not working.  Once I have engine 8 as the active engine what is the procedure to operate the TPC? ie do I start with startup engine?  Thanks Barry or anyone else that has a setup like this.  Bruce

I have the same setup, and the TPC is set up as a diesel in TMCC32 mode. Yes, you do have to press the green “startup” button in the app, once the engine is on the active list. I have found that Aux 1 - 9 does not reliably activate full track power using the app. The workaround is to throttle up to full power using the dial. If nothing is working, are you certain that the app has been set to the same TMCC address as your TPC? 

Once I have engine 8 as the active engine what is the procedure to operate the TPC? ie do I start with startup engine? 

What GREGR said, above.

I don't use the app so my question why does a tpc need to be a diesel or steam engine or as a tmcc?

and why not set it as a tr id # 1 or 2 etc so simplistic and then set tpc as command or conventional power I would think the app would follow how the tpc was designed to function?

so it sounds like after addressing the tpc you have to tap the green startup button to activate the tpc am I understanding this correctly?

StPaul posted:

I don't use the app so my question why does a tpc need to be a diesel or steam engine or as a tmcc?

Thats the way Lionel set up the hardware. The TPC can only be assigned either ENG (1-99), or TR (1-10).  Therefore, the MTH app can only do the same. You could pick diesel or steam using the app.  It doesn’t really matter although the graphics for horn vs. whistle may change on the screen. It has to be set up as TMCC because it’s not a Legacy product. A Legacy Powermaster will actually let you set it up as either a Legacy, or TMCC engine.

and why not set it as a tr id # 1 or 2 etc so simplistic and then set tpc as command or conventional power

That’s what I do. It’s a personal preference for some to do otherwise  

I would think the app would follow how the tpc was designed to function?

Keep in mind that the MTH app can’t tell whether the TPC is in command or conventional mode. The TPC only receives commands and so the app can’t “follow” the TPC’s settings.

so it sounds like after addressing the tpc you have to tap the green startup button to activate the tpc am I understanding this correctly?

Yes

Greg & Barry I now have the power all on or off using the bottom two soft keys under aux1.  Works as both Steam or Diesel.   NOW how do I get the knob to work - vary the power from 0V to max?  Thanks Bruce

I’m guessing your TPC is in command, not conventional mode?

Bruce,

Be aware that I have never owned or operated a TPC. However, having said that, you could try using a different speed control mode. TMCC allows you to select a speed mode on the TMCC Engine Settings Screen.

Try each of the 4 methods to see if one works: Default, R100, TAS, TMCC 32.

Greg I have the TPC set to conventional so that we have no engine runaways when members of the club start running their conventional engines.  Barry I will try all the defaults Friday and see if any work.  Thanks Bruce

I have everything working and only have one thing to try.  MY/ and the club's TPC are set to 100 steps.  This is how to run a TPC with the MTH WIFI.  Add the TPC as a engine number and set up as TMCC engine with number that the TPC has been set to, [ either steam or diesel ], Default or R100 or TAS.  Start up the TPC as you set it up.  Go to the second middle icon on top - soft key buttons - push aux 1 to turn the selections.  The bottom choice - turn on smoke turns on the power to full voltage.  The second to bottom button - turn smoke off turns off the power.  On the main engine page spin the dial around several times until the voltage starts to increase and vary the voltage as desired to run the conventional engine.  I need to set the TPC to 32 steps and see if setting the TPC to TMCC will vary the voltage since the mail dial will only go to 32 steps at this setting.  I also need how find out how to temp cut power to reverse direction for conventional engines.  Bruce

I played with the set up today and the only thing I found was that in the aux1 list if I pressed the shut down row the power would very briefly shut down after I released the row.  In playing around when I push the power off row I somehow have a slight voltage.  I can turn off with the speed dial, but setting the stall voltage to 0 or resetting or deleteing and reentering the engine will not correct this.  So I can turn the power on full turn off the power - almost now - turn on the power with the spedo but cannot reverse a conventional engine easily.  Right now I am stuck but will try again next year.  Thanks Bruce