Need help Setting TPC to operate in Command environment

Do you have a command base hooked up and properly powered up?

Jim Battaglia posted:

Do you have a command base hooked up and properly powered up?

Yes.  In fact, I have used that Command Base to operate my 4th TPC.  It functions correctly as per the instructions.

George

OK, so the TPC that IS working correctly was purchased new, by me.  The other 3 were acquired used and this is the first time I have ever attempted to program and use them.  Could they be damaged?  Is that possible?

Has anyone else encountered this behavior?  Can a repair person respond to this thread?

Thanks!

George

G3750 posted:

All:

I'm seeing this in 3 TPC's (2x TPC300s, 1 TPC400), so I expect I am doing something wrong.  Please help!  Below is the sequence of commands and actions and their results.

From page 10 of the TPC manual (71-4189-250) dated 4/04:

1.  Press TR or ENG on CAB-1 Remote  (I pressed TR)

2.  Enter the ID# of the TPC unit.  (I pressed 1)

3.  Press the L button on the CAB-1 Remote.  (I pressed L)

The TRACK LED should flash slowly to indicate the TPC is in Command Mode.  It doesn't!  The COMM LED does.

Any ideas?  Like I said, this behavior appeared in 3 of my TPCs.  The 4th TPC behaved normally.

Please help.  I'm confused.

Thanks,

George

You need to press “SET” last!  Did you set it up as Track 1 per page 9 first???

A link to the TPC300/400 owner's manual posted on the Lionel Website.   Click on the underlined phrase.   20 pages. 

300's had a 15 amp thermal reset which may have been trouble.  My 400's have a 20 thermal reset, which never tripped.  

Mike - where is that 15 amp thermal reset located?

Here's what I just observed.  I went through the instructions at the top of page 10 - "Operating TPC Unit in Command".  

I carried out all 4 steps, including the SET.  During this time, the Track LED did NOT respond.  The COMM LED did.

Then I tried "Turning Track Power ON in Command" (at bottom of page 10).  Again, nothing.

Then I tried "Setting the maximum track voltage" at the top of page 11.

By hitting AUX1, AUX2, 0, I got a small flicker of light in my indicator bulb.  Checking the voltage, it showed 1.1 VAC.

Repeating the process 8 times got me to 7.9 VAC.  Then it went dark and I have been unable to reproduce this.

Suggestions?  This is on a TPC 400, by the way.

George

FIRST..... did U set it up as Track 1 per instructions on Page 9 ???

All I need is a Yes or No!!

Then go thru the instructions in the middle of Page 10

Then go thru the instructions on the bottom of Page 10 to power up your track

I am assuming you are feeding these TPC,s with 180Watt Power Houses ???

Fredstrains posted:

FIRST..... did U set it up as Track 1 per instructions on Page 9 ???

All I need is a Yes or No!!

Then go thru the instructions in the middle of Page 10

Then go thru the instructions on the bottom of Page 10 to power up your track

I am assuming you are feeding these TPC,s with 180Watt Power Houses ???

Yes.

I followed the instructions on Page 9.  This particular TPC has ID #7, but the TPC set up as ID #1 didn't function, either.

I followed the instructions at the middle of Page 10 as described at the top of this thread.  

Then I followed the instructions at the bottom of Page 10.  No luck.

Yes, it's a PH180.

George

Did U hit “Boost”?

Fredstrains posted:

Did U hit “Boost”?

Come on, Fred.  I'm not an idiot and this isn't my first rodeo with these.  I've got 1 working perfectly.

The red reset button on a TPC400 is top of the unit next to the Run/Program switch.  This is a hard wired TMCC device with the wires from the command base attached to the correct terminals.  There was a command base cable that was used for this connection.  You should be able to daisy chain the TMCC connection from one TPC to another.  

Apparently two of you TPC's don't work, may require shop-time for repair or replacement. 

Mike CT posted:

The red reset button on a TPC400 is top of the unit next to the Run/Program switch.  This is a hard wired TMCC device with the wires from the command base attached to the correct terminals.  There was a command base cable that was used for this connection.  You should be able to daisy chain the TMCC connection from one TPC to another.  

Apparently two of you TPC's don't work, may require shop-time for repair or replacement. 

I see what looks like a red push button labeled 15 Amp (for the TPC-300) and 20 Amp (for the TPC-400).  Pushing them doesn't seem to do anything.

I just went through the whole sequence again of setting the TPC's ID, setting it to Command Mode, and turning power on in Command Mode.  I then did a reset to default (full) power - AUX1, AUX2, 0.  The light bulb indicator was dimly illuminated.  A check (with a voltmeter) indicated 1.1 VAC at the outputs of the TPC.

I think something is definitely wrong with this device.

Any ideas?  What do they cost to repair?

George

George ,

Lionel does not repair TPC’s.  They have replaced them with Legacy Power Masters!  These can be picked up for $70.00 to $80.00 AND much easier to install!

We pulled our TPC’s out of our Club Layout and replaced them with the new Legacy Power Masters

Fredstrains posted:

We pulled our TPC’s out of our Club Layout and replaced them with the new Legacy Power Masters

Thanks Fred.  That's probably what I will have to do.

George

The Legacy PowerMasters are very nice, and they don't require a serial line connection, they pick up the TMCC over-the-air signal just like locomotives.  You just connect power in and out and start running trains.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

The Legacy PowerMasters are very nice, and they don't require a serial line connection, they pick up the TMCC over-the-air signal just like locomotives.  You just connect power in and out and start running trains.

Yep.  I downloaded the manual yesterday.  They seem to be the easy, cost-effective solution.  Hopefully, I won't have to do too much surgery to the board to fit them in place of the TPCs.

George

How do you switch to conventional with the PH? The TPCs make it easy.

cjack posted:

How do you switch to conventional with the PH? The TPCs make it easy.

I think you meant Powermasters, not PH (PowerHouses).  The Powermaster has a slider switch for Conventional / Command.

George

Yes, thanks.

I’ve been looking for this thread for awhile and I have a TPC issue similar to George. I’ve had my TPC 400 connected (2 TPC 400’s In series) to my layout for many years and I gave it an ID Eng 4.  It’s connected properly and simply quit. The light on the right blinks fine but it will not power up. Do they actually go bad? I also bought one from a forum member, TPC 400 and it does the same thing. I took them out of the layout, set up a Legacy system on my work table, connected 2 180 watt bricks, wired correct and neither TPC worked. Now when I begin programming them the light on the left gives a quick blink and does not come back on. I may have missed the step of Aux1, Aux2, 0.....So, I did place the new 360 Watt Legacy Powermaster in its place and it works fine, problem could be solved, However, I like the way TPC’s work better.

Question, who repairs these TPC’s?  Question 2, does the TPC need to be programmed with a Cab 1? 

Thank you for reviewing my questions, Leapin Larry

leapinlarry posted:

I’ve been looking for this thread for awhile and I have a TPC issue similar to George. I’ve had my TPC 400 connected (2 TPC 400’s In series) to my layout for many years and I gave it an ID Eng 4.  It’s connected properly and simply quit. The light on the right blinks fine but it will not power up. Do they actually go bad? I also bought one from a forum member, TPC 400 and it does the same thing. I took them out of the layout, set up a Legacy system on my work table, connected 2 180 watt bricks, wired correct and neither TPC worked. Now when I begin programming them the light on the left gives a quick blink and does not come back on. I may have missed the step of Aux1, Aux2, 0.....So, I did place the new 360 Watt Legacy Powermaster in its place and it works fine, problem could be solved, However, I like the way TPC’s work better.

Question, who repairs these TPC’s?  Question 2, does the TPC need to be programmed with a Cab 1? 

Thank you for reviewing my questions, Leapin Larry

 

Larry,

Apparently, they do go bad.  As for who repairs them, I don't know.  Lionel no longer supports them.  I'm told that some parts may not be available.  Hate to say it, but you might have to replace yours with a new Trainmaster.

George

G3750 posted:

leapinlarry posted:

I’ve been looking for this thread for awhile and I have a TPC issue similar to George. I’ve had my TPC 400 connected (2 TPC 400’s In series) to my layout for many years and I gave it an ID Eng 4.  It’s connected properly and simply quit. The light on the right blinks fine but it will not power up. Do they actually go bad? I also bought one from a forum member, TPC 400 and it does the same thing. I took them out of the layout, set up a Legacy system on my work table, connected 2 180 watt bricks, wired correct and neither TPC worked. Now when I begin programming them the light on the left gives a quick blink and does not come back on. I may have missed the step of Aux1, Aux2, 0.....So, I did place the new 360 Watt Legacy Powermaster in its place and it works fine, problem could be solved, However, I like the way TPC’s work better.

Question, who repairs these TPC’s?  Question 2, does the TPC need to be programmed with a Cab 1? 

Thank you for reviewing my questions, Leapin Larry

 

Larry,

Apparently, they do go bad.  As for who repairs them, I don't know.  Lionel no longer supports them.  I'm told that some parts may not be available.  Hate to say it, but you might have to replace yours with a new Trainmaster.

George

Dale Manquen used to fix them before he passed away (http://www.trainfacts.com/trainfacts/) but that does give hope that they are fixable. One of my friends had one go bad recently and he just replaced it. There were many available used.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lione...0:g:Ig4AAOSwzwBdqMIX

cjack posted:

G3750 posted:

leapinlarry posted:

I’ve been looking for this thread for awhile and I have a TPC issue similar to George. I’ve had my TPC 400 connected (2 TPC 400’s In series) to my layout for many years and I gave it an ID Eng 4.  It’s connected properly and simply quit. The light on the right blinks fine but it will not power up. Do they actually go bad? I also bought one from a forum member, TPC 400 and it does the same thing. I took them out of the layout, set up a Legacy system on my work table, connected 2 180 watt bricks, wired correct and neither TPC worked. Now when I begin programming them the light on the left gives a quick blink and does not come back on. I may have missed the step of Aux1, Aux2, 0.....So, I did place the new 360 Watt Legacy Powermaster in its place and it works fine, problem could be solved, However, I like the way TPC’s work better.

Question, who repairs these TPC’s?  Question 2, does the TPC need to be programmed with a Cab 1? 

Thank you for reviewing my questions, Leapin Larry

 

Larry,

Apparently, they do go bad.  As for who repairs them, I don't know.  Lionel no longer supports them.  I'm told that some parts may not be available.  Hate to say it, but you might have to replace yours with a new Trainmaster.

George

Dale Manquen used to fix them before he passed away (http://www.trainfacts.com/trainfacts/) but that does give hope that they are fixable. One of my friends had one go bad recently and he just replaced it. There were many available used.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lione...0:g:Ig4AAOSwzwBdqMIX

Yeah, I found no one willing to take a look at the TPC's.  If you did, they'd probably want $40-50 just to diagnose the issue.  The easiest option is replacement.  There are two flavors of Powermaster - one for 180 watts and one for 360 watts.

http://www.lionel.com/products...powermaster-6-37146/     I think street price for this is around $80.

http://www.lionel.com/products...powermaster-6-37146/     Street price is around $150.

I opted for the first one.  It gets you to the new technology.

Best of luck,

George

Dale Manquen wrote up what typically goes bad in the TPC 300/400 which is attached as a PDF. It explains that it is usually the power supply components. If you can solder surface mount components you may want to open up your TPC and see if it is the power supply components. Dale did repair these but passed away.

New today, I did another table set up with a nice piece of track. ( placed a Caboose on the track) Hooked up the Legacy base, Cab 1 base, the Y cable, hooked up the dat and com wires, powered up two  180 watt bricks.  Everything was connected as per Lionel instructions.  Neither TPC would accept a ID #.... The light on the right blinked a lot, the left light did nothing.....I am taking them to a friends for his review..... I did the reset, aux1/Aux2 0.... No reaction.  

Thank you all for your suggestions. I am going to David Sammet’s Wednesday as he was a good friend of Lou Kovachs, original inventor of the TMCC electric switches. I will probably update to the latest version.... 360 watt Powermaster.

Merry Christmas 

TMCC electric switches?