I know nothing about TMCC! I have an S Gauge lionel locomotive that I need to test run. I do have a American Flyer 30B transformer that is in excellent shape and some SHS Flex Track Can I use it and how on earth do you make the locomotive reverse. The new TMCC, does it have something like the A.C.Gilbert reverser in it???
Lost in the woods here.
Rusty, the one on the west coast
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You can use the 30B to run your American Flyer loco. and all of your Lionel O gauge locos too. The trains don't care the brand of the transformers. All they care about is receiving the proper ac current.
Yes you can use any transformer, just hook the black wire from your command base to the common side of your transformer or track lock on and youre good to go. The cab1 remote has a direction button on it which you use to change direction. It goes forward neutral reverse neutral just like conventional operation.
I don't have a command base. All I have is a new American Flyer steam engine, a Y-3, which has TMCC, some SHS Flex Track, in fact 4 packages of the track, brand new! An American Flyer 30B that I use every year for my old AF under the christmas tree. I was told, but not by a very reliable source to just hook up the wires from the 30B and run the locomotive. He told me the locomotive would know what to do???? I question this.
Rusty
That is correct, without the Command base, you can operate this engine just like a regular engine. Place on track, turn on the power and with in a few seconds the engine will know there is no command set up, turn power off and then operate as usual...You will have the sounds but you can not check the whistle and bell without a sound activation button....
Marty
It works!!!! THANKS.
RUSTY
I would caution you to use a newer transformer w a fast acting circuit breaker if you plan on running the Y-3 for any amount of time. If you have a derailment , that old transformer can possibly cause damage to the electronics on board that lokie. I believe it's good insurance. Enjoy the Y-3!
Joe
~Long Live Lionel~
By the time a circuit breaker trips, the damage has been done. What you really need is transient voltage suppression.
I discovered that you really need to connect and disconnect the power real quick to get it out of neutral. Once it is out and running the more it ran the easier it was to get it to go back and forth. My intent was only to test the model. The 30B is only a temporary thing.
Rusty
I would caution you to use a newer transformer w a fast acting circuit breaker if you plan on running the Y-3 for any amount of time. If you have a derailment , that old transformer can possibly cause damage to the electronics on board that lokie. I believe it's good insurance. Enjoy the Y-3!
Rob
My plan is to use a 30B with filtered DC to run the Y3.
What is a transient voltage suppressior? Maybe I should just gut the electronics so I can run it on DC without the worry?
Tom Stoltz
in Maine
Don't tear out your TMCC components, you don't want to run this on DC and lose all the TMCC features.
All you really need is a 36 volt bidirectional TVS diode connected in parallel with the track power to clamp voltage spikes that pose a threat to small electronic devices.
Rob,
I posted a diagram of the circuit under Y3 on DC.
Tom Stoltz
in Maine
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