Does anyone know when these might become available again?
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I've been hearing the middle of next year, they're working on UL testing and paperwork.
So you have to have UL testing with each "run" of manufacturing? Or are they changing something about these units versus prior versions?
I heard that they lost the drawing and the old supplier. So they had to start from scratch
Well here's hoping the new supplier doesn't get the polarity of the plug backwards. Nothing like failing to learn from prior mistakes.
mopac01 posted:So you have to have UL testing with each "run" of manufacturing? Or are they changing something about these units versus prior versions?
Check the "Ask Mike Reagan..." thread from Trainworld on Dec 5th. You'll get a good answer there. 
David
OK, I read that post and I have a related question.
In the post Mike states "These will "likely" be available in May 2016. New winding in this transformer compared to the last time it was made requires us to resubmit to UL for approval and licensing. Unfortunately this takes a great deal of time and whole lot of red tape. the good news is the circuit breaker will be improved and will allow piggybacking in the new 360W Legacy Powermaster for replacement of all the obsolete TPC 300's and 400's. Unfortunately, being the biggest fish in the pond = having to follow all the rules all the time."
Can someone explain what is obsolete about the TPC300's I have from IC Controls? They seem to work OK plugged into a SER2 with the new LCS.
The new blue 180W "Legacy" PowerMaster, sorry don't know the part number, listens for the 455 kHz track signal, so you do not need to hook a separate serial connection between it and the base. That same PM also allows a short to linger for a bit longer, less nuisance tripping. Charlie Nassau had a double sale (PM on sale and another 15%??) I couldn't resist and got three of them.
Maybe they should make the new 180W bricks the same blue.
Original PowerMaster - listens to 26 MHz from original CAB-1, has a crystal. Didn't need CommandBase. Could control 135W
IC Controls TPC - six terminals, listens to the serial port signal from Command Base (or L command base or MTH lol). Could control 300 or 400W
Lionel TPC - six terminals + 2 new ones that never got used, listen to the serial port.
Updated PowerMaster - like the original, but had a switch to go between 135/180W (I think this one is rare).
Legacy PowerMaster - listens to the 455 kHz track signal, 180W.
Never heard of the 360W until today.
The 360W model doesn't exist yet, except perhaps in the Lionel development lab. 
