Resetting tripped powermaster.

@Keith Frank posted:

In a nutshell here are my questions.

1-Can I operate this layout the way I described it with a Base 3 and no TMCC command base? BASE3 is your command base!!!

2 - How do I reset the tripped breaker on the powermaster? What version of powermasters?This matters hugely because if the earlier TMCC powermaster it does not work the same as a Legacy powermaster.

And, here lies the manual for the TMCC powermaster version https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/71-2867-250.pdf

Again, if you are using oldschool original black TMCC powermasters- the problem is getting them the command signal. In other words- in order for it to get the BOOST command above in the instructions- that was directly sent by the original grey CAB1 remote and natively cannot be sent by BASE3.

This is the Legacy powermaster manual https://www.lionelsupport.com/...EGACYPowerMaster.pdf

It would have a slightly different reset

I am using aTMCC powermaster. The greyish color one.

@Keith Frank posted:

Note: Replies are in Bold

I am using aTMCC powermaster. The greyish color one. Again, this older TMCC Powermaster gets its commands from a 27MHZ signal from a CAB1 grey remote.

@Keith Frank posted:

I'm resurrecting my Lionel trains from 2005. I'm running 8 loops totally separate. The first four are on a ZW with 4 / 180 V power bricks. This is a ZW-C type transformer- electronically controlled and uses the 4 possible powerhouse 180W bricks. Catch22- the ZW-C was known to have a possible firmware related bug when used with Legacy- and Base3 is Legacy- on top of the other known powermaster issues known within the CAB3 app. Again, unless your ZW-C has the now near impossible to get firmware upgrade chip- you may run into the known bug specific to Legacy with that ZW-C. https://ogrforum.com/topic/zw-...ade-issue-for-legacy and this topic regarding Base3 https://ogrforum.com/topic/bas...owermaster-problems?

The second four are on an older ZW with four powermasters. Specifically earlier TMCC powermasters that must get a command control signal from 27MHZ- previously from you using the CAB1 grey remote directly talks to these powermasters with no "base" in the middle.

Originally I uses a TMCC command base for those four loops.I am now using a base 3 to control everthing. Well, no, actually you are not controlling everything. You appear to have a mismatch in equipment based on upgrading to Base3. You appear to be at risk for invoking a couple of known bugs with the ZW-C and the Base3 doesn't transmit a 27MHZ signal so it cannot natively control your current powermasters.

Do I need to hook up the command base for the second four loops or not. NO, do not connect the command base. You cannot have more than one base connected to a layout and would cause interference. You could in theory use the old TMCC base a radio receiver for the CAB1 remote, and via serial cables and an LCS SER2 module connect only serial data to the Base3- this allows you to keep using the old remote.- but at a cost- A SER2 is about $60, you need a PDI cable to connect SER2 to Base3 about $13-20, and a serial cable to the old command base. To me, an estimated $80 to $90 to use the old remote is a bit much. That said, since you already upgraded- eventually you may need a SER2 in your layout for one reason or another.

I started to run an engine on that first powermaster loop and I had a derailment and now the powermaster is blinking and I don't know how to reset it. So to reset it- you have to follow the instructions AKA the manual. Catch22, in your current setup= you may have to keep using the grey CAB1 old remote to talk to and send commands to these earlier TMCC powermasters.

Again, link to the TMMC Powermaster manual- corrected link https://www.lionelsupport.com/...ents/71-2867-250.pdf

In a nutshell here are my questions.

1-Can I operate this layout the way I described it with a Base 3 and no TMCC command base? You can operate in theory if you still have the CAB1 grey original remote- as that is the only current way you owned to talk to the powermasters.

2 - How do I reset the tripped breaker on the powermaster? Again, right now- as long as you still have a CAB1 grey remote- you use it to talk to the powermasters and perform the reset command per the manual.

  Thanks for the help

                    Keith

I didn't create the new system or Base3 and so don't shoot the messenger. You are likely not alone as many folks are still using and still buying these older ZW-C transformers and older TMCC powermasters. And yes, the new Base3 has a few gotchas with no integrated serial data port- forcing you to buy even more modules like the LCS SER2 to connect other equipment to Base3.

Because of the known bugs and incompatible signals- you will likely want to keep your CAB1 grey original remote- as right now today- that is possibly all you have to talk to that powermaster and perform the reset.

Last- Do you really even need the powermasters? Let alone the ZW-C? What I am saying is- I think but do not know, you are running command control (TMCC and Legacy engines) that just want a constant 18V on the track. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have variable channel operation for conventional trains and doing so you appear to have that on every track. The big but there is- both of your control methods- ZW-C and now the TMCC powermasters are long in the tooth and possibly have bugs even if we jump through hoops using Legacy command Base3 and the CAB3 app.

You are sadly faced like many others with even more upgrades or compromises like keeping the old remote around and needing more than one control to make it happen.