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I have run TMCC with Cab-1 for many years. I use the first ZW Controller with the 135 Watt Bricks. I made the ZW Controller essentially dummy box for powering lights and accessories by using the reset option in the back and use TPC 400s for tracks with their own power. I still connect the TMCC signal wire to the ZW to perform the HALT/Emergency Stop function from the command base. This work fine. However when I switch to the Cab1-L with Cab1-L command base, the ZW controller seemingly randomly shuts-off. It seems to happen when I issue new commands from the CAB-1L but not consistently. I wouldn't be surprised if I have some ground "leakages" or "Cross-connects" because of trackside accessories like Lift Bridge or Bascule Bridge or just crossed wiring. Removing the signal cable from the base to the ZW controller doesn't seem to make a difference when I use the Cab1-L. But what is interesting is that the problem goes away when I go back to the Cab-1 and older command base. Is this a frequency issue? Is this a bad Cab1-L? Is there some other incompatibility? Otherwise, all the functions of the Cab1-L work perfectly with the TPCs. Any help would be appreciated as I would prefer to use the Cab1-L.

Thank you for any help.

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Yes. Unfortunately "The Signal is Strong". I tried disconnecting ZW-C from the command base and setting to the ZW-C to manual use operation using the pinhole button on the back, but the issue still exists. There may be some signal / ground leakages from accessories like a Lift bridge that communicate with the track. I guess no quilling Whistle for me.

@rdg_fan posted:

Yes. Unfortunately "The Signal is Strong". I tried disconnecting ZW-C from the command base and setting to the ZW-C to manual use operation using the pinhole button on the back, but the issue still exists. There may be some signal / ground leakages from accessories like a Lift bridge that communicate with the track. I guess no quilling Whistle for me.

The problem was the Halt command happening randomly by itself.

I bought a ZW-C not knowing the defect and was using all 4 handles to power different accessories on my layout with 4 bricks.

There was no connection to the track and I just had it in conventional mode.  One handle was powering a set of lights on my layout.  Randomly and very frequently they would shut down.  I pulled my hair out thinking it was a short, or overloading the circuit, or bad brick.  

Then one day I decided to try and dig into it by switching the circuit to another handle.  By accident I noticed when my hand got close to the transformer controller, it shut down.

So all along what was happening is anytime my body or hand got close it would shut down.  I never noticed it!

I could now repeat the problem over and over and have it shut down when I touched the case of the transformer controller or waved my hand near it.  So I dug into it and made a post on here and Marty answered with the issue.

All I did to resolve it, since Lionel told me no chips are available, is take off the cover and unplug the TMCC signal antenna from the board.

Problem solved!   So I can still use it as a conventional transformer now, and it does not shut down anymore.

Its a shame as I could never sell it as a working TMCC controller, just a conventional one since I cannot get the updated chip.

Sean

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