TMCC & Power/Wiring Connections for Post-War layout

Father Christmas posted:

I am looking to purchase a TMCC set on eBay so as to have the ability to run my current post-war conventional locomotive and the switches/accessories via the CAB-1 hand-held remote.  In the future, I plan to purchase a Command Control locomotive that works with the TMCC CAB-1

I have a few questions:

1. How can I determine if the TMCC (and in the future, a TMCC locomotive) have all the latest features - fan driven smoke, chugging sounds, Odyssey speed control, electric uncoupling on the tender, etc ??  (I understand Lionel added features over the years to their TMCC sets)

You can Google the product number (such as 6-XXXXX) for the older TMCC loco's and you should be able to bring up articles with descriptions. Future locos will either be Legacy controlled or be one of the LionChief engines with it's own remote. Lionel has several older catalogs online to see descriptions and yes sometimes those are not accurate. You can control the Legacy engines with the TMCC remote but not have access to the Legacy specific features.

2. I will be replacing my old post-war TW 175 Watt transformer with a 180 Watt PowerHouse and using the TW transformer just to power switches and accessories.   What do I need to purchase and how do I connect the switches/accessories so as to have remote control via the TMCC CAB-1??

I personally use the old SC1 and SC2 switch and accessory controllers. I have seen these on the buy/sell board here. The new LCS accessory switch controller is the current model. Look through the new Lionel catalogs online and you can see the new remote controlled devices.

3. If I use a 180W PowerHouse I will need to install some sort of Track Power Control (TPC), either a 180W TMCC PowerMaster, or a TPC 300 (300   Watts) or TPC 400 (400 Watts) - which one is best??  (It seems to me that the "best power match" would be the 180 Watt PowerMaster)   

You will need  to use a TPC 300 or 400 or the newer PM 180, the best is just a matter of opinion on this board. I use 2 400's, one with a 135 and the other with a 180 Powerhouse and they work great for me. I've seen many 300 and 400 on the buy/sell board here.

Please help me understand all of this, thanks ---

If you really want the latest features and the best sounds, consider Legacy locomotives.  They'll run with either TMCC or Legacy command systems, and will have all that you seek.

Roman  -  Thank you for your reply, it really helps me to understand what I need to purchase.  However, I am still not clear on your response to my question #3 -

-  if I use a PowerHouse 180 W, why do I need a much more powerful TPC 300 (300W) or the TPC 400 (400W) ??   

-  what are the advantages of using a TPC300 or TPC400 over an older PowerMaster 180 ??

-  what is a "PW180" ??

Thanks again, look forward to your reply ---

Father Christmas posted:

Roman  -  Thank you for your reply, it really helps me to understand what I need to purchase.  However, I am still not clear on your response to my question #3 -

-  if I use a PowerHouse 180 W, why do I need a much more powerful TPC 300 (300W) or the TPC 400 (400W) ??   

-  what are the advantages of using a TPC300 or TPC400 over an older PowerMaster 180 ??

-  what is a "PW180" ??

Thanks again, look forward to your reply ---

 

The TPC-300 or TPC-400 is used to permit the layout to run in either Command mode or Conventional mode.  If set to Conventional, the CAB-1's big red dial serves as a throttle.  The PH180 will connect to the TPC.

George

Sorry, typo on my part. Should have said PH (power house) 180. The TPC, like the Power Mater is what you run the Power House brick through and to attach track wiring.

As George said you can run either in Command or Conventional mode. Both mine are set for Conventional as I run my Postwar engines a lot. The 300 and 400 is how much max power you can run through unit. 

If you're buying new, buy the new Legacy PowerMaster, there's no reason to fool around with obsolete products.

Lionel O 6-37146 Legacy 180W PowerMaster | ModelTrainStuff.com

If you feel the need for more than 10A on the track (which I think is foolish), there is also the Legacy PowerMaster 360

L82883 - LEGACY POWERMASTER-360 WATT

These are easier to wire up, since they receive track signals over the air, and are also currently supported products.  Did I mention they're also probably as cheap or cheaper than the obsolete TPC units?

GUNRUNNERJOHN  -  Thanks for the advice. 

However, it is my understanding that the TMCC Base broadcasts and the TMCC PowerMaster receives in the same frequency - 26.7 Mhz. 

Further, I understand that if I convert to a Legacy Cab-1L/Base-1L Command System, the Cab-1L broadcasts in 2.4 Ghz so I need to install a PowerMaster Bridge which converts the broadcast and allows connection with the TMCC PowerMaster.

My questions:

-  will the Legacy PowerMaster receive the TMCC Base broadcast in 26.7 Mhz without the need for a Bridge ??  

- what do you mean . . . "These are easier to wire up, since they receive track signals over the air, and are also currently supported products."

Again, thanks in advance for your response ====

I'm suggesting that you not buy the old and obsolete CAB1/BASE1, and the old TMCC PowerMasters and instead invest in either the Lionel O 6-37147 CAB-1L Remote Control and Base 1L Command Set or the Lionel O 6-14295 #990 Legacy Command Set.  For the PowerMasters, you can use the Lionel O 6-37146 Legacy PowerMaster.

This will get you a supported current product and eliminate the need for the the PowerMaster Bridge.  The Legacy PowerMaster also offers a lot more features and capabilities than the old TMCC PowerMaster.