TMCC Layout Power Help

Jayhawks:

I will start the reply thread off  - others are experts on TMCC

The equipment you have may not be compatible. If the part number for the powermaster is correct it needs either 135 or 180 watt power brick or transformer to run it. You have 80 watt transformers only.

If the three loops are connected to each other electrically you theoretically need only one transformer to run the entire layout though 80 watts may be not enough power. If you electrically isolate one loop from the other two (electrically isolate the power rail but keep a common ground) then you could connect one transformer to two loops and one to the isolated loop. 

There may be a way of phasing and connecting both transformers to get 160 watts of power but someone like Gunrunner John or Dale H can answer this a lot better than me.

So bottom line if you want to use the two power masters you will most likely need to buy the appropriate power supplies. If you want three electrically isolated loops (called power blocks) you will need three powermaster / power supply couples.

As long as you maintain a common ground you can use the command base and CAB-1 for all loops independent or not.

Using a powermaster will also free you of having to use a transformer with handles. All that is required for the powermaster is voltage/current - power. So you can purchase less expensive power bricks (Lionel). The power master will let you run both command control and conventional using the CAB remote.

Another wrinkle - if you acquire any Legacy equipment like a legacy command base you will either need to repurchase Legacy powermasters or buy a powermaster bridge to connect to the TMCC powermaster. Legacy and TMCC run on different frequencies.

Hopefully someone more technical than me will be able to offer more accurate advice.

Good Luck

Joe

Do you have the 3 loops inter connected via fast track switches? Are they blocked via electrical switches and isolated center rails?  Common outside rail.

If as mentioned your PM have the Power House with them, using one for a loop works well.  If they are the 135W version that is still plenty of power.

The CW 80 could be used on the smallest loop.

Use the second CW-80 to power your fast track switches independently.

Phase all 4 transformers via a common outside rail.  That should work fine and then only one TMCC connection from the command base to the outside rail.

I have 4 concentric loops that are blocked via electrical switches and use a combination of ZW-C, PM/PH, 120W and 40W transformer for the various loops, accessories, switches, operating tracks all with common phasing via outside rail or Common Ground.

Works well.   G