TMCC Question

Once a legacy TMCC /legacy locomotive is under way, it continues at whatever speed it is set at until it is changed by the operator.

 As long as all of the areas are being contolled by one base, the information regarding legacy locos is stored in the base, not the handheld.

It should simply be a matter of the other operator addressing the locomotive on his/her handheld which will display the appropriate info from the base, and controlling it as desired.

Thanks,

I thought that was the case but I didn't want to try it and find out that the conflicting commands would fry the engines board.

what rick said

no information is stored in the controller. 

pick up any controller input your train number and you are in control.

Some basic configuration information is stored in the controller, feedback, backlight intensity, LCD intensity, etc.  However, AFAIK, no engine data is there.

If I'm not mistaken, when you do that, you will have 2 controllers set to the same channel, meaning both can still send commands to that loco. It would be a good practice to set the controller that is giving up the train to an unused channel to avoid accidentally sending conflicting commands.

Elliot, I'm not sure what you're suggesting.  Are you really suggesting a different channel, or just a different TMCC ID being selected? 

While it's a problem to connect with a CAB1/BASE1 and the Legacy system to the same locomotive, there is no issue that I'm aware of of controlling between CAB2 remotes or handing off.  We do this all the time.  I've never seen any issue handing off, or even jumping in and taking control when someone else is running.  Yes, both remotes will affect the locomotive, but nothing blows up or jumps the track.

I believe the reason the CAB1/BASE1 and Legacy system have a problem is you're likely running in TMCC or Legacy mode with the Legacy system, and relative step mode with the CAB1.  That will cause odd things to happen with the locomotive.

John, I have always called ENG(xx) a channel, but yes, a different TMCC ID.

It is easy to forget that a remote is still connected to the last engine it was set to, when you put it down. Since you can't turn remotes "off", setting it to an unused number is the next best thing. However the more I think about it, it is really unnecessary.

What is the first thing you do when you pick up a remote? Select your engine. Duh!

I never intended to leave controller #1 assigned to the train that was passed on to controller #2. I just wasn't sure you could transfer control seamlessly.  I expect to alert #2 of the impending transfer either verbally or with a whistle signal and as soon as confirmation is received reassign controller #1.

Has anyone ever installed an On/Off switch on a CAB1?  Disconnecting (battery) power inside the handheld would prevent unwanted/accidental transmissions.

Where in the circuitry would the best place be to insert a switch?

I have never done this, but it should be easy enough to install a small slide switch in the side of the case, and wire it into the hot wire from the battery pack to the board.

Actually either the hot or the return wire would be fine.

Rod

at our club we have run five controllers on four lines with no issues.  in fact some of us will run each others train at the same time. 

we have had no issues. 

you just can not both push the same command button at the same time.