TMCC TPC Cable Set And the TPC 400

Yes. You can use almost any brute force power supply, any Lionel "bricks", or any pure sine wave power supply, or any postwar or prewar transformer of any brand with the TPC units.

The TPC 400 will handle/pass through up to 400 watts, but the power source can be larger or smaller than 400 watts. As long as it has enough power to do the job of running your trains, you will be OK.

I am using a six hundred watt, eighteen volt industrial transformer with mine. You can also use 12 volt yard lighting transformers, if you do not mind limiting top speed and maybe getting less smoke from the smoke generators in the locos.

I do not know how the TPC would act if you used a modern, chopped wave transformer with the handle set at less than full throttle. Probably would not harm anything, but don't know if it would be squirrely or not.

In other words, if you use a modern, chopped wave transformer to power the TPC, turn the transformer handle all the way up.

I suggest circuit protection on the transformer feeding the TPC.  Not to protect the transformer, but to protect the TPC.

this what i have is  A powerful transformer for all your accessories, switches, lights and other train operations. This versatile fixed voltage transformer offers the following voltages: 3, 5, 8, 12, 15 and 20 with circuit breaker protection. The 20 volt output can even serve as a tmcc Power Supply.

What is the brand and model number of this "powerful transformer?"

It has to say on it somewhere, probably before all the hyperbole.

Personally, I would start out with the 15 volt supply and see if that does the job for you. 20 volts is a wee bit on the high side for my taste.

Being in Europe, it's not very economical to buy and ship genuine Lionel transformers to power my layout (Apart from CW-80s that come with sets of course.) and so I use a pair of Conrad 150w transformers to power my TPC300s via TPC cable sets. These are great transformers that are reasonably priced, have both 9v and 18v taps, and have a lightning fast circuit breaker that trips the main power switch to off at the slightest hint of a short circuit or overload. The beauty of using two transformers to each TPC via the TPC cable set, is that I can run on only one transformer unless I need more power. In which case I just flip a switch and gain an extra 150w. 

I've mentioned this before, once you get to 200 watts of power or more, the welding, arc and spark, of derails becomes major, unless there is decent protections. I've never had the circuit protector on a TPC 400 open.   I eventually installed (8) in-line fuses, (8) blocks, no more than 7.5 amps per  fuse/block.  A reliable distrubution system. Fuses are to the right of the Acme Transformer in this picture.

What is the brand and model number of this "powerful transformer?"

Sounds like the K-Line 120watt accessory transformer. I have one but only use it for accessories and lighting. I power my TPC300's with pairs of 135 watt Powerhouses. I would highly recommend that you install transient voltage suppressors along with circuit breaker protection. The TVS's react much faster than any fuse or circuit breaker.

The K-Line transformer is on the upper right hand side. It is black and yellow.

A TPC unit allows one to lower and set the command voltage to whatever you like. I have run 2 180w bricks through a TPC 400 and set the voltage at 15 which eliminated any arcing or welding.

The 20 volt output can even serve as a tmcc Power Supply. what does it mean by that.

K-Line designed this transformer for use with accessories and added the use of the 20 volt output as an after thought. There were some issues with some of them such that many dealers returned them to K-line. Some dealers also decided not to handle the product at all because they are not UL rated.

These transformers were also involved in the patent infringement lawsuit that Lionel one against Maury Kline and K-Line. It put K-Line out of business.

Having said that. You could connect the two terminals marked 20 volts but you would be exceeding the 18 volt output recommended by Lionel.

The other thing to keep in mind is that 120 watts is not a lot of power and if you have a large steamer pulling a consist of lighted passenger cars you could exceed the output quickly. Not only that but most traditional lighted passenger cars don't play well when the track voltage is that high.

So, it would be recommended to power the track through the TPC with Lionel Powerhouses either 135 or 180 watt versions which ever you choose.

Note that my 135W Powerhouse supplies crank out 20 volts.  With a 3A load, they're still at 19.35 volts.  The 180W models come in right around 18 volts open circuit.

If you want to use the K-Line transformer, I'd suggest that you might wish to use a fused cable such as the Lionel 6-12893 to connect to your TPC unit. I'm assuming that you already have the siamese cable from the TPC cable set attached to your TPC.  The power adapter cable will connect your transformer to the TPC cable, and provide some protection via the fuse. As has been mentioned before, you can set the TPC to drop the output voltage from the TPC down to a more desirable level. The TPC can accept as much as 30v on the input side, so 20v should not cause any problems.

I use these cables with my transformers, even though they have very fast circuit breakers. I've never blown a fuse yet with this set-up, but it's good to know that they are there just in case a breaker fails.

Yes, the 6-12893 has the same plug as on a Powerhouse transformer, and plugs directly into the siamese/twin connector cable from the 6-14194 set that connects to the TPC.

Note that my 135W Powerhouse supplies crank out 20 volts.  With a 3A load, they're still at 19.35 volts.

The voltage measured on the input side of the TPC might be 20 volts but on the output side it is 18 volts. Seems like the TPC sucks up 2 volts.

In my set-up, I have the transformer connected to the TPC via the cables mentioned above. My Legacy base is connected to the track, and also connected to the TPC via the 'Command base cable'. The TPC outputs are then connected to my track. I don't have a CAB1 anymore, and so there is no need for a Powermaster and Bridge.

In the TPC manual, there is a diagram on page 7 that shows the connections. In my case, the command base is my Legacy base.

Here's a link to the TPC manual in case you don't have one handy.  http://www.lionel.com/media/se...ents/71-4189-250.pdf

MY LAYOUT 

I like the wall mural, very cool effect.

Wow! That's really coming along well. I remember seeing your earlier photographs. That is quite some backscene/mural that you have created. I love the waterfall. Well done. 

going to take a little break from my trains my mother went into the hospital friday she dont know when shey will be home

So sorry to hear about your mother. I wish her a speedy and full recovery.

Sorry to hear that, hopefully it will be a short stay.

mom came home no operation needed she came home yesterday

now i am powering the the track with the new power chief with 20v on the tracks no problems just the right mount of power to run my trains

Glad to hear about your mother coming home and the trains working.  Things are obviously looking up.

I'm happy to to hear the good news regarding you mum's health. That must be a big relief for you all. Glad to hear that the trains are running again too.