TPC 400 & 2-Lionel 180 Powerhouses

What is your TPC programmed to do?  If I recall correctly, you can program the voltage level sent to the track via the TPC.  Have you programmed it?

George

George,

I programmed the TPC, and where my hookup is on the track, completely disassembled, so right out of the TPC on one piece of track is at 16.2V.  Hmmmm

I also switched over to manual mode and still is at 16.3V on one piece of track.  Does the TPC take voltage away from the power packs?  Defective TPC?

On page 11 of the TPC manual is the section on setting power to the track.  Have you done this?  How do you know what voltage you are setting (at the time you set it)? 

If you are not setting it to a specific value, maybe the TPC is defaulting to 16V?

George

The TPC does drop the power a bit to the tracks, the electronics that controls the voltage has losses, usually .8 to 1.0 volts.

Hi George, thanks for the quick replies. Yeah, I tried that. I cranked the wheel all the way up clockwise and the max voltage is 16.3v. So, I decided to test the power coming into the TPC 400 with my multimeter,from my 2 power block 180's. My mulitmeter says is 17.3v each.  I then tested the wires coming out of the TPC and they are 16.3v before it even goes into the legacy base and the track. Once it hits the track it is still at 16.3. I also thought that my mulitmeter could be faulty. I don't have another one on hand, so tested that by using a command control crane car that needs high voltage to shoot out outriggers on the track. Outriggers would not all shoot out upon command, just a couple on each side, even on test track. I figure the voltage must be under 18v then. Can someone test the voltage going into the TPC 400 and coming out of it, and let me know what it should be? It would be greatly appreciated. Thanks 

Thanks John, Didn't see your post in time, before I replied. Do you think the TPC can have issues? Any other ideas?

If the TPC works other than the small voltage drop, I'd say it's working normally.  The reason for the aluminum case and large heatsink is to dissipate the heat generated by dropping that voltage at 20 amps!

You will have a voltage drop coming out of the TPC's. I have mine set to 16 volts on the track. Your voltage is plenty for the out riggers to work. The outrigger adjustment can be seen below on the last page.

http://www.lionel.com/media/se...ts/5608719899256.pdf

Bill

What is your household line voltage at the wall receptacle?   My 180 PoHos produce 18 volts and the TPC 400 17.6 when i have 118-120 VAC at the line unless I lower the track voltage to 16 which I often did.