TPC or Powermaster?

If you are not trying to tie multiple power sources together the PowerMaster seems to be a better item since its Legacy compatible. However both will work with Legacy and perform similar function (control track voltage)

 A TPC unit works fine with legacy. The only difference between a TPC unit and the legacy powermaster is that a TPC will allow Up to 400 watts of power. I.e the TPC 400 allows you to connect 2 180w bricks through it. 

Two bricks in parallel is a ton of power, most recommend  dividing a layout into power "districts", one  brick for each district.

I suspect this is the reasoning behind the Legacy powermasters 180w voltage maximum, in addition to replacing the now obsolete (electronically speaking )TPC unit.

Having said all that, I use a TPC unit on my layout. Its a nice component. In the end, I guess it depends on your power requirements or price as to which to buy.

In addition to the main points which RickO has described above, the Legacy PowerMaster does not require a serial cable connection to the base unit (Which can make layout wiring a lot simpler, as you can place the PowerMaster where it is needed instead of close to the base unit.), and Legacy PowerMaster has much more advanced protection circuitry than the TPC. 

Thanks Rick...that answers my question. Now  the problem is to locate a command cable from Legacy base to TPC.....if they even exist (anymore). Maybe it's possible to make one....dunno

At last Saturday's Red Carpet Event in Concord, NC,  Mike Reagan stated that Lionel will be coming out with new Legacy TPC's.  They will be designated TPC300-2 and TPC 400-2. These are in addition to the Legacy Powermasters. They will react faster.

TPC to the original TMCC command base cable was a two wire cable hooked to a 9 pin connector that matched the output of the TMCC command base.   Connection required a (2) wire cable, Lionel (6-14191).  Using both Legacy and the TMCC command base, there should be a "Y" cable in the Legacy set that allows connection to the TMCC base and connection to the (6-14191) cable that hooks to the TPC and then daisy chains to all other TMCC devices.  

Not a lot of knowledge on the Power Masters, one of the main functions of the TPC was to allow conventional operation of a layout without handle controlled transformers.  All control is via the handheld remote.

My TPCs are the original I C Controls TPC 4000s and still function just fine. I no longer parallel transformers but if one of my PoHo 180 watts failed I would probably parallel a couple of 135 units, linked to a TPC 4K.

I'm a bit puzzled as to why you would be disappointed at only being able to use 180W/10A per power district? That's a lot of power to the track. If you are using modern locomotives that should be ample to run a consist of several locomotives and illuminated passenger cars etc. You also greatly increase the risk of damage to your electronics if you have short circuits or suchlike and more than 180W/10A available. More than 10A also increases your chance of welding your equipment to the track too. 

Just a thought. 

One of the advantages of Parallel PH 180's or, in my case, PH135's, is the economics of two Transformers v.s. a PH transformer and TPC for every track power district.  Properly fuses at the track level, a high energy power supply with Parallel PH's should be enough power for most any layout.   Two PH 135's via one TPC 400 supplies (8) power districts that are fused at 7.5 amps per track for my layout.   

On a somewhat (slightly) related note; with the end of the older model TPC400's does anyone have a good schematic (even hand drawn) overview of the unit? A schematic for a TPC300 would work fine as well,since the ccty is quite simliar.

r0d

One of the other forum members mentioned that a Lionel Rep stated that Lionel was going to release a new(er) version of the TPC300/400..(same number but with a "-2" attached)

and that it would respond quicker to overloads/short circuits than the original. There are also TWO New TPCs for sale on Ebay.

So, I' running a 9' x 16' layout with three separate main track loops, and a few smaller track loops around town scenes, etc. do I need a separate PH and PM for each loop, or can I run two separate track loops on one PH/PM set up?

If you want to run independently on each loop with conventional equipment, you'll need a PM for each loop.  You can feed more than one PM from a single transformer, depending on how much power you think you might need.  I doubt one loop will need more than 70-80 watts for a single consist, even with lighted passenger cars.

Is there a harness made to split powerhouse outputs to multiple power masters? I've got extra power if I use some older KW or R type transformers as well, but how do you power the loop through a PM for conventional engines with those?

You can make a splitter harness from the parts that comprise the Lionel TPC cable set (6-14194). For using other transformers as the power supply, then the Lionel Power Adapter Cable (6-12893) is designed for just that purpose. 

I just buy the Molex connectors from Digikey and build to suit, but the adapter cable will work.

Thanks for the assistance. I'll look up the harnesses and connectors and see what works best for my application.