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I plan to power my main lines with a TPC400 powered by two PowerHouse 180 watt bricks (there already is a thread on the pros and mostly cons of doing this, so we don't need to go there here).  

 

I plan to use only one PH180 to power my yard which will have a common rail connected to the mainline.  SideTrack hobbies has some TPC300s at a good price, so I was wondering if I can use the 300 instead of buying another 400.  I have no PS1 or QSI conventional engines, so I don't need that feature of the 400.

 

Thanks.  Ron   

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Ron

The only difference in the TPC 300 and the 400 is the size of the circuit breakers.[15 amp on the 300, 20 amp on the 400] Dale Manquen has opened them up. I had two 135 PoHos linked in parallel to a TPC 300 for a couple of years to power two long lighted passenger trains operating in the same power district.

 

A 15 amp rated TPC 300 will link up with a single 10 amp[180 watt] rated PoHo just fine.

 

The two green dot code PoHo 135s on the lower shelf are linked to the black TPC 3000 on the right corner top shelf above. [3000 was the I C Controls designation--Lionel changed it to 300]. Layout dismantled Oct.2009.

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Last edited by Dewey Trogdon

I have two TPC300's with two 135watt PH's connected to each to power my two main lines and a passing track. I use a Block Power Controller to provide power to my yard from one of the TPC's.

 

Depending on how much power you are drawing on the main lines you might just be able to power the yard with either a Block Power Controller or an Accessory Power Controller. That might be a less expensive alternative.

Last edited by Former Member

If your yard area is not going to need more than 180W, you might also consider using a Legacy PowerMaster instead of a TPC 300/400.  These are quite a bit less expensive, give you all the features of a TPC, have super-fast and efficient modern circuit protection and are extremely simple to wire-up. (Just 2 wires to the track, and plug in the PH-180.)  I'm so happy with mine that I've replaced my TPC units with Legacy PowerMasters. 

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