TrainAmerica TMCC signal booster fried ZW-C?!!

All that is in the signal enhancer is a couple of .1uf caps.

Maybe they shorted?

Here is my home made version on my S gauge layout

What exactly went dark...the digital add on for the ZW-C? Does the ZW-C still work as far as putting out the 18 vac from the four outputs? Did you remove the TAS booster and see if things return to normal?

You say you've had the booster for a long time. TAS has been gone for years. Judging from what Carl said, it doesn't sound like there's much to it on the inside. It does sound like at least the one engine is having signal issues.

Chuck's right, does the layout run at all without it. If not, I think GunrunnerJhon still has Dale Manquen's booster available in kit form. I have one of Dale's prototypes running my layout, after supplying data for his design. I also bought one from GRJ as a backup, because my layout won't run without it.

cjack posted:

What exactly went dark...the digital add on for the ZW-C? Does the ZW-C still work as far as putting out the 18 vac from the four outputs? Did you remove the TAS booster and see if things return to normal?

Digital display went dark, and there is no power output to either track now (A or D output).  Removing TAS booster did not restore function, display or track power, after unplugging from wall for >20 sec and plugging back in.  Sensitive digital meter across TAS booster

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

You say you've had the booster for a long time. TAS has been gone for years. Judging from what Carl said, it doesn't sound like there's much to it on the inside. It does sound like at least the one engine is having signal issues.

Chuck's right, does the layout run at all without it. If not, I think GunrunnerJhon still has Dale Manquen's booster available in kit form. I have one of Dale's prototypes running my layout, after supplying data for his design. I also bought one from GRJ as a backup, because my layout won't run without it.

inputs, outputs, and from each + (input and output) to the signal wire that attaches to TMCC base, all show infinite resistance/open circuit.  So no short.

Unexplainable, it seems.

Thanks for your reply, Don

P.S.  Will ask GRJ if he has that kit available.  Also emailed Dale Manquen to ask if he still offers the tester himself.

Carl Tuveson posted:

All that is in the signal enhancer is a couple of .1uf caps.

Maybe they shorted?

Here is my home made version on my S gauge layout

 

Carl: Thanks for this.  I'm not clear about the connections on the right of your figure.  Could you clarify what "supply" and "track" connect to for each pair?

Don

cnwdon posted:

P.S.  Will ask GRJ if he has that kit available.  Also emailed Dale Manquen to ask if he still offers the tester himself.

 

cnwdon posted:

P.S.  Will ask GRJ if he has that kit available.  Also emailed Dale Manquen to ask if he still offers the tester himself.

Sadly Dale passed away. Here is a link for John's pick-up of the project.

https://ogrforum.com/...e-s-legacy-continues 

Do both bricks still output power if you unplug them from the ZW? 

BobbyD posted:

cnwdon posted:

P.S.  Will ask GRJ if he has that kit available.  Also emailed Dale Manquen to ask if he still offers the tester himself.

 

cnwdon posted:

P.S.  Will ask GRJ if he has that kit available.  Also emailed Dale Manquen to ask if he still offers the tester himself.

Sadly Dale passed away. Here is a link for John's pick-up of the project.

https://ogrforum.com/...e-s-legacy-continues 

Do both bricks still output power if you unplug them from the ZW? 

Yes, both bricks output power.  Update, just powered up; bricks power up, ZW-C showed a single "0" for each of the 4 channels, moving handles did not put power to tracks or change the "0" displays.  After half a minute or so (with handles "off"), display changed from zeros to single word "OFF".  When bricks turned off, right hand display then showed "8.8" which slowly faded away.

cnwdon posted:

Carl Tuveson posted:

All that is in the signal enhancer is a couple of .1uf caps.

Maybe they shorted?

Here is my home made version on my S gauge layout

 

Carl: Thanks for this.  I'm not clear about the connections on the right of your figure.  Could you clarify what "supply" and "track" connect to for each pair?

Don

Here is a link to my web page on the enhancer.
http://www.tuveson.com/TMCCSig...l__distributioni.htm

The "track" and "supply" are just a loop through of the feeds from the transformer to the track.

The ZW-C did not come with digital display, so I assume it was added.  Remove it and reset bricks.  Plug in and test output of each brick.  If they are good, turn off bricks and reattach to ZW-C Controller and retest.  G

cnwdon posted:

BobbyD posted:

cnwdon posted:

P.S.  Will ask GRJ if he has that kit available.  Also emailed Dale Manquen to ask if he still offers the tester himself.

 

cnwdon posted:

P.S.  Will ask GRJ if he has that kit available.  Also emailed Dale Manquen to ask if he still offers the tester himself.

Sadly Dale passed away. Here is a link for John's pick-up of the project.

https://ogrforum.com/...e-s-legacy-continues 

Do both bricks still output power if you unplug them from the ZW? 

Yes, both bricks output power.  Update, just powered up; bricks power up, ZW-C showed a single "0" for each of the 4 channels, moving handles did not put power to tracks or change the "0" displays.  After half a minute or so (with handles "off"), display changed from zeros to single word "OFF".  When bricks turned off, right hand display then showed "8.8" which slowly faded away.

Don't know if this will solve your display issue, is the battery good? Did you reset the ZW-C itself? Have you ever operated the ZW-C in command mode with the Cab1?

Thanks, BobbyD and George.  Will try these suggestions and report. Don

Carl: Thanks, now I get it.  Looks like TAS device diagrammed a bit differently from looking at wires coming out each end, but with .15 mfd caps instead of 0.10.  Allows tiny "leak" of AC across terminals, presumably damping some high frequency chatter in the signal?

Will try, Don

All this device is doing is putting the Legacy signal on the center rail as well as the outside rails for three rail track. Carl made his own because his layout is 2 rail S gauge. On larger 2 rail layouts it is better to put the signal on both rails. On my S gauge layout we just used .1mfd capacitors for each power district and each reverse loop to put the Legacy signal on both rails.