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Use of a Lionel TPC with a TIU

kanawhakanawhaOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

I am currently building a layout and I'm doing the wiring as per the recommendations in Barry's book. On my old layout I was using a single Lionel 180W brick and a TPC400 for power. The new layout has 3 MTH power distribution blocks so I am using 3 TIU channels. The TIU is a Rev L and all the TIU channels are set to fixed. Right now I have the single brick powering all the TIU inputs. Everything appears to work well with this setup. I have solid 10's all around the layout.

 

The question is - Can I insert the TPC between the brick and the TIU so I can vary the voltage and run conventional engines? I've read where the TIU doesn't like a chopped wave input which is exactly what the TPC output is. However if all channels are in fixed mode will this arrangement degrade the DCS signal or harm the TIU?

 

Ken

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FM Former Member

We are running a ZW-C powered by 180 watt bricks through the TIU to vary the voltage for conventional operation and havent had any issues. Works fine from all the testing we have done, and it didn't matter whether we used a fixed or variable channel of the TIU. According to the sine wave video that Mike posted, the ZW-C and TPC both put out the same type of wave, so your TPC should work just fine. There's an easy way to find out Just hook it up and try it.

R RJROGR Forum Member

A severely chopped wave raises havoc with conventional locos if you want to run at slow speed.  They act as if the voltage were much higher.  You'd be better off switching the variable outputs to variabe when you want to run conventional, or get a transformer which can internally change the output voltage without distorting the sine wave.  The old pre- & post WWII Lionels, with added external fuse/breaker, are ideal.

 

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