What TMCC system do I have

EER cruise commander with there railsounds board. Go to 3rdrails website and download the err cruise commander manual.  Yes the cruise can be shut off/on with a few clicks of the cab1 remote or legacy remote

What engine is it?

http://www.3rdrail.com/err-3rd.../CruiseCmdr-Inst.pdf

Thanks!

The model is a NYC Hudson.  Sounds crazy, but I do not own a Lionel remote, just the command base interfaced to my DCS system.  Do you know if when a TMCC engine is selected on the DCS remote, do the numbers on DCS number pad produce the same commands as the the cab 1 or are they actually a sequence for a single command.

The engine seems to perform well, just on my grades and curves it seems to slow down a bit, unlike DCS engines or Lionel engines with odyssey or legacy.  Is that normal for the commander?

Thanks

Mike

I don’t think so with the DCS remote but I could be wrong.

Another question, brought the manual up and it shows Pins 1&3 to be used for the prog/run switch, while my board prog/run switch wires are on pins 2&3.  I have not tried programming my engine from id#1.  Which is the correct pinout?

In your second photo, I can clearly read "AC/DC Commander" on the green bottom board.  This is an ERR product but it does not have cruise.  You would need to replace the AC/DC Commander with a Cruise Commander to get constant speed cruise control.

Hump Yard Mike posted:

Another question, brought the manual up and it shows Pins 1&3 to be used for the prog/run switch, while my board prog/run switch wires are on pins 2&3.  I have not tried programming my engine from id#1.  Which is the correct pinout?

I would make sure the wiring matches the diagram from ERR. If anything is off correct it.

You'll need a Cab-1 to program the board. The DCS remote won't work except to change the locomotive address. I run all my DCS and TMCC locomotives from my DCS remote but I have a Cab-1 to make any programming changes to TMCC boards if necessary. The DCS remote can't do things like change the speed steps on the ERR boards. See if anyone local to you has a Cab-1 you can borrow to program the board, if necessary. If you were local I'd let you borrow mine.

Is the NYC Hudson the boards are in a Lionel or MTH locomotive? What motor is in the locomotive?

Looking on 3rd rail site, how do you know which cruise commander you need for my set up, the “m” or not and why?  The “m” model looks to be $30 more.

my board shown above are in the tender.  I believe the 3rd rail engine has a large pitman in it.

thanks mike

Adding cruise may help.  But changing the pulleys in the drive train could add 50% more motor RPM at low speeds.  With the extra torque available you might not need it!  I purchased a 3rd Rail Greenbrier that came stock with TrainAmerica's Engineer on Board (EOB), an early, crude form of cruise control.  The loco didn't run very well with that system.  I did the pulley swap and installed a Dallee E-unit.  Now, even operating conventionally with a 1033 transformer it will crawl!

Today's manufacturers would do well to study this ad from 1949, which I've borrowed from a thread on the 2-rail forum.  The red highlighting is mine, added for emphasis.  Why do the 3-rail manufacturers always insist on taking the easy way out?  It's the gear ratio, it always has been the gear ratio.  30 to 1 or bust!! 

Before you buy anything, you need to determine what motor is in the locomotive.  You must have a can motor to get cruise control.  There is, very likely, a reason this locomotive has an AC commander.  Also, who made this locomotive?

FYI, you cannot control TMCC engines or issue TMCC commands with your DCS remote unless you have the TMCC command base connected to the DCS TIU with a proper cable.  Also, I don't think the full TMCC command set is available through the DCS to TMCC integration.

George

Gentlemen,

thanks for the help and responses.  The engine is the NYC super Hudson from 3rd rail.  It is a beautiful model but very fragile and must be handle carefully.  It has a large dc Pittman motor.  I believe the release date was in 2007.  Any information on why the difference between the “m” and non “m” cruise commander would be helpful.

Since you don't have the Cruise Commander, the programming pins are on different connections.  Note the Cruise Commander has the PGM/RUN switch on the first and 3rd pin, the AC/DC Commander has it in the 2nd and 3rd pins.

You can download the complete manuals for each product from the ERR by 3rd Rail site.

          AC/DC Commander Pin Designations

Looking at pictures of the cruise commander vs cruise commander m, it looks like the cruise commander would be a direct swap for what I have now because I have the top board that needs to go on it. Does that look correct?

thanks

mike

The Cruise Commander comes with the R4LC, but you can keep the one on the DC Commander for a spare.   Yes, it's a drop-in replacement, other than the PGM/RUN switch wiring mentioned previously.

Cruise Commander is drop in. You will need a Cab-1 to program the R4LC (tell it that it is in a steam locomotive with Railsounds) and set the speed steps after you install it. The DCS remote can't mimic that function of the Cab-1.

Also if you set the Cruise Commander to 100 speed step mode (and you should) when running it with the DCS remote make sure to remember to change the speed steps in the DCS remote from 32 to 128. I run locomotives with Cruise Commanders and AC Commanders in 100 speed step mode using the 128 speed step setting on the DCS remote without issue.