Has anyone been able to control Fastrack remote switches using a SC-1 controller? I am hearing that there might be compatibility issues. I have mine hooked up properly but I cannot get them to work. I asked on another forum and a member posted that he never managed to get them to work but said it might be a "user" problem.
Please tell me this will work. I do not have the $$ right now to afford an SC-2 unit and since I really can only run my trains via the TMCC control due to not being able to get around, instead of just wiring the SC-1 in Parallel with the manual controller I simply cut the controller off so that I could use the original cable. (no one ever said I was smart including myself!).
Any ideas? Thanks guys!
I heard something about not being able to use the first position on the SC-1? Not sure about that for sure, but with all the negative issues that I heard, I decided to not use one. I did have to cut wires and extend some turnout controllers. It took me some time, but you can get them hooked back up. I just wished that Lionel would have decided to produce the TMCC retrofit board for the turnouts that I have.
Good luck with that!
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That would be fine, but the switch wired into position #2 will not work either. Guess it is time for an email to Lionel.....just great...talk about a fine way to turn a TMCC rookie of ones product. Lets sell him something that does not work like advertised! Hmm although I guess they never claimed that the SC-1 would work with Fastrack.
Beginning to wish I had never gotten back into this hobby!
Why didn't you buy the SC-2? It works and yes, there have been postings about the SC-1 not working and that is why I don't have any SC-1s. In fact, my retailer hasn't been selling SC-1's for several years. Where did the SC-1 come from? Was it an authorized Lionel dealer?
How far away from the track is the SC-1? Remember it needs to be close enough to the track to pick up the TMCC signals. I have three SC-2s and they work fine but they must be wired correctly as per their instruction books that can be downloaded from Lionel. I assume the SC-1 instructions are there too, but you can look for it if needed.
strogey Beginning to wish I had never gotten back into this hobby!
If you are so un-happy about the hobby, I would suggest you get out now. I have been running TMCC for almost ten years and would never return to the conventional, but I have had my frustrations, too.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
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Buckeye RiveterHow far away from the track is the SC-1? Remember it needs to be close enough to the track to pick up the TMCC signals...
I'm quite sure the TMCC signal comes from the Command Base, not the track. Regardless, the SC-1 essentially IS the track from an electronic aspect, as the common posts are connected to the "U" post of the Command Base, directly or indirectly.
As to the OP, if you are using FasTrack switches only, you will need to use the "wall-wart" AC adapter to power the SC-1. The switches are probably not passing enough current to power it.
Rob
Thanks Rob! I was kind of hopeing you would chime in!
Thanks Buckeye. As a newbie, I have not been around long enough to have read all the older posts therefore when I saw that the SC-1 could control both a couple of accesories and the couple of switches that I wish to controll, I thought it was a win-win situation. I even posted on this forum asking if there was any differances. Nothing was brought to my attention. Add to that the fact that the SC-1 was about half the price as a SC-2 and my train funds are extremely limited.
I had no idea that I had to worry about what questions I asked on here. I thought it was a place I could come to to ask these kinds of questions. I guess not.
strogey I had no idea that I had to worry about what questions I asked on here. I thought it was a place I could come to to ask these kinds of questions. I guess not.
Please let me know how it works out for you. I would ignore the comments of just leave the hobby. There are folks out there that just don't understand when someone is just venting. I understand the limited budget and the work arounds that have to be done to keep everything in budget.
I was doing a search on Fastrack switches and SC-1 controllers and I forgot about this thread froma couple of years back. My update was that I decided to give using the SC-1 controllers a try since on learning more about Fastrack switches and they are low amp draw and I got a deal on some old SC-1 units I would give them a try. Well, after having one defective unit that I had to swap out everythin works fine, except that the switches can chatter if when anything rolls through them or is parked on the anti-derail section. No one seems to know if the chatter is bad so I am real careful when running trains on my layout. I sure hope the original poster stuck around. So flame on about me using something wrong, etc. as long as you can tell me why the switches chatter now.
Fastback switches should not chatter if you park on them. You seem to be describing O27 switches, which will chatter if you park on them. As far as harm, yes, you can overheat and burn up the coil on the switch if you leave it on there long enough.
gunrunnerjohn Fastback switches should not chatter if you park on them. You seem to be describing O27 switches, which will chatter if you park on them. As far as harm, yes, you can overheat and burn up the coil on the switch if you leave it on there long enough.
Well, that is the crux of the problem. If I have something parked on them they will chatter for a little while or as the trains roll through they chatter. No one seems to know the answer so I will have to save up for an SC2 to try next I guess. I know it is strange to hear them act like o27 switches.
The SC-2 isn't going to fix that I would imagine. If the switches aren't connected to the SC-1, do they still chatter if you park on them?
No, when the SC-1 is disconnected there is no chatter. Only seems to happen with the SC-1's connected.
I may have to dig out one of the SC-1's and connect it to a Fastrack switch, I've only used the SC-2's, they work fine. I've used the SC-1 on 022 switches with no issues.
Thanks for the help. Please let me know what happens as I am very curios.
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