TMCC Block Power Control BPC

[casconi]

I am wiring my layout and I want to create separte blocks so I can put trains in "holding area" of sorts. I have a mainline and I want park other TMCC trains in those sidings so I can pull out which ever train I want to operate. I have purchased a TMCC BPC to power these blocks with my remote. The instructions say I need TPC's to provide the power to these blocks. Is this true? I have a modern ZW which I was hoping to route the power from. Any advice would be helpful! Thanks

[Anonymous]

BPC's are designed to be used primarily to control conventional engines. While they can be used in conjunction with TMCC equipped loco's, they aren't needed to "hold" loco's. Under TMCC (or DCS or DCC), the tracks are all powered at a fixed voltage all the time. You select whatever locomotive you want to run by addressing it directly.

You can take the modern ZW and connect it to the BPC, but it already has the equivalent of four improved PowerMasters built in.

[wrmcclellan]

casconi,

The modern ZW has the BPCs (Actually Track Power Controllers - TPC) incorporated so you do not need separate BPCs unless your main line plus sidings exceeds the number of outputs (4) on the ZW.

Additionally this is only an issue for any conventional locos you intend to operate.

TMCC locos can idle at full track power (although on my own layout I have toggle switches on all sidings so I can power the locos down to save wear and tear on lamps and smoke units (not all Lionel smoke units power down completely when smoke is turned off - fan may still run).

If you need to power more sidings than your ZW allows, then you will need additional modern ZWs or Powermasters and TPCs for each siding you wi***o individually control the track voltage.

Regards,
Roy

[casconi]

Thanks! What I am hoping to do is have combination of TMCC and Conventional locos in the sidings. I would like to run one train on my main and have the others on the sidings. When I want to switch what train I am operating, I will pull it a siding and then turn the power off so I do not leave the engine on all the time. I will want to power up another one of the sidings with a different train and pull it out on the main. I do not want to use the other throttles from my ZW to power the separate sidings. I would to use the BPC to designate the power to the indivual blocks. Can I simply use my A throttle with the BPC to power the sidings. Toggle switches would get me this, but I would rather use my remote.

[Anonymous]

You could use two taps from the ZW to power 4 blocks. You could also consider use of other power supplies for the BPC to control, either PowerMasters or TPC' (see page 9-10 of the owners manual)..

BTW, you can use an ASC and possibly an SC-2 to switch block on/off line so long as you stay within the current limits of the internal relays. see page 15 of the ASC manual. ASC can handle 20 amps per terminal set, SC-2 15 amps per terminal set

[casconi]

So did I buy the wrong thing?

[Anonymous]

Depends on what you wanted to do. BPC is used to transfer power from block to block for controlling a conventional train as it moves from block to block. It's meant to behave like a rotary swicth/selector where you can designate a power source for a given block of track. If all you want to do is selectively enable a block, then the ASC might be a better choice. If you tied two channels of the ZW to the BPC, you could control the train as it moves from block to block.

[casconi]

Thanks for all the help. I called Lionel Tech Talk and they said the BPC will do what I need to do. I just need to hook the BPC using my ZW. They say it should work the same way! I'll give it a try!