TMCC.. Which Controller?

[Anonymous]

I found a Tmcc Command and Control 6-12969 set at the only Lionel shop around here today. I bought it for 80.00 and yes it is new. This shop is very small and not knowledgable at all about tmcc. My question is which controller do I need? I will be powering this section with an old zw I have. I have 4 totally separate tracks that are wired in blocks. I will be running all conventional locos, Lionel , Williams, as I do not currently own any tmcc locos or any MTH ps1 or PS2. But I may buy some PS2 in the future. At first I only want to power one track with this and run in conventional mode i.e. variable track voltage. Do I need a Powermaster 6-12867 or TPC 300 or 400. And what are the advantages and disadvantages of each. I went to the Lionel and the coilcouplers websites and there is some help but you guys use this stuff and I think know more about it. Also I will need cabling to connect all this. As always cost is somewhat of an issue. Thanking yall in advance..Tim

[rlplionel]

Tim, I use the 12867 in conjunction with my postwar ZW and Lionel's remote control to operate the conventional locomotives on my layout. You will also need a 12893 Power Adapter Cable if you do not already have one. I do not know if this setup will operate MTH PS2 locomotives as there are none in my fleet.

[MartyE]

If you are planning to buy PS2 engines in the future your best bet is the TPC series. They will give you the ability to access the conventional features of the PS2 engines from the Cab 1. The Powermasters do not.

The TPCs will automatically send the needed series of horn/ whitsle combinations that PS2 uses in conventional to fire couplers, activate the sounds etc.

I personally have never used it as I run all command but if it were me and I was going conventional the TPCs are the way to go. They also are able to have finer speed steps for PW and conventional engines.

My 2 cents.

[Anonymous]

Another advantage of the TPC is that you can send more power through it to the tracks, even in command mode. If you've got a power district connected to a TPC, you can send up to 300 watts of power though it to that district. This would be necessary if the district were large enough to accomodate a long string of passenger cars lit with light-bulbs with an ABBA lashup up front, and maybe a long freight behind that with another ABBA lashup.

Tony

[eZAK]

In your case I would also go with a TPC 300 or 400 depending on you layout size and power demands.(mind your wattage usage!)
Also you may need a BPC (block power controler). With this you can control up to 4 blocks & 2 TPC's.(or 4 TPC's & 2 blocks)
With out this you will have to tie all the blocks together.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the good info guys...Tim

[Anonymous]

I got a star I got a star. I got a star. What does that mean ? Something good?

[Anonymous]

pigseyes:

Just that you've posted 50 times to the forum. Other stars come at 100, 500, 1000, and 2000, I think

Tony

[ChiefEagles]

Pigseye, congrats old man. Glad to see that. I think you will eventually end up with DCS to run the PS2 and get all of its features. With DCS, you need the Lionel control module and connector cable and then you can run TMCC tains with DCS remote. Spankybird or Jim Duda are the experts ont his [along with others here]. I'm just getting the hang of DCS. I'll get Spankybird [Tom] and Jim to varify this.
Frank

[spankybird]

HI all,

If you are planning on buying PS2 engines and run them in command mode, you will need DCS. You already have the TMCC commode base, so by adding it to the DCS (TIU with one cable to the TMCC command unit) you can run both TMCC and DCS in commanded mode and also conventional mode.

This may be a better way for you to go.

The TMCC system can only run PS2 engines in conventional mode.

BTW there are some great buys on PS2 engines now, as low as $200.00 for a fully commanded controlled engine.