Zeke,
TMCC CAN (get that into your mind) run postwar engines!
You need a poswermaster or tpc for each BLOCK you have, you address the block with the cab 1, and whatever pw engine is in that BLOCK will respond.
Example: If you had just had 2 mainlines, connected with 2 switches. You put a insulated track pin into the center rail of one of the switches, connect a poswermaster or tpc to each track, because both mainlines now are independent. Now say you have 1 pw loco on both tracks, but you only want to run one, you press TR 1 on the cab 1, and turn the throttle, only the engine on track 1 will go.
Using both methods( blocks or adding chips ) has their advantages. The advantage of using block means you dont have to rewire your nice pw engine's wiring. The disadvantage is you have to have a tpc for each mainline(not really much of a disadvantage).
If I was you, zeke, I would go with the block method, its more simple.
Grayson
"Lionel trains are the standard of the world" - Jousha Lionel Cowen
ok, i think maybe 2 or less/more yrs down the road i will take the plunge, this gives me time to buy up all the equipment needed. Also to buy new tmcc equipped engines....
so can you run postwar stuff on tmcc, it says only tmcc equiped?
if you can is it a simple little chip or something to add on to the engine?
thanks guys i was just really looking into it. and youve provided great info...thanks
Zeke, One more link.
http://www.lionel.com/ForTheHobbyist/Findex.cfm
Go to Getting Started, then Lionel Technology, then TMCC. This will give you the hilights of the system.
zeke wrote:right now i will just run conventional....but as i grow in this hobby i will get that tmcc just later...unless i hit the lottery...lol
If you want to understand how TMCC works, you can take it for a test drive on the following web site:
coilcouplers.com/tmc/tmc.html
You can certainly use a PW transformer as a power source. Make sure you add quick blow fuses or circuit breakers to protect the modern electronics. Lionel does make a very nice TMCC lockon that looks like a track side structure. It's not cheap but has the protective circuitry built in stop damage from shorts/spikes/surges.
If you want to go the seperate route, Scotts Odd's and Ends has the individual components you can buy:
http://www.scottsodds-n-ends.com/products.htm
I found a few more!
Should I purchase a new or old ZW? How can I run conventional locomotives remotely using new ZW? Should I update conventional engines to command control?
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1022598/ShowPost.aspx#1022598
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1034084/ShowPost.aspx
How do I run conventional engines with DCS?
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1024179/ShowPost.asp
................
In conclusion....in a nutshell DCS and TMCC both can cost hundreds of dollars if you want to run conventional engines via a remote. There are only two ways to have multiple trains running. First is to use blocks. This is the old fashioned way and costs are fairly low (just wiring and a few switches). The second is to run command locomatives in a command environment. The command environment costs $100 - $300. Adding command to locomotives usually cost about $100 each.
Jim H
Check these out from the FAQ.
GENERAL WIRING TIPS
Final wiring/layout pics
How do I safely wire and power blocks? How do I run multiple trains?
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/766075/ShowPost.aspx
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1006444/ShowPost.aspx
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1023822/ShowPost.aspx
lionel transformers
How do I/How much does it cost to add TMCC (command control) to non TMCC (conventional control) engines? adding TMCC to non TMCC engines
No zeke, they werent links. Buying tmcc now will pay off in the future. The command set is just about $110. When you said "interesting....sounds expenisve" I laughed and laughed, not meaning anything bad, but it was the way you said it( or typed it), it was funny. yes, it is expensive. To get everything i told you about, it would cost about $500-600.
Good luck with your layout, by the way, hows charles doing? The zw made me remember.
interesting....sounds expensive, i actully like conventional. but i know i will outgrow that someday and want tmcc.
if those were links greyson they didnt work.
i was wondering if thats how it would work. it interesting. For right now ill stick with .......
Ok, well I'll chime in!
Zeke, you can use your zw.
Operating Conventional(non tmcc) locomotives only
You need a Powermaster or track power controller(tpc)
You need a command base and cab 1.
Operating both conventional and command equipped locomotives.
You need all stated above.
Operating only TMCC locomotives.
You need a command base and a cab 1.
Controlling the entire layout switches, accessories, and routes from the cab 1.
You need a sc-2 switch and accessory controller(controls up to twelve accessories or six switches.)
Accessory switch controller( controls up to eight accessories or four switches with ten routes).
Operating track controller(lets you remotely control remote controll track and uncoupling track).
Block power controller(acts as a rotary switch to allow you to route power from and powermaster or tpc controller to your blocks of track.
Hopefully this will help zeke, if you have anymore questions, post them.
Also, your zw acts as the power sourse for the whole layout, but by having tmcc, you control the engines, switches, blocks, ect. by the cab 1 instead of using the throttle, switch levers, remote controll track sections buttons.
Let me give you Lionel's analogy for tmcc: "Track power is like gas in a car, it gives you the power to go but doesnt tell you how fast or where to go."
Basically, if you was to run only tmcc locomotives, you plug in the command base in an outlet, hook a wire from the command base to the #2 clip on a lockon or the ground post on the transformer( in your case a pw zw), turn the throttle on your zw to full, your engine will sit there until you give its ID number and turn the throttle on the cab 1.
TMCC is really just a wireless control. You can use one of the 180 watt transformer bricks from lionel, or you can use your ZW. You set your voltage up high and leave it (whichever you choose), and use the remote to control the train. The train has to have a TMCC receiver in it. Some lionel trains come with it, or you can install a third party receiver in almost any train. Each train is "entered" into the TMCC remote and addressed as train 1, train 2, etc. you Punch in which train number you want to control on the fly. Train 1 can be started, set to move forward, and left to run unattended. Then you select train 2 and set it to blaze around the track. Whatever you want...
You can also control track switches and accessories. There is a limit to how many switches you can run, but it seems to be a pretty high number.
TMCC doesn't operate MTH DCS trains, but MTH can run TMCC equipped trains. Many people run both systems.
I don't have either, so someone else can chime in!
Wes
okay heres my question: I am trying to grasp this whole tmcc thing.I understand the advantages and i like that. But I like my zw , now is the tmcc system a transformer too or can you still use your old stuff? and do you have to have special engines to run on them or can anything be ran? I like the convetional zw transformer. But being able to have multiple trans on one track system is cool too. so how do you know which is best for what you want?
I know some of this is personal preference but im trying to grasp this power deal....thanks
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month