Toy train operating and collecting

I am thinking about purchasing a Block Power Controller for my TMCC system, so I won't have to buy any more TPC's. I will be controling two blocks of track. My question is, in the Lionel catalogs and on their website, they state the BPC can route power from two or four TPC's. Can the BPC route power from just one TPC and control two blocks of track? I have a single TPC 400 and I don't think I'll need more than 400 watts of power on my layout, so I wouldn't think there would be any need to buy an additional one if I don't need it.

Any thoughts?

SchemerBob wrote:

I am thinking about purchasing a Block Power Controller for my TMCC system, so I won't have to buy any more TPC's. I will be controling two blocks of track. My question is, in the Lionel catalogs and on their website, they state the BPC can route power from two or four TPC's. Can the BPC route power from just one TPC and control two blocks of track? I have a single TPC 400 and I don't think I'll need more than 400 watts of power on my layout, so I wouldn't think there would be any need to buy an additional one if I don't need it. Any thoughts?

Block control reverses the way most people would look at a classic toy train layout.  You establish sections of track (called blocks) that you then have control swithces that allow you to select the power supply being routed to a particular block.  This keeps you from tying more than one supply to a particular block of track (the conrol switches are not rooted to the power supply, they are rooted to the block of track). 

Let's say you have two power supplies labeled 1 and 2 and lets say you have a two blocks of track called A  and  B.  You set up a selector switch from each section of track that is labeled  1, 2, off.  You throw the switch for block A to accept power from power supply 1.  As the train moves through block A and approaches block B, you throw the selector switch for block B to be power supply one.  The train moves from block A to block B under control of power supply one.  After it leaves block A you can power block A down or set it to power supply two.

A block power controller is just a TMCC device that mimics the selector switches.  It is meant to route power from two power supplies (aka two TPC's) to four blocks of track.  Or, from  two blocks of track to four power supplies.

Using a PBC to try and route power froma single supply (aka a single TPC) doesn't make sense to me.  If you only have two "blocks" and one power supply, you really only have one block.

There is a diagram on the coilcouplers site that tries to illustrate this principal as opposed to the diagrams in the owners manual that is usually more confusing.

http://www.coilcouplers.com/tmc/tmcc-survey.html

You have to advance through the material to get to the BPC. 

 how big is each block. if you plan on adding tracks and sidings you may want to consider a second tpc and power source to increase your options. do you run conventional or command only or both.  

My layout is basically two ovals which will someday be connected by a switch. I am also thinking of putting TrainMaster command on my traveling layouts as well - this layout will have three ovals that are not connected, and I am hoping to put at least two of these ovals on TMCC. I won't be connecting any of the tracks with switches any time soon, so should I just buy another TPC and mess with the BPC later on?

chuck wrote:

If you are running straight command control you only need the one TPC and no BPC.  You can dial the voltage to whatever level you feel comfortable with and then address your loco's with the command environment.  You only need BPC's and additional TPC's if you intend to run multiple blocks under conventional control (irregardless of whether the loops/blocks are interconnected).

Well....that's kind of what I'm trying to do.  I have a two ovals of track. Right now, only one is on command, with a TPC 400. Since a TPC 400 can regulate enough power (400 watts) to control both ovals, it seems needless to add another TPC 400/300 to the other track if I can control them both with one TPC using the BPC. That's what I'm wondering. Can the BPC use just one TPC to control two ovals of track?

Can the BPC use just one TPC to control two ovals of track?

BPC's or rotary swithes or even Atlas slide "Selector" swithces have a pair of wires that go back to a given track block.  The other side of these devices point to power supplies (*note the letter s*) as in multiple power supplies.  You are selecting the power supply you want routed to a given block of track.  If you only have one power supply, you don't need a "selector" unless you consider "off" as a category. 

The command signal goes everywhere on the layout.  It can even jump an isolated loop if it's within a few feet by induction.  AKA you don't need a TPC to run command loco's.  You can just hook up a power supply and be done with it.  You can run a pair of feeds to oval/loop one, and another pair to oval/loop two.  If you run straight command control, that's it, your done.  No need for BPC's, selectors, rotaries. 

If on the other hand you are going to try and run conventional equipment, you will need one TPC or PowerMaster or tap off of a modern ZW for EACH block/loco you want to control seperately.  This is where selectors/roatries/BPC's come in handy.  You select the power supply a given block of track will be controlled by and can switch control of a block by hitting buttons on the CAB-1, sliding switches on the selector(s) or turning the dial on the rotary switches.  This ensures that only one power supply is controlling a given block of track and that you can move a train from block to block without switching power supplies/transfomers.  If used properly it will also prevent bridging two independant power supplies.  Properly means you don't throw a track turnout to route a train on power supply one onto a block controlled by power supply two.  This would be bad for both the train and possibly the power supplies.

The simple answer to your questions is "yes."  With the BPC, one TPC can control two blocks of track; in fact, with the BPC, one TPC (or any other power supply) can control up to four blocks.

On my TMCC layout, I have four blocks that I power down when I park trains on them.  I use one BPC to toggle power on and off to each of the four blocks.  Originally, I used switches at my control panel; now I can control this from anywhere in my train room, just as I can control everything else--trains, turnouts, accessories, etc.

Cheers!

Keith