Toy train operating and collecting

Thanks for all the help! Looks like this is the way to go! Is EBay my best for finding a used system for a decent price? Only need CAB ! controller and power master along with from what I am reading a cable to connect powermaster to the transformer? Thanks again for everyones help. This is going to be cool! Oh, one more question........will the basic system still control forward and reverse, along with the whistle?

Ken

 Basic system controls anything the transformer can.  I would find a reputable local dealer or one of the well known mail order dealers for the best price and to get the warranty (e.g., Island Trains, Charles Ro,etc.).  These are inexpensive items when bought at a discount dealer $50-70 each, and it's not worth the hassle of dealing with possibly defective, non-warranteed eBay purchase, IMO.

The MTH Z400 transformer used to havewireless hand held controls for conventional operation. They are out of production now but can still be found on Ebay and at swapmeets fro about $80.00. I have four of these for my two Z4000's and love them! I wish MTH would resume production of them as an alternative to buying the DCS system. They work with every loco I own!

Well after all the info I got from you guys I finaly asked my local train store if they new of any of this CAB 1 stuff available. Low and behold, they had a started set available. Drove to Portland and picked it up. Got it home and discovered that it has a comand base, not a Powermaster! I do not own a TMC engine and most likely never will. Now I am stuck with this comand base and still have to get a powermaster so that I can run my conventional trains!

Lesson learned...never believe that you have asked enough questions!

The rheostat does not require a powermaster...;-)

I have acquired in my buying used Realtrax, a MTH controller that controls the track voltage of a transformer.  Never have used it but have it stored away.  I think it was MTH's early answer to remote control trains.  

I had one of these once but found it had hardly if any distance range. Unless you were sitting directly on top of the reciever end of things it was uneffective. Maybe I just had a bad unit or then again, maybe that it is why they are no longer made!

Have a couple of "feelers" out to see if any of the EBay shops are willing to give me some credit in trade towards the Powermaster. Was realy excited about getting it hooked up this weekend!

 I wouldn't be in a hurry to "give" the command base away.  You might decide you like remote control and it is needed to operate accessories and switches remotely.

jefelectric:

 I wouldn't be in a hurry to "give" the command base away.  You might decide you like remote control and it is needed to operate accessories and switches remotely.

 You will need both, I control my Atlas switches this way and it works great.

Strogey,

Check out www.coilcouplers.com , they have an excellent tutorial on installation & operation of the TMCC system. They pretty much walk you thru the operation of both conventional locos and TMCC locos.

OK...one last question and then hopefully we can put this post to bed for good. I now have all parts needed to power my conventional trains with TMC except for the power adapter cable which should be here any day now. So my question is this....nowhere can I find a wiring drawing to put this all together. All the documentation assumes that one is using one of the power house or ZW transformers. I understand that the power adapter cable connects my MRC transformer to the power master. Now if I am guessing right, the A & U terminal on the powermaster connect to the track, correct? And if I later decide to add the power base to control switches or whatever, how does it connected to the power system and to the individual modules?

Thanks guys! You have been an awesome source of information.

strogey:

Now if I am guessing right, the A & U terminal on the powermaster connect to the track, correct?

 Yes.  "A" to clip 1 one the Lockon, "U" to clip 2.

strogey:

And if I later decide to add the power base to control switches or whatever, how does it connected to the power system and to the individual modules?

The Command Base is simply a one-wire connection affair.  The "U" terminal on the command base simply connects to the nearest layout common ground connection - usually the "U" terminal of(SW, KW, V, Z, VW, ZW, eg.) multi-train transformers or a nearby "clip 2" on a lockon.  Plug the included "wall-wart" ac adaptor into the AC mains(grounded duplex or terminal strip), and you are ready to go.

Rob

Adapter cable from TRAINZ came today and YES...we are in business! You guys are the best. Now all I need to do is incorporate some bridge rectifier speed control on the hills and we are in business. Dang, this means I am going to have to start doing scenery again!

Thanks again everyone!

strogey:

...Now all I need to do is incorporate some bridge rectifier speed control on the hills and we are in business...

If you are ready, you can actually use assorted PM-1 PowerMasters for your grades set to different voltage levels.  You can power them all from the same transformer or from other transformers properly phased, without the shorting problem associated with conventional multi-tap transformers.  This might give you more flexibility,  & definitely more speed-steps.

Rob