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TPC 300 Shutting down

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  • Member since
    July 2010
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TPC 300 Shutting down
Posted by DMNJRR on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 9:34 AM

I have an old Lionel Chessie T1 with Railsounds.  When I try to run it on a track powered through TPC300's, the TPC will constantly shut down (voltage drops to zero). It only happens with this engine and it happens with all three TPCs.

Has anyone else had any issues with their TPCs shutting down?

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  • From: Schenectady NY
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Posted by jimsrpo on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 1:27 PM

 There have been reports of TPCs shutting down temporarily when running older, open frame motor engines. It happens with my postwar 736 Berkshire. The explanation I've heard is that the voltage spikes associated with these motors are interpreted by the TPC electronics as an overload situation.

 Jim

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Posted by DMNJRR on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 2:15 PM

My TPC's basically shut down. You can start them up again immediately. Would adding a capacitor to the pick-up leads stop the spikes?

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Posted by dougdagrump on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 5:41 PM

By any chance do you know anybody that operates with the TPC400 where you could try running your T-1 ? See if maybe the 400 handles it w/o shutting down like the 300.

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Posted by jimsrpo on Thursday, August 5, 2010 8:02 AM

 I should have mentioned that my experiences were with a TPC 400. Both the 300 and 400 exhibit this behavior.

Jim

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Posted by DMNJRR on Thursday, August 5, 2010 10:05 AM

I have the original Lionel T1 which is the engine made just prior to the Chessie T1 and that runs fine but I know the motor is different.

 There has to be a way to solve this! I'm suprised that Lionel is unaware of the problem.

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Posted by phillyreading on Thursday, August 5, 2010 3:06 PM

I am not sure if adding a capacitor would help you or not. Capacitors basically store a small charge of AC voltage.

I have tried adding a capacitor to a lighted passenger car(pre-war 2640) with NO success, just wasted money on parts.

Bob Nelson(lionelsoni) on here would probally know if adding a capacitor would help or not.

Lee F.

Interested in southest Pennsylvania railroads; Reading & Northern, Reading Company, Reading Lines, Philadelphia & Reading.
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Posted by SD-40T-2 on Thursday, December 2, 2010 2:28 PM

My TPC 400  does the same thing I have the lionel legacy #900  when i push boost  the train start then stops and  hesitate to move again  i have the TPC 400  and the 180 watt power house why is that  i wired every thing correctly i have the TPC 400  programd as tr 1  i have the  Lionel O, 6-28318, Conrail Heritage SD70 ACe Diesel Locomotive w/Legacy

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