I'm completely stumped as to how to wire up a tpc-300. I've read the directions but it is for bricks. I have a old type zw,tpc cableset wires and a command base. How do you wire the command base to the tpc-300? And how do you get to track power? I've seen no wiring diagrams that help. Do you still need the command base?

Phil,

There are six screws on the back starting on the left,
the first 2 are power from the zw (hot-nuetral)
the second set goes to the track (u-a)
third set is from the commnd base db-9 connector(dat-com) (red-green wires)

Hope this helps you!


Doug

You also need to connect the circular post on the Command Base to the outside rails of the track. I have found it convienent to make the connection on the TPC rather than the track.

If you go by calling the connection on the left '1' and the right '6', the posts '2' and '3' are directly connected to each other, and normally '2' would be 'U' and '3' would be outer rails. I connect the circular post on the command base to '3', since I have that connected to the outer rails.

The db-9 trnlvr refers to is a nine pin connector on the Command Base. There are three pins of that connector that ever get used, and the TPC only needs two of them. The other pin is if you want to send signals to the Command Base, for instance a home computer or an action recorder (ARC). If you buy the cable from Lionel the colors will be red and green. If you cut apart a serial cable, for instance the cable that used to go between your modem and PC, you will have to do some detective work.

You can find the cable at your LHS or on eBay. There are two or three variations, I think short and long two wire, and three wire for the ARC, cannot remember the part numbers. I found out about the three wire ARC cable because I bought it by mistake.

Philip,

Look on the bottom of Page 3 for a picture of connecting your power to the TPC.

Then look on the bottom of Page 7 for the rest of the connections.

http://www.lionel.com/products/productnavigator/Instruc...uals/71-4189-250.pdf

Note - the device trainluvr is describing is the TPC 3000, not 300.

The 3000 was made by IC controls and has six connections, the 300 has two more AX+ and AX-.

I was thinking of the TPC 3000 myself, that's what I have.

All comments made still apply though.

Thank you Gentlemen I've got it wired up thanks to you and your help.