I looked and didn't seem to find anything similiar to this on the forum, sorry if I'm beating a dead horse or anything.
I'm going to start soon on my own layout in a spare room in the second floor of the house seeing as I haven't gotten the basement dry enough for my satisfaction. I don't have any command control engines, all my power is postwar or Williams.

My question is: If I wire up my new layout in blocks and with a common ground, can I run TMCC conventional only on two seperate unconnected "ovals" of track?

Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Well - it has been covered - a lot - but it is very confusing. There is an explination on the Lionel website that is:

"If you want to do this... you need this..." but it is somewhat convoluted too.

I am not sure what you mean by TMCC Conventional. If you mean conventional locomotives controlled by TMCC - then - yes - you can. You would either need:

A Cab-1, Command Base and 2 TPC300 or TPC400 (depending on the maximum power you want to deliver to each loop - 300 or 400 watts). This would also let you control TMCC locos, Limited TMSS COntrol of Lecacy locomotoves and conventional control of MTH PS2 locos with one button access to functions like couplers.

OR

A Cab-1 and 2 Power Masters - one for each loop. That would give you conventional control of both loops from the Cab 1. It will NOT give you command control of TMCC Locos, nor will it give you the expanded control of MTH PS-2 Locos. Adding a Command Base will give you command control of TMCC locos on both loops, but not change the control of PS2.


You could also substitue a Legacy System for a Cab-1 and Command base - but you would have to use the TPC300/400's (Legacy will not work with the PowerMaster at this time).

OR

You could use the MTH DCS system of a Controller and TIU (Track Interface Unit). No Powermasters or TPC300/400 needed.

That would give you:

Remote control of Conventional Locomotives on two loops.

Complete command control of PS2 Locos

Command control of TMCC locos and Basic (TMCC Level) remote control Legacy locomotives (except for the enhanced features of Legacy).

If it were me - having the experience of using all three - I would either opt for the MTH system or go the Legacy route.

In ALL cases - you are still going to need some sort of a power source deilvering 18 VAC @ preferably at least 135 - 180 watts (or more).

When you decide which one to get - come back for questions on how to wire it. I think that the MTH DCS might be the easiest - but not by much. The major thing is that it is ferwer components, and it can pretty much do everything you need now and for the forseeable future except for the advanced Legacy features.

Sorry, I'm wanting to run conventional engines with a remote control if I can.

I think I would still use the DCS - by the time you add things up - the $ difference is going to be small and the complexity because of the fewer number of devices much less. The only caveat is there can be greater wiring considerations for DCS - especially on a large Layout - but starting from scratch it isn't a big deal.

Thanks, the DCS seems to be simplest in explaination. What kind of wiring considerations do I need to start thinking about?

So - let's do some math.

DCS "system" (Controller & TIU) = List Price $299

Cab 1, Command Base & 2 x TPC 300 = List price - $147.99 + 2 x $147.99 = $443.97

Legacy & 2 x TPC 300 = List price - $299.99 + 2 x $147.99 = $595.97

Cab 1, 2 x PowerMaster = List price $79.99 + 2 x $64.99 = $209.97

The PowerMasters are most like to be come unusable the soonest.

This could aslo be influenced by what you have - or if you have - a power source.

If you don't have one - you could use a modern ZW $429 and either a Cab-1/Command Base or a Legacy - (no PowerMaster or TPC's needed for conventional - but no PS2 enhanced command) - That would give you 360 watts of power.

OR

A MTH Z-4000 - $429.95 (400 watts) and a Z-4000 Remote Receiver for $39.95 and a DCS Remote for $149.95 (there is also a Z-4000 Remote Control system for $79.95 - but those are basically obsolete and of limited availability)

quote:

Originally posted by L & N grandson:
Thanks, the DCS seems to be simplest in explaination. What kind of wiring considerations do I need to start thinking about?

Depends on the layout size somewhat - you should first look here:

DCS Manual

and then read "Barry's 10 Commandments"
- especially if it is a larger layout.

The wiring considerations for TMCC are not as demanding - basically the same as a conventinal layout.

Looking over it all - even with the possiblility of more stringent wiring requirements - I think the most bang for the buck is with a DCS system and an appropriate power source.

Looks like I some more research to do, but I'm starting to like the DCS option alot better than the TMCC one.

You don't need all of that stuff for a TMCC solution. You need a CAB-1, a CommandBase, a TPC300, no need at all for the TPC400, and a Track Power Controller. The track power controller is essential a switch to let you go from one loop to the other. If you want to run both loops at the same time, however, you would need two TPC 300's, and not the Track Power Controller. You could also purchase two PowerMasters, and a CAB-1, as long as either loop does not draw more than 7 amps maximum. No CommandBase with the two PowerMasters, as they act like a CommandBase to some degree. In either case, you run a wire from each loop's outer rail to the Command Base, or in the second case one wire from each loop's outer rail to the screw on the PowerMaster. It really is simple. This will let you run ANYBODIES CONVENTIONAL locomotives in conventional mode. For any case, TMCC or DCS, you need a transformer powerful enough for the trains you plain to run. Please excuse typos, it is very late for me. Good Luck, and let us know what you decide. If you haved questions for me, I will do my best to follow up and through. Welcome to the hobby! Don Holdaway PDS, Look on Ebay for this stuff, you may save a whole lot of money that way!

Yeah, I ended up buying a modern ZW and a legacy. Thanks.