Is It Possible To Operate My PW Lionel With A Cab-1 Controller?

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Hello All:

I own PW Lionel trains that I have set up for the grandkids, and they are at an age where they love them. In attending shows I see the new hand held controllers (I only mentioned cab-1 controllers because I see them referenced often, are there others?) that people are using on new layouts. My question is if it is possible or practical to think I can use such a system with my old ZW / KW transformers and my PW locomotives? Is it necessary to add electronics to my old locos? What is the most practical approach to adding such a hand held system to my layout? Thank you for sharing any experiences you may have had with such a conversion.

Michael

2

I run mostly postwar engines, and I use the cab-1 controller. What you need to make it work with your ZW or KW is a Powermaster and a Powermaster cable (can’t recall what Lionel calls it, it’s about $15 I think) for each throttle you want to use, and the cab-1. One cab-1 will work with multiple Powermasters, but you can use multiple cab-1s if you want to let two people run 2 trains for example.

The powermaster cable hooks up to you transformer where your track currently does. Then the Powermaster plugs into the cable. Then you hook the track up to the two screw terminals on the Powermaster.

After you get it all hooked up, you need to program each Powermaster, which assigns it a number from 0 to 9. I don’t recall the specifics, but it’s about a 1/2 dozen keystrokes on the remote, and flipping a switch on the Powermaster unit.

Once the Powermasters are programmed, you’re ready to run trains! You press the button on the remote, what number Powermaster you want to control, and then turn the knob. (don’t forget the transformer lever has to be turned up to an appropriate voltage)

Things I’ve picked up over the past few years of using this setup is:

Adding a lighted LTC lockon made the sound buttons a bit more reliable.

Using the bell button sounds the postwar whistles better than the whistle button.

You can adjust the throttle on the ZW to a lower voltage to limit the maximum speed if little ones are going to play with the remote. I usually set the handles to about 18 volts, but lower it to about 12 when little hands are involved, especially if newer can motored engines will be run.

The Powermaster cable has an inline fuse holder in it. Get some extra fuses (don’t recall the size, perhaps 7.5 amps?) for it

This method runs the trains the same as using the throttles on your ZW, meaning it varies the voltage going to the track. It doesn’t allow you to vary the speed of multiple

3

Let me amplify on the previous response. A $79 Powermaster (I’m quoting list prices) will do the job, as stated. It’s also possible to use, instead, a Lionel TPC-300 ($170), which also lets you control the track power wirelessly, and gives smoother operation at low speeds. The Powermaster can control up to 180 watts of power; the TPC-300 can control 300 watts, for more growth potential for a layout.

In addition to the CAB-1, Lionel is producing a newer wireless control product, the Legacy system (sometimes called CAB-2). Engines with Legacy features have more bells and whistles (e.g., quiling whistle). CAB-1 isn’t manufactured anymore, but they can sometimes be picked up on e-bay. If you want to stay current with the technology, CAB-2 Legacy (product 990; $350) is the way to go.

With either of these devices, you can control conventional locomotives wirelessly, because they allow you to change the voltage going to the track, just like the handles on your ZW do. But, just like the ZW, you can only run one conventional locomotive on one track block.

With Legacy, if you have TMCC or Legacy equipped locomotives, you can control multiple locomotives on one track, because they get their commands by radio control, not from the (constant 18v) track power. This makes for interesting operations. Check out the latest Lionel catalogs for prices, options, equipment, etc. Hope this helps.

Bob Anderson

4

To use the Legacy remote with PowerMasters, the PowerMaster Bridge is another required component not needed with CAB-1 operation.

5

Another point of clairfication - the Powermaster Bridge is only needed when using the Power Master with the Legacy system. The TPC (Track Power Controller) 300 or TPC 400 connect directly to the Legacy system.

I am running Legacy with a TPC 400 to control my conventional locomotives. I learned early on that the TPC does not play well with a CW80 power supply. I had very erratic operation when I tried this combination. I ended up using a 180 watt Powerhouse power supply, though experments with a postwar vintage 1033 as a power supply worked OK.

Good luck.

6

Note that you can’t use the PowerMaster Bridge and the CAB1 connected to the Legacy base at the same time, they’ll fight it out. Many folks that have a CAB1 and base connect that to the Legacy base to allow them to have another remote to run TMCC equipment.

7

When Lou Kovach first developed the TPCs, I used them to operate my conventional locomotives. The advantage, in addition to using a walk-around handheld remote, was the additional speed steps of the TPC which enabled much smoother start and run on my early Williams and Lionel engines. Initially linked to a pw ZW but later used PoHos.

8

Thank you all for the responses to my question. My other thought is if there is another hand held unit that can operate my Lionel PW but be less expensive? MTH or Williams have a controller that could be utilized in my situation?

Thank You: Michael Demianiuk

9

There’s not a cheaper alternative to operate Lionel TMCC. If you happen to have the MTH DCS Controller, you can use that with a TMCC command base connected through it. The full MTH DCS system costs as much as the Legacy, so that’s not saving money.

10

The extra speed steps of the TPC sound nice, but I have heard tell that the TPC does not play well with Pullmor motors? Has anyone experienced this?

11

I don’t see any issues with the TPC-300 and Pulmore motors, but that’s just a sample of one.