I see this topic come up occasionally but unfortunately the options are running out. I have a Lionel Trainmaster Command system, and the transformer for the base unit is burnt out. Lionel doesn’t sell the replacements anymore, and any dealers I came across that used to carry them are out of stock. Only complete systems are available on eBay.
Lionel sells a transformer for a different system that puts out 300mA vs. 100mA on the original. Both are 12v class 2 transformers. I don’t know yet if the barrel that plugs into the base unit is the same size as the original; I’m waiting to hear from Lionel customer service about that. SO…
can I use the more powerful transformer without damaging the command base unit?
if the plugs aren’t the same size, is it easy to simply splice the plug from the old to the new?
if anyone has a working transformer they wish to sell, please let me know!
If you have a original TMCC system you can use about any transformer to it as long as you don’t add to many volts or watts. I didn’t realize they had a limit on the watts to that. the TPC did I know. I use a post war ZW with mine.
“Need help with replacement TMCC Command Base Wall Wart / Power Supply”
You will get more relevant responses.
This has nothing to do with the original inquiry, although, as TMCC/Legacy runs in passive mode, there is no built-in or constrained limit as to how much current(amperage) you can supply to the track. Even with 2500 amps at 18 volts it will all work fine, as long as you don’t ever have a short circuit. The trains will only comsume as much power as they need for operation.
Yes, if that is the only difference. The TMCC Base will only use what it needs of that power. It won’t “push” more current into the base.
Yes, except that the wire connected to the sleeve(outside of the barrel) must remain connected to the sleeve of the new barrel. This is the only “special” feature of the Lionel power supplies - the barrel has to be linked/connected/coupled to the third, (round, grounding) prong of the power supply(it is done within the wall wart enclosure) for the TMCC/Legacy signal to propagate.
There is a work-around for regular off-the-shelf wall warts with the same electrical specifications but lacking the ground pin, and therefore the coupling to the AC/house earth ground, if you come up otherwise empty-handed.
Run a wire from pin 5 of the Command Base rs-232 port to the ground screw of a nearby grounded metal duplex outlet or household electrical ground until you get the right adapter.
I’ve located a 12v, 1.67 amp three-prong power supply that has three screws (one the ground) for connecting your own wire (see URL below). If I cut the cord off the command base wall pack, is it obvious which wire goes to which terminal?
There is one problem with using pin 5 of the serial port if you run conventional locomotives (like I do) - you need to connect the serial port to a PM1 or TPC. Can you ground one of the terminals on a TPC instead?
unless it might of been in this "Lionel sells a transformer for a different system that puts out 300mA vs. 100mA on the original. Both are 12v class 2 transformers. I don’t know yet if the barrel that plugs into the base unit is the same size as the original; I’m waiting to hear from Lionel customer service about that. SO"Lionel sells a transformer for a different system that puts out 300mA vs. 100mA on the original. Both are 12v class 2 transformers. I don’t know yet if the barrel that plugs into the base unit is the same size as the original; I’m waiting to hear from Lionel customer service about that.
Back then who know what I was thinking that was less than a week since my wife had her stroke and I was running around like a chicken with his head chopped off. Things have gotten a somewhat better now
Or it could of been this statement ( can I use the more powerful transformer without damaging the command base unit? ) who knows lol.
I finally heard back from Lionel customer service and they said the SC1/SC2 wall pack (the 300mA “transformer” I mentioned above) should work for the TMCC base. I ordered if from Lionel to test it and will post the results here.
Some plugs, like those used on telephone switchboards, do have another wire, but it’s called the “ring”, because it is a narrow ring with the same diameter as the sleeve and located between the sleeve and the tip.
The two wires of a telephone line are still called “tip” and “ring”, even though the switchboard jacks that the line was wired to are long gone. The sleeve is a third wire, that existed only within the telephone exchange and was used to indicate that a line was in use.
Sorry for not responding sooner, I just came across this. I actually haven’t tested it, I moved on to other projects and have only been using my postwar transformers.
