TMCC Direct Lockon Question

Classic Toy Trains Forum
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I’ve got a 2-part question about using a TMCC Direct Lockon (6-34120) in conjunction with a ZW with four 180 watt PowerHouse bricks. I haven’t been able to find an answer in the Direct Lockon manual and was hoping a fellow TMCC user in the forum could give me some guidance.

Background: My medium-sized TMCC FastTrack layout is divided into 6 blocks (actually the correct term may be “districts”) for power management. I run only TMCC equipment at present, sometimes as many as 6 trains at once (hence the need for all the power). Power is presently supplied by the ZW plus 2 CW’s @80 watts nominally.

I’m thinking of replacing the CW’s with 2 more PowerHouse bricks, so I can use the former to power my accessory circuits.

Part 1: My question is whether it would be preferable to connect each new PowerHouse to its block using a Direct Lockon, or whether I’d be better off buying another ZW and connecting the PowerHouses through it.

As I understand it, the only limitation of using the Direct Lockons is that I would be forever limited to using TMCC equipment (of course provided I didn’t eventually set up a parallel DCS system to switch over to as desired).

Part 2: If I were to go the Direct Lockon route, would the TMCC Command Base necessarily need to be connected through the common of one of the lockons, or could it remain connected as presently through the ground of one of the ZW-powered blocks?

Thanks in advance for your guidance.

Bob
Houston, TX

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You only need one connection from the Command Base to the ZW to feed the layout. The only reason for an additional “jumper” is if you had a totally isolated loop (I’m not talking about iolation pins here, I mean no rails from any track coming in close proximity to the rails in another loop of track). TMCC signal is a radio signal and can jump small (and sometimes not so small) gaps by way of induction. If you want to control the voltage levels of the replacements for the CW’s either another ZW or a pair of TPC’s would be required. If you feel comfortable with unregulated 18 volts, the direct locon and 180 watt brick will work fine.

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Thanks, chuckn, I appreciate your help on this. Reading between the lines, though, it sounds to me from the standpoint of current protection the ZW might be the safer choice anyway.

Bob