TMCC help needed

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I just bought my first TMCC engine, and here is the rest of the story. Clerk in the shop tells me I have to get the TMCC Direct Lockon which he says is nothing more than a surge protector. He tells me if I so much as derail or have any other power issues I can fry the components in the engine and it will cost hundreds to fix and it won’t be a warranty repair. I say ok, what’s another $35 for insurance.
Here’s the kicker. I have a single loop track w/switches to an inner loop so its just one continuous track. He tells me now I can no longer run my conventional engines because l will have to use my transformer to speed up and slow down etc. and the current won’t be steady and it will ruin the TMCC Direct Lockon which requires a steady current.
He told me to run conventional on the track I have to buy a Double Pole/Double Throw toggle switch with 6 connections and run the power from the transformer to the center connections on the Toggle and then from one side run power to the TMCC Direct Lockon (power will then go out from the TMCC Direct Lockon to the track), and on the other side of the toggle run power directly to another section of track. I would use the toggle switch to choose between TMCC operation and conventional.
Does this sound accurate and make sense. Can’t I just hook the TMCC Direct Lockon up like it shows in the book that it came with and not worry about it when I’m running conventional? Will the fluctuation of power from running conventional destroy the TMCC Direct Lockon ?

Thanks

Oh by the way, I would appreciate posted replies copied to my e-mail, jomax9@hotmail.com
as I can’t always easily get back to the forum.

2

Sorry I can’t help you with the loco problem, but I can give you a tip on receiving an automatic notice when a reply is posted. The first step is edit your profile. Under Board Settings, check the box for “Enable ‘Email Notification’ by default?” Enabling this will give you the option to subscribe to any topic you start or reply to.
However, you must also check the box for “Notify me when a reply is posted” that is located in OPTIONS at the bottom of the message box in the “Post New Reply” page (not the quick reply).
When a reply is posted, a link in the e-mail will take you directly to the post.

If you want others to e-mail you, but you don’t want to give out your e-mail address to the whole world (especially spamers), go to edit profile, then check the box “Allow other members to contact you by email” This will add an e-mail icon at the bottom of your post, Enabling other members to send you an e-mail via the forums.

3

I’ve heard some strange ones in my time, but that takes the cake!

4

Its OK, he posted the question on the Classic Model trains forum where most of the Lionel types hang out and got all his questions answered.