Running Command Loco’s and non Command in the same block is “challenging”. Lionel calls this “transitional control”. The only real issue is that as you throttle down a conventional loco, you are also lowering power to the command engines as well. They may stall out. If you don’t want to run the command stuff, power down the TIU or Command Base. You shouldn’t need to wire in any kind of cutover switch. The Command loco’s revert to conventional operation if they don’t hear/see their “carrier signal” from the command unit (Command Base/TIU) when they are first powered up.
Hello Chuck:
First, thanks for the continued feedback. Your information has been very educational. Second, how do you power down the TIU? I have two principal loops. The first is powered by Fixed 1 of the TIU and the second is powered by Fixed 2. Since the TIU gets its power from Fixed 1, isn’t the TIU always going to be on? Do you just set one of the variable outputs as fixed while powering the TIU with another transformer?
Thanks,
John O
One easy way to modulate speed with “the handles” while running command engines is to tell the engines in command to go high speed speed (say 70mph on DCS, many rotations on TMCC). Then change speeds with the handles. The engines will speed up and slow down as you operate the handles that change the voltage. You still need the remote for whistle, bell, and direction changes.
I run through the fixed ports on my DCS TIU and hand the remote to the kids. Then I throttle back the throttle voltage to limit the top speed.
I run only one block on my layout. I run TMCC and DCS signal controllers. For fun I will run one TMCC engine, one PS2.0 engine (or more), and one conventional engine. It takes quite a balance act to keep them apart and that is the fun of it. Of course sometimes I have to hit the emergency stop button when things get to hectic. Often my son will run the TMCC engine, and I the PS2.0 engine(s).
Jim H
You can’t run a conventional loco off of Fixed One (or Fixed Two) since these will always run at whatever volatge is input. You can run the TIU off of an auxiliary power supply. If you do this and don’t access the fixed ports AND have an external adjustable power supply (aka a variable transformer) to power the tracks, you should be OK.
I KNOW you can bypass the command environement in TMCC by simply removing the antenna wire from the command base. This will allow you to even run Command equipped loco’s run under conventional control without powering down the command base (aka you can retain control of TPC’s and other serial connected devices like ASC’s.
Use to do it all the time. The transformer handle regulates the voltage thru the TIU to the track.
If you use a variable tap transformer you can vary the voltage BUT, how do you disable the DCS signal so a PS-2 loco doesn’t run in Comand mode? If you don’t use Fixed one and don’t use the AUX power input wil the TIU stay “Off”? Under TMCC, if you do’t connect the antenna feed on the Command base to anything, there won’t be any command signal on the track and the command loco’s will revert to conventional operation (you also can’t access SC-2’s). You can control TPC’s and other former IC control devices as they use the RS-232 port to receive commands.
Hello Chuck:
You can, via the DCS remote, tell the engine to run in conventional mode. Then, you can use the throttle handle to control the speed of the PS2 (and any other conventional engines) on the layout. However, the keystrokes to put the engine into conventional mode, and then to put it back into command mode caused me to consider having a dpdt switch to just bypass the TIU for those sessions when I want to use the transformer throttle instead of the remote.
Regards,
John O
Ditto - you just can not control the voltage via the remote. You must use the transformer handles.
Jim H
OK, this seems kind of crazy to me, but does any one know if this setting is stored in the loco or in the remote? AKA Am I telling my Remote/TIU to pretend this isn’t a command loco or am I telling the loco to pretend it isn’t a command loco? Does this setting carry over from operating session to operating session? If so, it would explain some of the odd behavior on engines I’ve seen at the local shop.
Hello Chuck:
While I am certainly no expert, I believe the information is in the loco. However, I also believe that subsequent to shutting down the power to the loco, the loco will revert to command mode automatically. Thus, the next time you start up your transformers, the engine will automatically be in command mode. But, it would not be the first time I was wrong…
We could try it and see what happens…
Regards,
John O
Hey Chuck:
I tried it out last night. I put a loco into conventional mode and just utilized the throttle on the transformer. The engine functioned as a regular conventional locomotive. However, if you shut down the power from the transformer, after a short period, the loco automatically reverts to command mode the next time the transformer is powered up.
Regards,
John O
John, did I read back some that you are powering your TIU with the fixed power outlet??? If so, go to Radio Shack and get a little transformer [think it is a 12/18V] with a set of plugs. It will have a plug to fit the AUX power outlet and they are cheap.
OK, that’s a good news/bad news kind of thing. Good that it doesn’t get stuck, bad because it’s a pain in the * to reset without powering down or going through remote control key press gyrations. I guess it would have been nice to have an actual “kill” switch on the TIU so you could just run in conventional.
Hello Chuck:
That is why I want to get a switch to bypass the TIU.
Hello Chief:
I have the a Z-1000 that I could plug directly into the TIU. If I understand you correctly, I would just move from the fixed 1 to the variable 1 and bypass the port that powers the TIU. But I am also going to use the 14V accessory port on the Z-1000 to power some accessories. Since this tranformer will always be on, I would still need to have some sort of switch between the Z-1000 and the TIU, correct? In addition, since I wanted the flexibility of using a throttle, I want to use a refurbished TW to power the inner loop, so a dpdt switch will be needed to alternate between the other output of my Z-4000 and the TW.
Regards,
John O