TMCC Operating Track Controller (OTC)

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I was shopping online, and had one of these in my “Basket”, but decided to look at the Owner’s Manual first. Glad I did!

I have a CAB-1 and 2 Powermasters to run two layout sections. I power it all with a postwar ZW and a 1033. It works just fine with all the non TMCC engines. I did not need a Command base.

The manual for the OTC said: (And these are all “cut & paste” to avoid errors)

  1. Use a separate accessory transformer to power your OTC,

Note that they do not say this is optional. Do you Really need a dedicated transformer to run this? I thought I would just connect it to the accessory wire that powers all the switches and other accessories. That is a very odd requirement.

  1. Do not connect this terminal to the outside rail

They are talking about the “U” terminal on the transformer. Also known as “Common/Ground”. If I use the accessory wire that is presently in use, somewhere the “U” terminal will be connected to the outside rail. They don’t explain what this is for?

  1. To receive your commands, the OTC will need to communicate with the Command Base.

This is the clincher. I don’t suppose there is a way around this? They really know how to complicate a relatively simple process. I see in the catalog that the ASC (Accessory Switch Controller) and the SC-2 (Switch Controller) descriptions both say the Command base is needed. Not so for the description for the OTC. I wonder how many people bought it only to find they need all this other stuff to run it.

I think I will keep my hard wired buttons, thank you.

2

Bob, it is not really that complicated. You just need to plug the command base into AC power and connect one wire to the center rail feed and you are ready to go.The list price is less then $75.00 and you normally can buy them for less then list.

3

Don’t assume that the U transformer terminal is the common. That is true for the ZW and other multiple-control transformers, but not true for the 1033 and other single-control transformers.

4

In order to control 2 uncouple/unload tracks, I need:

A new transformer: 6-32923 for $37. in the 2007 catalog.

Command base: $74.

Wire for cmd base 6-14191 $11.

The OTC itself: $79.

Total: $201 plus shipping. Not enough “bang” for the buck IMHO.

It would eliminate 2 wires from the pushbutton controllers, but add the transformer wires and the cmd bass cable. Net gain/loss = zero regarding wires.

Sad to say, it ain’t gonna happen. Now it is on to the next project.

5

Reason I was looking into remotely controlling the unloading function of the 65530 track was that I usually walk around with the CAB-1 to be sure that the operating cars are properly centered on the track before unloading their cargo. But then I would have to walk back to where the uncopupling track controllers were. I wound up installing a very small dpst momentary toggle switch near where the action is. The wiring was fairly simple. It is basically in parallel with the controller contacts. Problem solved.