TMCC Question

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

TMCC (not Legacy)

To get my trains to run I have to:

  1. Power on the layout
  2. From the Cab-1 press TR 1
  3. From the Cab-1 rotate the red dial till the engine lights up
  4. From the Cab-1 Press ‘Whistle/Horn’ - railsounds start
  5. From the Cab-1 Press ENG 1
  6. From the Cab-1 rotate the red dial - engine starts to move

Is this normal, or is there something I need to do/change to get the A-U and D-U tracks to power up right away? Or should I be using B-U and C-U instead?

2

I assume you are using the new ZW… If you don’t want to go through the TR part you could set your ZW to operate in manual mode…

From the manual…page 12

To assign the output ID#’s, use the special T-shaped tool (included) or any other nonmetallic
tool to press the PROGRAM button on the back of the ZW Controller. Refer to Figure 7
for the location of this button. The red light will begin to flash. On the CAB-1 Remote
Controller, press TR, enter the first ID# (1-6), and press SET. At this point, all four ID#’s have
been assigned.
If you assign ID# 0, the ZW Controller will return to manual mode. Use the handles
and levers on the ZW Controller—not your CAB-1 Remote Controller—to operate
the controller. The ZW Controller will, however, respond to the HALT command
from the CAB-1 Remote Controller. (To restore power after pressing HALT,
momentarily turn off the PowerHouse Power Supply connected to the input jacks.)

3

Thanks Marty! I wasn’t certain it was working correctly, but you have confirmed that it is.

4

You have to do all that with a new ZW? I just turn-on the layout, hit the “boost” button on the CAB1, and I’m ready to go with my good old CW80’s.

5

Likewise, with only the 180 W bricks, (no zw) it is just TR-1, boost and then I start the locomotive of my choice.

6

Joe and Buckeye… I don’t know if that would work or not. The mainlines are tore up right now for river construction, will test tonight to see if that will work.

So I should:

  1. Power on the layout
  2. From the Cab-1 press TR 1
  3. From the Cab-1 Press Boost (track 1 should have power and all engines’ RS should turn on?)
  4. From the Cab-1 Press ENG 1
  5. From the Cab-1 rotate the red dial - engine starts to move

Is there a shortcut to power on all tracks?

7

B and C channels will automatically start at full voltage or whatever you have the throttle’s set to in manual mode. A & D start at zero (unless you are in manual mode). If you run in strict command mode, you can gang all four and power them up to the same level at the same time. Then you just hit eng keys to control specific engines.

8

This will do what you want…

If you assign ID# 0, the ZW Controller will return to manual mode. Use the handles
and levers on the ZW Controller—not your CAB-1 Remote Controller—to operate
the controller.

9

I want to use the CAB-1. I understand the power up sequence, but is there a way to power up all the lines at the same time, not individually?

10

Sorry I misunderstood. None that I know of… I guess what you need is an “ALL” function.

11

Would rather a ‘read my mind’ function! [;)] Oh wait… nevermind… it would probably blow up as it wouldn’t be able to keep up. [:)]

12

Are you asking about ganging all four together to act as one?

13

Chuck,
Nope.

What I would like is:

  1. Turn on power to the layout
  2. Pickup Cab-1
  3. Press ‘All-Start’
  4. All tracks power on.
  5. Choose and engine - roll 'er out

Kind of like the HALT button, only an ‘All-Start’ (but don’t move).

14

You are running in straight TMCC mode? If you reprogram the ZW so that all four internal powermasters have the same address, then when you power up one, you are powering up all of them. The internal PM’s are acting as a lashup.

15

Chuck,
Unfortunately not. I still require the ability to run some trains in conventional.

16

Then the short answer is no. You can gang the blocks you wish to run in command mode or don’t care if the voltage varies simultaneously. I don’t know of any mechanism to power up stuff selectively other than powering them up selectively.