@tylertrainman posted:What does it cost to convert a Lionel post war diesel or steam to dcc?
what equipment do you need to control the engine?
I am trying to see if I want to stay conventional or get TMCC on my Lionel O gauge. if Dcc is cheaper and just as good i may go that route.
I don't have TMCC or any rempte control except for a steam and a diesel Loinchief to see what the noise is about. I love the sounds but can live with transformer control of the engines.
As for which one costs less, it really depends on the number of locomotives you are going to convert. The TMCC command base and remotes are cheaper, by almost a factor of 3, then DCC. But the basic electronics to convert the locomotive to DCC is cheaper. The only thing is that the locomotive has to have a DC can motor in it. If it's got an AC motor in it then TMCC is the only option for you for command upgrade. But it does not take much to make a DCC conversion to cost the same as a TMCC upgrade.
For the equipment, for TMCC you need a command base and remote for the layout, and then electronics in each locomotive. For DCC you'll need a remote, command base, and booster for the layout. Locomotives also need electronics. And then there is programming involved to get the locomotive to preform as you want.
