I want to thank Jason and Nicole for their excellent inputs to my question, even though I kind of stepped on PJB's thread (thanks, PJB, for not getting mad).
Jim, I'm not worried about power consumption as much as I am about putting 20 amps to the track with both PHs on (actually, I will limit it to 15 amps with a quick acting fuse). While I have had no problems in the past with running trains with 20 amps to the track (no derailments), there are several forum members that have some good stories about the welding action during derailments caused by 20 amps. I plan to run trains slow and carefully when both PHs are on.
Ron
Ron,
I see what you trying to do now. I know you want to use your TPC400 but have you considered just separating your layout into two blocks. You can feed the two blocks through two channels on the TIU. This way the 10 amp power house breakers will work great for overload control. In my experience when you separate your layout into blocks correctly you seldom run into the case of two many engines in one block. Of course if you do a 10 engine lashup this probably does not apply.
The TPC400 is not used in this case which you might not want to do.
Jim
