Hello all, I’ll try to keep this question as short yet concise as possible.
U shaped loop of three rail tinplate track approximately 60 feet in length, bus fed power drops soldered in every 4 or 5 sections and powered by the A side of a KW. Several O22 switches with fixed voltage from a 1033. Both transformers common U terminals linked together. Was using a powermaster set in conventional mode and cab-1 to remotely run conventional trains, and it worked perfectly.
Thanks to a forum member, I have a TMCC Century Club 2 ABA sharknose set on its way in the mail. In preparation for command operations I hooked the powermaster and base-1 unit to a 135 watt powerhouse, and removed the KW from the bus that feeds the track.
Now, when I checked the operation, I select TR1 and spin the knob clockwise, like I would to run a conventional locomotive, but nothing happens. No power whatsoever is being supplied to the track, and 10 seconds later the powerhouse pops its circuit breaker. What am I missing? Is it because the soon to be command loop & its powerhouse aren’t isolated from the KW and 1033’s commons? Does the powerhouse need to be phased with the KW & the 1033?
I’m not sure what the problem is, since the loop was working so well with the KW.
A bonus question... provided I figure out my first problem. Do I really need the TMCC direct lockon or TPC for the command loop & its powerhouse once I move the powermaster to a different conventional locomotive only & powerhouse fed loop? With so many power drops on the command loop, it seems like it’d be a shame to have a large loop powered by only 1 lockon.
Thanks in in advance for any insight you may have!
Tom
