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I am having a problem with an IC controls  asc 3000.  My layout has a mix of 4 Lionel asc1 switch controllers and 3 asc 3000.  I added a final IC controller and a problem began,  When trying to operate a tortoise machine  the switch will throw but the led to control the voltage will blink for a second and go off.  The next two switches will not do anything but  I do hear the relay switching in the device,  I have heard of signal degradation with the IC controls when chained together,   Has anyone found a solution to this problem or should I just replace it with a Lionel asc?

Thanks,

   Narty 

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What command base are you driving them from?  If you're driving them from a Legacy or BASE1L, it doesn't have the same serial drive as the old TMCC BASE1.  In the case of the newer products, you'll need a serial port booster.

One solution to boosting the serial data is to use the Lionel 6-81326 LCS Serial Converter 2 (SER2), it provides higher serial signal drive to solve this issue.  You'll also need the  Lionel 6-81499 LCS Power Supply with DB9 Cable.

Pictured (below) would operate well, add one more device and the whole system went south.   I also had difficulty mixing newer Lionel components with older IC Control components.   The Grey cable, top of command base, lower right, supplies signal, to the (8) IC Control components, pictured.  Two components, left in picture, are Block  Power Controllers (BPC's).  Six, picture center, are (ASC)  Accessory, track Switch Controllers. Five are used for switch control, (4) switches per controller, (20 switches total)  (1), lower right, above the silver box, is used as accessory control.   All is keyed/operated from the Cab1 handheld control.   

The switches were numbered, corresponding to the TMCC remote/ASC configuration. 

The original BPC's, Block Power Controllers, were designed for 15 amp track circuits, which proved a bit light, on dead short derails. The internal traces on the PC boards would fry.   Later, one of the first things Lionel did, with the IC Control system, was increase the capacity of the BPC's to 20 amps.  

 

 

Last edited by Mike CT
@martind posted:

thanks for the responses.  If I were to hook up my old TMCC base would that provide the signal strength needed.  I already have the SER2 connected to allow for the WIFI connection.

Marty

Since you have the SER2, are you using the COMM output terminals to drive the ASC's?  That's the output that offer the enhance drive strength to drive a longer string of peripherals.

From the SER2 User's Manual...

SER2 also provides ample serial drive current to all connected devices, eliminating the need for an additional “serial booster.”

Last edited by gunrunnerjohn

Installed a new ASC switch controller and am still having a problem with the last one in the chain.  I have read a little about rs232 signal boosters   Would such a device work in addition to the LCS serial converter2.  If such a device is applicable where would it be installed after the ser2 in the daisy chain, before it or right before the last 7th ASC?

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