I have four separate loops of track. My question is, do I need to hook a wire from the Legacy base to each of the four loops or only to one of the loops to run legacy engines on each of the loops? Thanks in advance.
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The U terminal from the legacy base should reach all 4 separate loops. In most cases if there are 4 different transformers they phase the transformers and use a camera main ground to the outside rail of all loops.
hope the makes since but simple answer is yes
If the Commons of all transformers are phased and connected together and also connected to the outer rails of all four loops, the Legacy Base U post can then be connected anywhere to this Common bus at any point and is thereby connected to all 4 loops.
In other words, as long as the all the Commons are connected together somewhere (including one from the Legacy Base) and to the four track loops, additional wires from the Legacy base are unnecessary.
I have 3 separate transformers, Z4000 and and 2 CW80's with 4 separate loops of track and only had one wire from legacy base going to one of the tracks. I am able to control all legacy/TMCC engines on any of the tracks. My transformers are not connected or phased together.
@Kevin1 posted:I have 3 separate transformers, Z4000 and and 2 CW80's with 4 separate loops of track and only had one wire from legacy base going to one of the tracks. I am able to control all legacy/TMCC engines on any of the tracks. My transformers are not connected or phased together.
In some situations, that can work, like in yours, but not always.
@Kevin1 posted:I have 3 separate transformers, Z4000 and and 2 CW80's with 4 separate loops of track and only had one wire from legacy base going to one of the tracks. I am able to control all legacy/TMCC engines on any of the tracks. My transformers are not connected or phased together.
Just to expand on what Steve said, the Legacy signal can be robust. Since part of the signal is using the house ground wiring, you can have loops not physically connected to the base but still receiving the "over the air" signal. As Steve said it's not always reliable.
Have an unconnected test track 5' from the loops that works fine. As the guys mention, on a layout the unconnected common may not be very reliable for controlling locomotives.
Except in very rare cases, not having the track signal connected directly to the outside rail will result in running issues. I know I'd never recommend that to anyone if they want reliable command running.
The answer is that it depends.
If your 4 loops are electrically connected to each other, then the Legacy wire only has to be connected to one of the loops and the Legacy signal will permeate through all 4 loops.
If the 4 loops are electrically separate then, for reliable operation, you should connect the Legacy wire to each loop. You can do this in a variety of ways, including using a terminal block.
I have four Legacy seperate loops. On my outside loop my steam engines are not producing sound. The engines work fine smoke, lights, and movement all normal just no sound. The sound does not come out of my 2020 version Reading T1. I tried my new 10 wheeler on the "problem" loop and same result. Nothing out of the tender. But I have an new Lionel Legacy diesel S2 on a siding of this loop and it works fine. I moved the diesel out onto the main line and it ran and functioned fine. Not sure what is going on. Why the steam engines dont work but the diesel does. I also put the steam tender on the loop by itself and it does make sound. Any trouble shooting suggestions?
@Pennsy641 posted:I have four Legacy seperate loops. On my outside loop my steam engines are not producing sound. The engines work fine smoke, lights, and movement all normal just no sound. The sound does not come out of my 2020 version Reading T1. I tried my new 10 wheeler on the "problem" loop and same result. Nothing out of the tender. But I have an new Lionel Legacy diesel S2 on a siding of this loop and it works fine. I moved the diesel out onto the main line and it ran and functioned fine. Not sure what is going on. Why the steam engines dont work but the diesel does. I also put the steam tender on the loop by itself and it does make sound. Any trouble shooting suggestions?
It seems as if you're implying that the steamers work everywhere except the outside loop.
For the sake of eliminating other possibilities, with their tenders connected do these steamers produce sound on the other Legacy loops besides the outer loop?
