Lionel TMCC Direct Lockon

Yes, you can connect multiple track feeders from that TMCC lockon.  Lionel uses 18 gauge track feeders which are flexible enough to easily connect to Fastrack terminals.   You can go thicker (16 ga  or 14 ga) but that is more challenging to attach to Fastrack without cutting away some plastic near the terminals.

You might want to consider running a larger wire from the lockon to a terminal strip below your layout and then spread out from there with smaller wire. 

Remember to set your TMCC lockon to 180 W or 135 W position based on the transformer you are using. 

Note that the TMCC Direct Lockon will kill the DCS signal if you're running MTH equipment, something to keep in mind.

You can run a pair of bus wires out of the lockon, or run the wires out of the lockon to a terminal strip. It makes no difference. One lockon is all that's needed on the entire layout.

I highly recommend 16 or 14 ga wire. Connect track feeders a minimum of every 10 feet of track length. Don't skimp on the wire. It's vital to a reliable layout. Lionel recommends using 14 ga to connect  the powerhouse to the track.

As far as fastrack, if that's what your using. I soldered 14ga feeders right to the power terminals under the track.

I use one of the MTH terminal strips with banana plug 12 ga speaker wire and banana to spade plug adapters to the TMCC Direct Lockon.

Thanks everybody for all the help, it will get me started with first power to some track.  
John, on MTH issue, plan to split the output power line from power source into two separate power systems with a switch to power up either one.  Does this sound like an option?  For now just Legacy power build.

@60-66 posted:

John, on MTH issue, plan to split the output power line from power source into two separate power systems with a switch to power up either one.  Does this sound like an option?  For now just Legacy power build.

Truthfully, I never saw the utility of the TMCC Direct Lockon, so I just eliminated them. The Lionel PH180 brick has an excellent circuit breaker, and I do NOT want the power coming back on until I correct the reason for the trip in the first place. My power runs from the PH180 transformers through the MTH TIU and on to the tracks. I have seamless TMCC/Legacy and DCS operation and I don't have to switch anything.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Truthfully, I never saw the utility of the TMCC Direct Lockon, so I just eliminated them. The Lionel PH180 brick has an excellent circuit breaker, and I do NOT want the power coming back on until I correct the reason for the trip in the first place. My power runs from the PH180 transformers through the MTH TIU and on to the tracks. I have seamless TMCC/Legacy and DCS operation and I don't have to switch anything.

I run strictly TMCC (no conventional, no DCS) and the Direct Lockons are great.  I have a large layout and a derailed train can be 40 feet from the PH180 brick.  With the lockons, just re-rail the car, the power comes back automatically and you're off.  Eliminating the lockons would provide more exercise (40 feet to reset the breaker and 40 feet back to the train) but I go to the gym for that. 

@Bob posted:

Eliminating the lockons would provide more exercise (40 feet to reset the breaker and 40 feet back to the train) but I go to the gym for that. 

I don't have to take a step to reset the transformers on my layout.  I just pull this out of my pocket and push the OFF and then the ON for the affected track, job done and I'm back to running.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Note that the TMCC Direct Lockon will kill the DCS signal if you're running MTH equipment, something to keep in mind.

I am new to TMCC, and need some education, please.

I recently experimented hooking up TMCC to my layout which already has DCS.  I'm not familiar with the TMCC direct lockon - I hooked the systems up two ways.  One time, I used the MTH cable to connect the base to the TIU while connecting the base to the same transformer post that powers the outside rails; with this configuration I could run MTH and Lionel engines via the DCS remote - ran them simultaneously in opposite directions on the same track.  Another time, I connected the TMCC base directly to the outside rails with no connection to the TIU.  I was able to run the Lionel engine with the Cab1-L remote and the MTH engine with the DCS remote.  The engines ran simultaneously on the same track in opposite directions, so it doesn't seem like I harmed the DCS signal.

My layout is small and simple enough that I'm OK with using the Cab1-L to control the Lionel engines, so it seems like it's simpler to keep TMCC and DCS separate from each other.  Am I tempting fate (or fried electronics) by having both hooked up independently at the same time? 

Not at all, the issue is specific to the Lionel 6-34120 TMCC Direct Lockon, it has components across the power that kill the DCS signal.  It doesn't harm anything, you just can't run DCS stuff when it's connected to the track.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Not at all, the issue is specific to the Lionel 6-34120 TMCC Direct Lockon, it has components across the power that kill the DCS signal.  It doesn't harm anything, you just can't run DCS stuff when it's connected to the track.

Thanks!

@Mallard4468 posted:

Thanks!

I have been running MTH engines for years with a direct Lockon powered with 180s and wired to a TIU.  I have never had a DCS signal problem, ever.   In fact , I like the fact (some may not) how it trips faster then a 180 and resets when the issue is resolved. 

@JC642 posted:

I have been running MTH engines for years with a direct Lockon powered with 180s and wired to a TIU.  I have never had a DCS signal problem, ever.   In fact , I like the fact (some may not) how it trips faster then a 180 and resets when the issue is resolved.

@JC642,

How much faster does it trip than a PH180?

Mike

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

@JC642,

How much faster does it trip than a PH180?

Mike

It always trips before my PH180 and I also like that it resets automatically.

I had it kill the DCS signal at my place.  I swapped out and tested three of them, all of them did it.  The last straw was when Harry put some on the club layout, then we couldn't run DCS all of a sudden.  Removed them, all was well.

@A. Wells posted:

It always trips before my PH180 and I also like that it resets automatically.

That's what I was looking for -- when they're connected as the Lionel directions indicate which is the one that trips first.

I have several, not yet installed, and I intend to use them with PH135's.

It looks like I may need to invest in a choke for each one however, just to make sure that my DCS signal doesn't get hammered.

Thanks!

Mike

You can connect them before the TIU on the input side, then they won't affect the DCS signal.  They'll still operate there.

So I run Legacy and TMCC locomotives using an MRC Pure Power Dual power source.  Does the MRC provide adequate protection of electronics in the event of a derailment/short or should I be considering the TMCC lockon to trip faster than the MRC?  Haven’t had any issues in the several years I’ve been running.

Rick

I suspect the Lockon will trip faster, the MRC only has thermal circuit breakers.