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I am looking for advice.

I run Lionel Legacy (and TMCC) locomotives on my display (9 X 9) layout.

I am considering added an MTH 44 Tonner to my roster and have a few questions.

It is a PS3 model. My questions are:

Running in conventional mode only: What functions will be available?

       Horn, bell?

       Forward, neutral, reverse?

       Electro couplers?

       Is there a battery of any sort that will need attention?

       Sound activation? Crew talk, etc.

At this time, I do not plan to add DCS to my railroad.

Thanks so much for any advice.

Stan

     

         

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You can us a number of features in conventional control for PS/3, I refer you to the MTH 44-Ton User's Manual.  Start on page #8 for conventional control using a standard transformer.  Note that the transformer must have both bell and horn controls to use most of these features.

No battery, PS/3 uses built-in supercaps.

I don't believe you can manually trigger individual crew talk sequences, but you do have access to the PFA mode that goes through a pre-programmed sequence.  The PFA operation is described on page 10 of the manual above.

John:

Thanks so much for the speedy and informative reply!

One other question: Since I will be controlling the locomotive using my Legacy controller:

Power will be provided to the track using my PWC ZW with 135 Watt bricks attached and the track where the locomotive will run will have voltage manually controlled by the Cab 2, should I expect the horn and bell buttons on the Cab 2 to operate the horn and bell on the locomotive and also be able to activate the features as described on page 9 of the manual you referenced?

Thanks!

Best regards,

Stan

@GGG posted:

Yes to bell and whistle, but typically the Lionel ZW and PM can't respond fast enought to operate the functions like coupler or PFA.  Too much of a delay inbetween strokes.  G

GGG,

The original PowerMasters had a delay issue.  All of the newer ones, i.e. TPC's marketed by Lionel and not IC Controls (unless Lou Kovach updated yours in the field), and Legacy PowerMasters, have what's called "Fast Horn" and "Fast Bell", and also several other PS2.0/3.0 Specific functions:

If I recall, the ZW-C's and ZW-L also have these features.

Mike

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@stangtrain posted:

Well, I feel like I just "crossed over" into new uncharted territory!

Over 71 years of exclusively Lionel locomotives now gives way to new horizons:

I ordered the MTH 20-20775-1 Amtrak 44 Ton Diesel w/ PS3 from Nicholas Smith today.

Congratulations! From my experience with MTH 44-tonners, I expect you will like this locomotive. Hope you enjoy it. I started with Lionel 72 years ago...

MELGAR

@stangtrain posted:

Well, I feel like I just "crossed over" into new uncharted territory!

Over 71 years of exclusively Lionel locomotives now gives way to new horizons:

I ordered the MTH 20-20775-1 Amtrak 44 Ton Diesel w/ PS3 from Nicholas Smith today.

Enjoy your new engine.

Might I suggest adding a DCS commander to your layout? It gives you access to the basic DCS functions directly through a small remote control. I added one recently and it works great.

2021-05-14 15.14.57

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  • 2021-05-14 15.14.57

RSJB18: Thanks for the suggestion of the DCS Remote Commander.

I had looked into this but since I will be using my Legacy controller to raise and lower track voltage for conventional running and also be able to use the horn and bell functions, I did not think much would be added using controller. I will not be running any other locomotive on the same loop of track, so conventional seems okay so far. Of course I haven't received the locomotive yet, so it is good to know this is an option.

I was wondering though how to connect wires to and from the transmitter without using the connectors from noted MTH devices in the instructions. Are there adaptors to make wiring easier? Without having one in front of me, it is hard to tell what would be involved.

Thanks!

Stan

Stan- I was equally perplexed when I bought mine but they can be wired in "passive mode", which simply means take a pair of wires from the terminals to your track buss.

The RC will work like a charm.

They were designed for RTR sets so the power ran through the RC from a Z750 to the track.

They work just fine in passive and don't affect Legacy signal as far as I know.

I wired mine through a switch so I can turn it off when not needed.

One additional note, the remote uses an infrared signal direct line of sight between the remote and receiver is required.

Bob

2021-07-09 14.40.10

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Last edited by RSJB18
@RSJB18 posted:

Enjoy your new engine.

Might I suggest adding a DCS commander to your layout? It gives you access to the basic DCS functions directly through a small remote control. I added one recently and it works great.

2021-05-14 15.14.57

Bob,

I am running my PS3 subway set with a KW transformer (and external bell/horn button) using the commands described in the manual for the PS3 functions.  Do you think a DCS Remote commander would make that easier using my KW?

If so, where did you get yours?

Thanks,

John

Last edited by Craftech

Being very new to MTH and DCS I have no clue what "passive mode" means and how it relates to the DCS Remote Commander.

Please describe how to wire / connect this device to layout in "passive mode".

I currently have wires from three transformers protected by fast acting circuit breakers with TVSs, connected to terminal blocks then to tracks for each of three loops on my layout.

The new MTH locomotive will likely only run on one loop of track.

Thanks!!

Last edited by stangtrain

I just ordered a DCS Commander set from forum sponsor Mario's Trains. I suppose it will provide better control and functions than using my Cab2 in conventional. The locomotive should arrive Friday 10/15 and the Commander next week. I plan to use it in "passive mode" as described in Barry Broskowitz's  post referenced to above. If needed I will follow John's advice to install a 22uh inductor on the transformer feed to the track.

Thanks to all.

Pictures and maybe a video to come...

Last edited by stangtrain
@stangtrain posted:

I just ordered a DCS [Remote] Commander set from forum sponsor Mario's Trains. I suppose it will provide better control and functions that using my Cab2 in conventional. The locomotive should arrive tomorrow and the Commander next week. If needed I will follow John's advice install a 22uh inductor on the transformer feed to the track.

Thanks to all.

Pictures and maybe a video to come...

I did the same yesterday.  Should arrive Friday.

John

They work in passive mode, but for maximum track signal strength, you need a 22uh inductor on the transformer feed to the track so it doesn't dilute the DCS signal.  Obviously, that choke has to be able to handle the current for the running train and cars.

John:

Can you let me know what 22uh inductor to get for this application and where to order. Transformer to track is a Lionel 135 Watt brick (7.5 Amp) controlled by a Legacy Power Master.

Thanks!

Stan

I've told you several times in that thread what you have to do!  I'm not sure how I can be any clearer.

If a DCS system reset is different than what they said in the manual forgive me.  You responded at a point where I couldn't even do a Conventional reset.  Once I was able to do that I thought perhaps the need for a DCS reset wasn't necessary.

Now that I know it is,  I will simply not mess with it until a point in time when the systems are more available for a reasonable cost.  The reason I and others bought this Remote Commander was because it was cheap.   I always appreciate your help John.

John

Now trying to get my DCS Remote Commander to work:

My MTH Amtrak 44 Ton 20-20775-1 Diesel w/ PS3  is new out of the box, so I assume it is set to "factory defaults" as described in the instructions.

I installed a 22uh inductor inline with the center rail power wire as suggested by GRJ. Transformer providing power to the track is a Lionel 135 Watt brick (7.5 Amp) controlled by a Legacy Power Master.

I connected the DCS Remote Commander in "passive mode" as described above.

When I power up the track that has power connections to the Remote Commander, the locomotive starts up in conventional mode and no responses from the DCS Remote Commander using the controller. The light does blink on the wired unit when buttons are pressed on the remote.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

I have a friend who has the full DCS system if for some reason the locomotive has to be reset.

John: I just set up a test track, connected transformer power with a choke in line with the center rail wire and connected red (center rail) and black wires from the track to the DCS-RC.

Same behavior - loco comes up in conventional and no response from DCS-RC commands, though the light on the unit blinks when signals sent.

From what you said above, it sounds like I need to send the unit back for replacement. I bought it new from a Forum Sponsor, unless you have another suggestion.

Thanks!!

The light just indicates that the remote commands are being sent to the DCS-RC, it doesn't say anything about the track signals.  It sure sounds like the DCS-RC is not working. However, it could be the locomotive as well, so I'd see if you can find someone with DCS to test the engine before you declare it to be the DCS-RC box.  Easy for me to determine, I have probably forty DCS engines, but only having one...

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