leapinlarry posted:I received my TMCC Buffer, however, haven’t installed it, but, I do have a HUGH SUCCESS Story, Farmerjohn, a Kentucky friend of mine, has a really large layout, 50 by 70, with an an adjoining room, who has had multiple signal issues, running TMCC/Legacy, Atlas O. Third Rail/Sunset Models, through many bridges, multiple levels, says All his engines Run Fine Now, Do to the TMCC Buffer. Dale Manquin came to visit me here in Tennessee in 2007, prior to York, and we went to see many layouts, one being Farmerjohn’s in Kentucky. Dale was a very fine gentleman and stayed at my home for a week. We had a great visit. I congratulate Gunrunner John for taking his concepts and making this wonderful product available to us Operators. Thank you John....I will install my Buffer in the next few days. Happy Days are here again. (Pictures are of Farmerjohns latout)
Look at that scene! In the famous words of Mr Barone, "HOLY CRAP!!!"
And as mentioned a big thanks to John for seeing it through to completion for all of us!
Larry,
thanks for posting the additional pictures and comments on FarmerJohn’s layout. The pictures continue to blow me away!!
Do you know where the TMCC signal was originally weak or intermittent and did the newly designed Buffer/ Amplifier installation immediately resolve all the operational TMCC signal issues?? I hear from others that track going across bridges or going through secenery made with wire screen or track going over / under other tracks are “weak signal points “ that seem to get solved with the TMCC Buffer??
Carl J
Carl J, the answer, from what I am hearing from Johnny, he gets a great signal in the entire room and the adjoining room now. Before the Buffer, only partial TMCC signal intermittent in the main room, but would allow some trains to run ok, others not ok, however, no legacy signal in the adjoining room. Its very discouraging to buy a top of the line Locomotive, or Diesel and it not run good do to signal. This is the best answer I can give you until I go to visit Johnny. Now he can run everything that’s TMCC/Legacy with great control anywhere in his train room. This TMCC Buffer is the best thing, since sliced bread.....
Another satisfied customer! Connected the DM TMCC Buffer and got a green light! ALL my TMCC/Legacy engines run everywhere on my 1000 sq. ft. multi level layout. I had talked to Dale about the buffer before he died and I am so appreciative to gunrunnerjohn for picking up the project. The recognition given to Dale is so appropriate.
Don
The larger the layout, the more benefit you can expect from the DM TMCC Buffer. It's good to hear success stories. 
Thanks Larry!!
John, hooked mine up 10 minutes ago and the indicator light is green. Hooahh.
Put the loco I had the most signal problems with, blinking lights, stopping, etc., my Lionel UP Veranda.
It runs perfect through all the previous problem areas.
Thank you John and Dale.
You have turned my problem locos into great performers.
One question, can I leave it powered up 24/7 or should I turn it off between operating sessions?
Getting some encouraging feedback. I hope the kit we be available soon, with a candidate to assemble mine! Of course for a fee.
Jeff, other than using a few watts of electricity, I can't imagine why you can't just leave it on.
ironman1 posted:Getting some encouraging feedback. I hope the kit we be available soon, with a candidate to assemble mine! Of course for a fee.
I'm actually gathering parts for the kits, and I have the PCB blanks already. We'll have a solution for folks that missed the first production run. I just have to figure how they'll be packaged. Right now my thinking is that I'll prep the cases as I already have the tooling to do that, and individuals would probably take a lot more time to drill the holes in the proper places as well as make the slots, etc.
There will be an option.
Hi John,
Thanks again for this project. I just hooked the buffer up and got a RED light. I did run some engines that were always susceptible to interference like my K-line 2-6-6T and it had NO flicker at all with good response of commands.
The readings I got were: base signal - 1.085, output signal - 10.37. Any thoughts on what I should do/check?
Thanks,
Greg
The base signal is low (reason for the red light), but the output is uncharacteristically high. Based on your input, the output should be about 3.6vdc.
Something wrong with your metering? And things run better because 3.6 is an improvement.
Gregcz1 posted:Hi John,
Thanks again for this project. I just hooked the buffer up and got a RED light. I did run some engines that were always susceptible to interference like my K-line 2-6-6T and it had NO flicker at all with good response of commands.
The readings I got were: base signal - 1.085, output signal - 10.37. Any thoughts on what I should do/check?
Thanks,
Greg
First off, is this a Legacy or TMCC base? The TMCC base will usually get a red light and a few of them get the "no light". A good Legacy base should give you a green light.
I agree with Chuck, something is very wrong with the readings, with a known good Legacy base I got 1.88 volts DC for the Base DC reading and 5.4 volts for the Boost DC reading. Given the circuitry there, that's about what you should see. 10 volts on the Boost DC reading is knocking on the door to impossible! What kind of meter are you using?
I have a question about the light being red for lower output. What is drawing down the output signal 3.810volts to the track? When I unhook the track wire I get a green light and 6.15 volts out of buffer.
I'm confused. The lights are telling you what the base track output is doing, not the buffered output. If you're using the buffer, you shouldn't have the base track output connected to anything but the buffer input!
I'm getting 2.077 Base INP and 6.85 Boost OUT. I looked right down into the blue LED and after a half hour I can see again . So I ground the tops of the LEDs off on the sander. Diffused now.
Thanks again John. Great stuff and hard work for you. I appreciate you.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I'm confused. The lights are telling you what the base track output is doing, not the buffered output. If you're using the buffer, you shouldn't have the base track output connected to anything but the buffer input!
The instruction is an excellent pictorial of the hookup. That should clear things up for him.
I have to admit, the clear LED's were possibly a mistake, those suckers are bright! 
I wanted to make sure they could be seen, I guess I did accomplish that goal. 
They're fine. I thought about little opaque booties...or maybe an opaque lens snapped into the enlarged holes. But the sanding tamed them right down.
Well opaque booties would seem to really tone them down, easier would be black electrical tape. 
Sanding the ends will certainly diffuse the light and save the eyes, probably the easiest method.
