TMCC new user questions ...

 

I think the direction button needs to be 'worked in'.  Is it beeping when you press it?  Not communicating because it's been idle for some time.  Make sure it beeps!

BTW - I love that LV TMCC C420.  Very cool engine.  Long may she run.

not sure but it might help to stop the train before trying to change direction as you wrote it you say it don't stop when you hit direction. it still should react but might help if stopped not sure. 

my understanding is if you do not stop the engine before changing direction you will cause harm to the electronics.

I don't think that is true.  I stop mine all the time with the direction button.  No electronic or motor failures,

 

Bob, Most likely you have a sensitivity issue or ground plane issue on your layout.

 

Assuming your CAB-1 is good with good batteries, some engines are not as sensitive to commands as others.  May work at one section of the layout and not another.

 

If you place your hand over the engine in neutral does it enhance the success rate of commands to the engine?

 

Things you can do:

 

Perform an R2LC reset with the code (see instruction manual)

Take shell off and reseat R2LC and check antenna connection.

Clean wheels and pickups.

Clean track.

Make sure you have a good ground on the outer rail of layout and the Command Base plugged into a receptacle with a good ground.

 

If none of that works, the poorer performing engine should get a new R2LC, or swap one in from a good engine.  IF that resolves the issue, replace the R2LC.  G

I've clearly broken all my engines, because they've all been stopped by changing direction many times.

 

One thing is true, typically a direction change will stop the engine quickly, so I suppose you could argue there's more strain on it.

The DIR button is how I stop most of the time. I thought it was actually a 'feature' of the DIR button? I have not had any engine problems so far.

There is also the Halt button.  Usually when you stopped the engine with the DIR button you would have to ramp it back-up, in the other direction, with the big red round knob.

 Is he using the dcs remote or cab-1? 

The HALT button stops all TMCC activity, so maybe not what most folks are looking for.

 

 

As the topic has wandered to the use of DIR to stop a train I have an odd response to add.  I usually use the dir to stop, and it has worked fine on all of my lionel engines with no ill effect.  Often I will hold down the brake till stopped then tap dir to set idle speed.  The odd problem I've run into is on the K-Line Allegheny I just picked up.  When pressing Dir when moving forward it will not stop, but instead stop, then start in reverse at whatever speed it had been moving.  When pressed again to go from reverse to forward it will stop as normal. Anyone else experience this or have a fix?  

That's odd John, but I'd try the usual TMCC resets first.  There's also a document in the documents thread on the K-Line cruise.  If you have K-Line cruise, perhaps a reset of the cruise module is in order.

I agree with Gregg.  Is he using the DCS remote or CAB-1?

"A friend lent me a command base to try out with my DCS TIU  so I could  try to run 2 Lionel TMCC engines that I bought."     From his original post doesn't say anything about the Cab1.

Yeah, Unfortunately a cab-1 would come in handy here  to make sure it's not a layout wiring problem.  Lets see... Dcs remote talks to Tiu.  Tiu talks to Lionel command base.  Lionel Base talks to track. TMCC engine picks up signal.  

 

Does the double tap brake work with TMCC? I've never tried it.

 

 

Thanks to Mike CT for his help and insights...Mike I always liked your pictures and always enjoyed seeing those Shawmut SWs !

 

I maybe should have stated in the original post I do not even own a CAB1 I am using the MTH DCS remote for my operations.  I tried using one (CAB1) several times at a friends house and do not like it.

 

if what bigdodgetrain says is true This is going to be a short relationship with TMCC...I have been stopping trains with the direction button for years with DCS with no ill effects...but if I have to scroll down the thumb wheel on my handheld to get a TMCC loco to stop....I don't see me doing that.

 

William 1 thanks the LV C420 is my favorite too (I just wish MTH made one)

 

Here is a picture of my original TMCC C420 that I bought last year...seems it was originally a red one that someone custom painted...That paint job was fair at best so I had my friend Steve "give it a beating" with his weathering skills!

 

Close up of non weathered one...

 

 

Here is the my original purchase now weathered ....

 

 

Also thanks to GRJ (John) and GGG (George) for there help too. I will check to see if I am properly grounded.

There is no issue of stopping your locos with the direction switch, if there were, I'd have killed a bunch long ago.

 

How do i tell my 15 TMCC locos that they've been killed and are no longer operational??

 

jackson