What's New on the PRR Panhandle 2.0?

[rogruth]

Yes, Dale's passing was a great loss. Fortunately the web site/ resources are still around. TPC was a pretty good product. Designed to be used with a PowerHouse. Second best, PW ZW. Anything else is a crap shoot unless you put an in line TSP to protect the input side. The smaller PW units and modern switching supplies can damage the TPC from the front side.

Does Lionel tell the user that anywhere?
From what I read above somebody needs to,
.

[chuck]

They were not as explicit as I was but the connectors are engineered for PowerHouse bricks and the only "adaptor" is discussed in terms of use with a PW ZW.

[G3750]

They were not as explicit as I was but the connectors are engineered for PowerHouse bricks and the only "adaptor" is discussed in terms of use with a PW ZW.

One of the things I plan to do is put a surge protector between the wall outlet and everything else. That will also give me a single on/off switch. The only possible exception might be the Command Base which may require a better connection to ground for the signal.

[chuck]

A properly made power strip should not have any issues with the TMCC grounding lug. Use one of those led circuit checkers that look like a cheater but are usually yellow. Unless you live in an industrial area most surges from the outside are weather related. Wires crossing from high winds or lighting strikes.

Most of the damage to our toy trains originates on the layout. Modern switching power supplies can make matters much worse as the initial fault may drive the device to increase power out until a breaker trips. By then, delicate electronics are toast. You may want to look at the Lionel "smart " lock-on. If you run in command only (aka fixed voltage of at least 14 volts you can sign on to each power district. They look like little trickier signal sheds. LED tells you if block is powered up. Unit has a very fast disconnect if it detects current OR voltage surge.

[G3750]

Updated 8/30/2019:

The 3 new Legacy Powermasters arrived earlier this week. I ran my first preliminary test of the one assigned to District 6. This device is connected to a PowerHouse 135 whose connector I repaired. The test went very well. The Powermaster took its address programming without incident and came up correctly at 20VAC. I will probably set the maximum power to the track at 18VAC.

The assembly of the Molex connector for the PowerHouse also proceeded without incident. So far, so good.

George

[G3750]

Updated 9/01/2019:

I completed the wiring and testing of the Power Distribution Panel today. I am just about ready to hang it up under the layout. I also took a cut at layout out the board that will go on top of the transformer cart and hold the transformers and all power strips.

George

[G3750]

Updated 9/03/2019:

My wife and I did the final test of the board this evening. The TPC and 3 Powermasters are putting out between 18.6 and 18.9 VAC. I substituted 24V light bulbs for the 18V ones; these are used to indicate power flowing to each district. After completing the test, we lifted the panel onto the transformer cart and pushed it to its location under the layout. We lifted it on edge, propped it in place, and screwed it to the benchwork support 1"x 4s" running along the back wall.

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Power Districts are 1-8 (left to right).

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Installed under the layout.

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Here's the transformer cart with its new decking.

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George

[rogruth]

George,
WOW!

Way more than I would/could ever do.

[G3750]

Thank you, Roger. I really am shooting for trouble-free operations this time around.

I am puzzled by something. It seems that I post the photos in a certain order, but when I look at them they are in a different order. Has anyone noticed that? I try to give them appropriate captions, but the Bboard software seems to re-arrange them.

I tried something different. I uploaded the photos 1 at a time and posted them. That seemed to fix the problem.

George

[rogruth]

They look OK to me.
Maybe I am seeing them after your change,?

[G3750]

They look OK to me.
Maybe I am seeing them after your change,?

Yeah, you are.

But I think I finally put my finger on it. Uploading them in a group seems to cause the re-arrangement; that's probably a bug in the software.

Uploading photos and then posting them individually prevents the issue from occurring.

I am glad to have the board done. It feels like I accomplished something. I've already started on the transformer cart. I think I can knock that out pretty quickly.

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George

[chuck]

Very nice, very clean.

I've never tried to display a "group" of images, I've always linked them one at a time. It may be the software is sorting by strict ASCII name or by size?

[G3750]

Very nice, very clean.

I've never tried to display a "group" of images, I've always linked them one at a time. It may be the software is sorting by strict ASCII name or by size?

Thanks, Chuck!

George

[G3750]

Updated 9/04/2019:

Did manage to knock out all the transformer cart, except for the two PowerHouse 180's being delivered to me at York. Pretty good evening's work, if I do say so myself.

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Here is the underside of the cart showing the DC power supplies. Left to right - 3VDC, 5VDC, 12VDC. There's plenty of room for additional power supplies if need be.

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George

[G3750]

Updated 9/05/2019:

I moved the transformer cart into position next to the power distribution panel and pulled the buses for the western districts (River Route, Steubenville, PRR Bridge - Westbound, PRR Bridge - Eastbound). Neither the buses nor transformers are connected at this point, but everything is ready for that to take place at later time.

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I am declaring victory on this task and now intend to turn my attention to:

• Scenery just east of the bridge (long straight approach)
• Scenery around the Stone Arch and the eastern river bank
• Installation and electrical wiring of the bridge piers (after removing the bridge)
• Installation of a portion of the River Route subroadbed, track, and tunnel portal
• Scenery around the western river bank
• Painting and detailing the river bottom and both banks
• Pouring the river

George