> Ed,
> I was under the impression that your layout is DCC. Was the U33C running on
> your layout DCC?
> Billy
Hi Billy.....
My layout can be anything I want it to be! After all, it is my layout. What
an interesting concept. <grin>
OK, to the point: Each block has a DPDT toggle switch which can set the block
to DC or DCC. If set to DCC, the signals work with CMRI/JMRI/computer while
the locos use NCE. If set to DC, the working signals and all the fancy
electronics are excluded from the circuit. The track goes directly to my DC
source which is usually the Aristo-Craft wireless variable-DC system.
If the track is connected to DC, there is also one other DPDT that swings into
action. This one connects the track to either DC or
to "Guest Power" (GP).
GP is merely a couple of screws to which any power source can be connected. I
could run the layout on my car battery if desired. In this case, a friend
loaned me his U33C and his Lionel TMCC system which, as we all know by now, is
Lionel's proprietary command control system. With TMCC, there is a constant AC
voltage on the track.
Over the past weekend, I set one mainline loop to run on DCC and the other loop
to run on TMCC. Two trains on the DCC loop (eastbound) and one Lionel/AF U33C
on the other loop (westbound). Worked fine and without problems. Of course,
this is not the first time things like this have been done. For insurance, I
turn off the power to switch motors so that a train cannot accidentally run
from one main line to the other.
I like to make things easy for friends and visitors who frequently come over to
experiment and try things out. This is a convenient way to accommodate them.
All clear now?
Speaking of the Lionel/AF U33C, there will soon appear a more detailed overview
of that loco on THE S SCALE SIG at
www.sscale.org
It will probably appear within a week or so -- depending on how hard we all
work to satisfy your demands for more information. Pictures have been taken
and the text is in the works. Here is a teaser: The U33C (as it comes from
the factory) will work with TMCC and with conventional plain old AC, but not
with DC or DCC. With AC, some functionality and some control of the sounds are
not possible.
I wonder what might be possible if all the TMCC electronics were removed? Tune
in to THE S SCALE SIG and find out.
Cheers....Ed L.
www.sscale.org
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