TLC #18 - An LCC look at the TCS CS-105

[@Chinquapinmayor]

When visiting Dick with RR Cirkits he had one to demo for his demo layout. And showed how he could also use the remote to control turnouts and how it would display the position of it as well. Pretty slick.

[@the-lcc-channel]

Pretty cool! Getting the layout and command control system to talk to each other is a very big deal.

[@jayke1343]

Great content, thanks as always!

[@the-lcc-channel]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@johnhmccauley]

A couple of suggestions. I am new to LCC. Just got the TCS CS-105 and a couple of LCC components. The first struggle was working out how to connect things. No ribbon cable supplied. Which do I buy? How do I connect the connectors? Covering the absolute basics would be helpful. What is the min number of components needed to get a tortoise to work? Needing a power supply? Which one? Etc…

[@the-lcc-channel]

I only demo'ed this unit and then had to return it. I never set it up on a layout nor did any operations with it. I was mostly focused on demonstrating the connectivity of it to the LCC network and showing the config screen. As for how to connect, check out my LCC Channel vids on how to set up a basic LCC system, including the components needed. The CS-105 would just be another node on the system. Let me know if that answered your question or if you were looking for something else.

[@johnhmccauley]

@@the-lcc-channel Thanks, I should have applied force more evenly with the pliers without the clip. Anyway Amazon has kit with the crimping tool and more connectors which I realized I needed. Since not enough included. Also you can point JMRI straight at the cs. If both on same WiFi network. Solved the issues I had. Also the stall motor board connecting to a TAB.

[@detlefkurpanek]

Excellent update, @@johnhmccauley Thank you.

[@FlashJonesTrains]

Hey any updates to cs 105? Ive been thinking of adding it to my nce layout that uses lcc to drive signals and switches. I just in need of more info to feel confident in pulling the trigger on it.

[@the-lcc-channel]

Sorry, no updates to share. Might suggest getting on the TCS list in Group.IO and ask some of the users their experiences. Not sure how many actually have operationally integrated the CS-105 into an LCC network, but certainly would be worth asking the question.

[@FlashJonesTrains]

@the-lcc-channel ah okay gotcha. I'll look into doing that. Thanks!

[@carllarssen652]

Dear sir been watching your videos on Lcc thinking of going with TCS command station combo any how my guestion is I already have pre wired my layout with thoughts of signaling I have nce bds for block detection and tam valley servos and switch controls are Thea’s compatible with Lcc or do I have to start over also all signals are Atlas

[@the-lcc-channel]

LCC is command station agnostic - you can use whatever system you like. Your comment on prewiring the signals is not clear to me - how are they pre-wired? In LCC, signals should be wired directly to the outputs of the Signal-LCC modules. As for block detection, from the literature, the BD20 appears to be TTL compatible (0-+5V), which is what you would use for LCC. Biggest hassle would be wiring them in, but certainly doable. (The RR-Cirkits BOD-8 plugs right into the Signal-LCC or Tower-LCC.) Right now I am not aware of any LCC products that can handle servos for turnouts. The only products I know of drive either twin-coil switch machines or stall motors.

[@markgundersen5259]

how do you like the cs 105 during your time with the unit?

[@the-lcc-channel]

You know, it worked just fine. But in reality, the magic is in the wireless throttle. The set I borrowed had the UTW-100 which is chock-full of cool features. In that sense, the CS-105 is simply a black box that conveys the data to the track outputs. And it did the job admirably, without any problems.

[@EditGuy6610]

The “funny” sound effects you use are incredibly annoying.