Lionel Scale SensorCar Steel Reefer User manual

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Lionel
Scale SensorCar™
Steel Reefer
Owner's Manual

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Congratulations!
LCS has brought the control of the entire layout as well as engine control into one system. Until now, LCS could only be fully utilized with LEGACY engines equipped with a track IR sensor. The
SensorCar Steel Reefer allows for the benefits of track IR to be added to engines that do not have the
sensor technology!
The following Lionel marks are used throughout this Owner’s Manual and are protected under law.
All rights reserved.
Lionel®, LionChief™, LionChief Plus™,TMCC®, LEGACY®, FasTrack®,TrainMaster®, Odyssey®,
RailSounds®, CrewTalk™, TowerCom™, DynaChuff™, StationSounds™, Pullmor®, ElectroCoupler™,
Magne-Traction®, CAB-1®Remote Controller, American Flyer®, Lionel ZW®, ZW®, MagniVision®,
TMCC®, Lionelville®, Wireless Tether™, Powerhouse™, LionMaster®, Conventional Classics™, Postwar
Celebration Series™, TruRail™, PH-1 Powerhouse®, Powermaster®, Powerstation-Powerhouse®,
Accessory Motor Controller™, AMC™, Accessory Switch Controller™, ASC™, Action Recorder
Controller™, ARC™, Track Power Controller 300™, TPC 300™, Track Power Controller 400™, TPC
400™, Block Power Controller™, BPC™, Operating Track Controller™, OTC™, FatBoy™, Lionel
Lines®, Joshua Lionel Cowen Series™, Lockon®, TrainSounds™, MultiHorn™, MultiWhistle™,
Choo-Choo™, SensorTrack™, Plug-Expand-Play™, Imagineering™, SensorCar™, LionScale™
Table of contents
What is Lionel’s Layout Control System?
How it works! 3
LCS SensorTrack Features 4
Installing Your First LCS Device
The LCS DB-9 Cable with Power Supply 5
Installing a new LCS system with Legacy Base 6-7
Installing additional LCS devices 8
SensorTrack and the LCS iPad App 9
Programming the SensorCar
Programming 10
Manually entering the road name and cab number 11
Use of TxIR feature 11
Lionel Limited Warranty Policy and Service 12

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What is Lionel’s Layout Control System?
Lionel’s Layout Control System or “LCS” doesn’t replace your existing Lionel Legacy Control system. It adds to it! You can control your layout from Lionel Cab Remote
controllers or from smart devices like an Apple iPad®to run locomotives, operate track
switches, accessories and lighting. Create automatic events to control passing locomotives and
other layout accessories or switches.
LCS is a modular system, with each product offering unique features. No single LCS product
will do everything and not every layout will require every type of LCS device. But a fully realized LCS
system will likely include the following:
• A Lionel Command Base (Legacy) for locomotive control (must have version 1.60)
• LCS WiFi so you can control your layout from smart devices like an iPad®
• LCS ASC2, to operate switches, lighting and accessories
• LCS BPC2 for block power control
• LCS SensorTrack (one or more) which adds a new level of interactivity with compatible
Lionel Legacy and Vision locomotives as well as the SensorCar
• LCS SER2 for computer control and use of existing Lionel serial devices like the TPC-300
and TPC-400
How it works!
As you know, your Lionel Cab Remote sends commands to your Command Base. In turn, the base controls your locomotives via a one-way communication link. LCS works in
parallel with your existing command base, adding a wired network of control modules. Spread
across your layout, these LCS modules operate switches, lighting, accessories and track power
blocks. LCS is bidirectional, meaning modules can send and receive commands.
And here’s where it all comes together: Since LCS can also send commands back through
the command base, LCS devices can operate your locomotives as well as your layout! For
example, a module like SensorTrack™can make a loco blow a grade-crossing signal as it
passes. Your SensorCar will enable you to perform these same operations with locomotives
that are not equipped with an IR Transmitter. The LCS WiFi module connects devices like an
Apple iPad®to your layout so you and your friends can easily operate switches, locos and
more.
This document describes the features, installation and operation of the LCS SensorCar. For more
about the Layout Control System and its products, please visit www.lionel.com/lcs.
LCS WiFi
LCS SensorTrack
LCS SER2
LCS PDI cables connect modules
for bi-directional communication.
Command base controls locomotives,
one-way communication only
Figure 1. LCS doesn't replace your Lionel Command Base — it adds to it!

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LCS SensorTrack Features
The LCS SensorTrack™ is a 5” straight FasTrack section equipped with an infrared receiver. This receiver reads data beamed out of all Lionel Legacy and Vision locomotives, and the
SensorCar that are equipped with an infrared transmitter. When one of these devices crosses a
SensorTrack, engine details like TMCC ID, road name, number, engine type, lighting options,
fuel levels and direction of travel are retrieved by SensorTrack and transmitted to your LCS
installation and Legacy command base.
SensorTrack has five main features:
• Automatically updates engine information on all CAB-2 remotes.
• Display locomotive’s current fuel level on all CAB-2 remotes.
• Trigger actions when locomotives pass (eg., blow a grade-crossing warning). SensorTrack
comes with a variety of pre-programmed “Action Commands.”
• Records and plays back your own custom actions.
• Real-time locomotive location. If the iPad®LCS App is connected to the system, the
locomotive’s current location and other information is displayed in real-time (LCS WiFi,
iPad®or other device and software required).
Infrared transmitters are located on the belly tank of Legacy diesel locomotives, on
the tender of Legacy steam locomotives, and on the bottom of the SensorCar.
All VISION Line locomotives and most LEGACY locomotives made after November of
2011 are equipped with transmitters. For a complete list of IR equipped locomotives
visit Lionel.com/LCS.
One or more Lionel LCS SensorTracks are required for operation of the SensorCar.
Figure 2. The LCS SensorTrack
Note!
Note!
Note!
What is Lionel’s Layout Control System?

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Installing Your First LCS Device
The following section describes installation of a new LCS system. If you already have installed your first LCS component, please skip ahead to the next section titled “Installing
additional LCS devices.”
When installing a new LCS system, the process you will follow depends on which Lionel
Command Base is to be connected to your LCS system. Following sections describe starting a
new LCS installation with a Legacy Base.
The SensorCar is only compatible with a LEGACY BASE and a CAB2 remote or an
LCS equipped device. LCS WiFi, iPad or other device and software required
The LCS DB-9 Cable with Power Supply
Every LCS system requires exactly one 6-81499 LCS DB-9 Cable with Power Supply. This special cable has three connectors: a DB-9 (a), with a “pig-tail” cable-mount power
supply connector (c) and also a 10-foot cable with an “LCS PDI” connector (b) at its end.
The cable receives power from the included DC wall-pack (12VDC at 1A). Power for each LCS
device is supplied through the single LCS data cable. The wall-pack is capable of powering
dozens of LCS devices, depending on type. An additional power booster/cable extender is
available for extremely large LCS installations.
Figure 3. The 6-81499 LCS DB-9 Cable with Power Supply
Note!

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Installing a new LCS system with Legacy Base
To install a new LCS system on a layout with a Legacy Command Base:
1. Turn off power to your layout and Legacy Base.
2. Connect the DC wall-pack to the female cable-mount connector of the LCS DB-9 Cable.
3. Connect the DB-9 connector of the LCS DB-9 Cable to your Legacy Command Base.
4. Connect the LCS PDI cable end of the LCS DB-9 Cable to either connector on your LCS
device.
5. Restore power to your layout and Legacy Base.
6. Plug in the LCS wall-pack power supply. Both SensorTrack LEDs should illuminate briefly
on power-up.
Legacy command base must have software rev 1.60 or higher installed.
One or more Lionel LCS SensorTracks are required for operation of the SensorCar.
Figure 4. SensorTrack LCS PDI connections are under the track. Use either connector.
Note!
Note!
Installing Your First LCS Device

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Installing a new LCS system with Legacy Base (continued)
Your system should resemble the figure below.
Once connected and powered-up, the yellow LED on the Legacy Base will blink once every
second. With this setup, you can control Lionel locomotives and Layout Control System
products using using any combination of LEGACY/CAB-2 and CAB-1L remotes.
If you have additional LCS devices to install, see “Installing additional LCS devices.” If not,
skip ahead to the next section of this manual, “Configuring your LCS Device.”
Figure 5. A sample LCS system with SensorTrack and a LEGACY Base
Installing Your First LCS Device

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LCS PDI CABLES
use either connector
WiFi
6-81325
To LCS module or
command base
Figure 6 An LCS WiFi and SensorTrack connected, SensorTrack is last device in chain.
Installing Your First LCS Device
Installing additional LCS devices
This section describes adding a new device to an existing Layout Control System installation. If you are installing a brand new LCS system, please refer to the previous
section of this document, “Installing Your First LCS Device.”
Adding additional LCS devices to an existing Layout Control System requires an additional
cable for each new device. These “LCS PDI Cables” come in a variety of pre-made lengths.
They are not included with LCS devices, and must be purchased separately. LCS PDI Cables are
available in a variety of lengths:
6-81500 - LCS PDI 1ft Cable
6-81501 - LCS PDI 3ft Cable
6-81502 - LCS PDI 10ft Cable
6-81503 - LCS PDI 20ft Cable
Each new device is connected via LCS PDI cables in a “daisy-chain” fashion (one to the
next, and so on). The order of devices in the “chain” is up to you. The only exception is that
an LCS WiFi must be the first device in the chain if no Lionel Command Base is present.
To connect each additional LCS device:
1. Find the “last” LCS device in the chain. One of its two LCS PDI connectors will be in use,
the other will be empty.
2. Using your chosen length LCS PDI Cable, connect one cable end to the unused LCS PDI
connector of the last LCS device in the chain.
3. Connect the second cable end to either of the LCS PDI connectors on your new LCS device
(see figure below). Your new LCS device is now the last one in the chain.

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SensorTrack and the LCS iPad App
SensorTrack can also send information to an iPad or other computing device connected to the LCS system on your layout. If you’re using Lionel’s LCS App, the location of
each passing Legacy locomotive will appear on your iPad screen, next to its corresponding
SensorTrack icon.
In order for this feature to work, you must add a SensorTrack icon to one or more
of your LCS App custom control panels. Then, be sure to apply the same TMCC ID to
the physical SensorTrack as well as the virtual SensorTrack on your iPad.
Refer to the on-line help system of LCS App for more information.
Installing Your First LCS Device
Note!

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Programming the SensorCar
Programming
To program the SensorCar:
1. Slide the PGM/RUN switch on the bottom of the SensorCar to the PGM position. It is
required to program the SensorCar with the same ID# as the engine that will be
using it.
2. Place the SensorCar on the track.
3. Connect the Command Base and plug it in.
4. Power up the track.
5. Press ENG on CAB-2 remote.
6. Enter the unique ID#. Use the same ID# as the locomotive which will be paired with
the car. Choose any number from 1 to 98. We recommend using a part of the paired
locomotive’s road number. All LEGACY locomotives respond to ENG 99. We recom-
mend that you reserve ID# 99 as a "universal" ID#.
7. Press SET. The SensorCar’s LED will blink and turn on. The LED is located under the
hatch to the right of the brake wheel.
PGM RUN
LED
PROGRAM/RUN
SWITCH
Figure 7. Switch locations
Your SensorCar will be shipped with ID #1 set as the default.
The indication LED under one of the ice hatches blinks when programming. It also is on
solid when the SensorCar is started up. This is a good way to check if the ID# has been
correctly selected on the CAB2 remote. Also, the LED will turn off when the locomotive
direction has been changed.
Figure 8. LED location
Note!
Note!