I have an NCE power pro 5 amp system. When I tried to set it up the controller was locked up. I sent it to NCE for repairs and just received it back. I hooked it up and tried to program my engine (Atlas GP-7). When the screen comes up, it is nothing like the screen should be according to the NCE manual. When I turn it on I get NCE Procab V1.3 and Cab address 2. I was able to do the reset by holding the select loco button while I plug the controller back in. When I do this, the cab address will blink and I can cnange the cab address to 03. When I do this is goes to a series of menues to set and not to the LOC:xxx, FWD: xxx. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or if the system is still broken. I have no track power when it is hooked up to the program terminals. I do have track power when it is hooked up to the main terminals.
Any help/suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Fred
Check your receiving antenna and make sure you have it properly plugged iinto the "cab bus" socket on the command station. It sounds like your ProCab is not communicating with the command station. Take the plugs out of both the receiving antenna and command station sockets and replug them to make sure corroded contacts are not causing the problem.
You automatically lose track power when the command station switches to the program track function -- when you exit programming mode track power is turned back on.
Cacole,
This is a tetherd system, not radio. Does the tethered system still have an antenna?
Thanks for your response.
derfAny help/suggestions would be appreciated
Fred,
Check the wires goining into the plugs. I have the same system. The plug ins are quite small and I had trouble cutting off the insulation on the wire so as to not having bare wire showing. So I placed electrical tape between the wires going into the plugs to avoid any unwanted contacts.
Also, I don't use the program terminals, but do all the programing on the main.
Good luck,
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
derfI have no track power when it is hooked up to the program terminals. I do have track power when it is hooked up to the main terminals.
I have a Power Cab hooked up to a Smart Booster so I'm just making some stabs. When your problem occurs, are you plugged into a UTP panel or directly into the Power Pro 5 command station/booster? If it's exactly the same for both scenarios, then you've at least eliminated your wiring/cable as the problem. It still could be your throttle though.
Fred, is there anyone else in your area that you know that can bring over another NCE Pro Cab, Power Cab, or CAB-04p throttle?
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I think you may be confusing the cab(Hand held) and loco addressing programs. If you only have one hand held controller than leave the cab address at 2.
To program a loco on the program track place the loco on the program track. Press the prog/esc key 4 times and press enter. Follow the on screen instuctions and when done press the prog/esc key.
Here is a link to your instruction manual.
http://www.ncedcc.com/pdf/PROCAB.PDF
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
There is an excellent NCE user group forum on Yahoo that can provide info from actual users and someone from NCE. Suggest you visit there is you don't get an answer. I have NCE and it is the current wireless system, but I have procabs and the smaller cabs with and without antenna. They all can be plugged into the cab buss but only those with antenna will work wireless.
You are programming the cab. In NCE DCC language that's the controller in your hand and not the engine on the track.
To program and decoder in an engine go to the section in the manual titled "Programming Procedures".
derf I have an NCE power pro 5 amp system. When I tried to set it up the controller was locked up. I sent it to NCE for repairs and just received it back. I hooked it up and tried to program my engine (Atlas GP-7). When the screen comes up, it is nothing like the screen should be according to the NCE manual. When I turn it on I get NCE Procab V1.3 and Cab address 2. I was able to do the reset by holding the select loco button while I plug the controller back in. When I do this, the cab address will blink and I can cnange the cab address to 03. When I do this is goes to a series of menues to set and not to the LOC:xxx, FWD: xxx. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or if the system is still broken. I have no track power when it is hooked up to the program terminals. I do have track power when it is hooked up to the main terminals. Any help/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, Fred
Everything you've described is exactly how the system should be responding. See page 12 of the ProCab manual or Page 29 of your PHPro maunal. The procedure you've described is to set up the ProCab and its various settings such as balistic tracking and yard mode.
The program terminals put out limited power to the track. It used to program decoders in locos. The limited voltage is designed to prevent decoder damage if it the decoders is improperly installed.
Your system is working just fine.
Agreed that it sounds like it's fine. Take your time and you'll get it. Also your answer to a question earlier. If it's a teathered only system there will be no antenna. However if you have a radio cab it will still work teathered.
Springfield PA
Tom,
I get the same results when it is plugged in to either point.
Pete,
I have tried hitting the prog/esc buttton with no success. The only time I get a response from the handheld is if I unplug it and plug it back in while holding the select loco button.
mfm37
I get no response from the handheld at all when pushing any of these buttons.
Silver pilot,
The only way to get to the Ballistic setting and yard/main mode is to unplug and plug the handheld back in holding to select loco.
This is the initial setup and nothing on the handheld is like it is described in the manual.
Thanks to all for your responses.
Guys,
Just got off the phone with NCE. The trouble was in the black box, not the handheld. A set of pins wasn't seated correctly.
Thanks again to all.
That is a common problem with an NCE command station that has gone through the shipping and beating up center before it gets to the customer. Usually when the chip loosens the whole system is dead. That is what threw the curve. Glad to hear your up and running.
I have three NCE Power Pro 5 Amp systems for use at home and at our large HO scale club layout. I recently upgraded the EPROM in all three systems. It was so hard to remove the old chip, I don't see how it could get loosened in shipment unless the box was dropped from an airplane at 10,000 feet.
Might have been pins on the cables not set and not the chips.