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NCE Powercab help

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  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: New Hampshire
  • 660 posts
NCE Powercab help
Posted by sparkyjay31 on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 7:13 PM
For two years my son and I have had no issues. And tonight we have nothing. No lights, sounds, or movement. I tried checking all the wiring which looks fine. I disconnected the cab and wired it to a small section of track off the layout and still nothing. I get "cannot read cv" on the programming track with the main off. I have voltage on the track, but nothing else. I tried an engine that has not been run in months and the same thing...What can I do?
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Posted by locoi1sa on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 8:27 PM

  Is the red LED lit on the Power Cab panel? What has happened to mine is the little contacts in the plug socket does not make contact anymore. I fix mine with a little pin with a hook bent on the end to pull the contacts out a little. Another common problem with the Power Cabs is the power supply quitting with no warning. Mine burnt out about a year ago. A new one was almost $25. Since you did not mention the screen being dark would mean that your power supply is still working. I imagine you know which socket and cord to use. The coil cord and right hand socket will not work. More than likely it it the contacts in the sockets.

     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!

  • Member since
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  • From: New Hampshire
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Posted by sparkyjay31 on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 8:39 PM
The lights are on, both on the panel and the little red one on the power panel. No issue there. The cord is plugged into the left socket.
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Posted by KHM60 on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 8:47 PM

I had that problem with an Atlas u23b took it back to my LHS he could not find anything wrong with the engine but gave me a new one anyway, brought it home no more problems must have been the engine every thing has been running fine

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  • From: New Hampshire
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Posted by sparkyjay31 on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 9:16 PM
Holy crap. It better not be the engines. 4 dcc and sound equipped steamers are not functioning right now! I'll buy 3 new dcc systems before I can replace those 4 engines...
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Posted by maxman on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 9:37 PM

sparkyjay31
The lights are on, both on the panel and the little red one on the power panel. No issue there. The cord is plugged into the left socket.

And you are using the flat cable?  And what did you mean that you get "can't read cv" on the screen?  If you push the program/escape key the screen stays stuck on that message?

If you've checked all the obvious things, give NCE a call in the morning.  And be sure to let us know what the resolution is.

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Posted by tstage on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 10:04 PM

Yep, you need the flat 6-contact connector cable for it to work properly.  If you are using the 4-contact coily cord, it will do nothing.  The extra 2 wires supply power to the track.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: New Hampshire
  • 660 posts
Posted by sparkyjay31 on Thursday, November 17, 2011 6:36 AM
I'm using the correct flat cable connector in the left hand port. I get no motion, lights or sounds from anything that I place on the track. Nothing. I've tried all my loco's and I have no response. I tried to call up the cv's and the PowerCab won't read anything. Like the engines are not there! Power is on but nothing is moving. I'll try NCE later this morning. Keeping my fingers corssed.
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Posted by jackwade on Thursday, November 17, 2011 6:57 AM
Steam Rules! Jack
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Posted by cacole on Thursday, November 17, 2011 8:04 AM

If the LEDs are lit and the PowerCab's readout is working, check your wire connections to the track -- it sounds to me like the PowerCab is working fine but no power is getting from it to the track through the connections between the panel and track.

Do you have a voltmeter?   You should get something in the range of 14.5 Volts AC reading on the track.

  • Member since
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  • From: New Hampshire
  • 660 posts
Posted by sparkyjay31 on Thursday, November 17, 2011 8:16 AM
Nope. I don't believe that's it. I pulled the system off and tried it on a section of flex track. Same issue. No response.
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Posted by woodone on Thursday, November 17, 2011 9:00 AM

What happens if you short the two rails?  Does the system shut down?

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Posted by yankee flyer on Thursday, November 17, 2011 9:19 AM

sparkyjay31
Nope. I don't believe that's it. I pulled the system off and tried it on a section of flex track. Same issue. No response.

You might check the phone type connectors, I found that the weight of the wires hanging on the connectors was causing my "can not read" problems. I now support the wires so there is no weight on the connectors.

Good luck.

Lee

  • Member since
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  • From: New Hampshire
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Posted by sparkyjay31 on Thursday, November 17, 2011 9:27 AM
The system does shut down and restart upon shorting the track. But this does not help me as the Powercab does not work if I pull the system compeletely off and try it on a piece of sectional track in the other room! I can try supporting the wire. Maybe......
  • Member since
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  • From: Phoenix, AZ
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Posted by woodone on Thursday, November 17, 2011 10:43 AM

Well if shuts down the system,  that tells me that there is power going to the rails.

Still I would try a new 6 wire flat cable and test again. Could be that there is a data wire broken in your connection betweeen the throttle and the panel.

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Posted by tstage on Thursday, November 17, 2011 12:38 PM

sparkyjay,

Do know anyone else in your area - who also has a Power Cab - that you can verify whether either the cable or your Power Cab is the problem?

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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