Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Help! New NCE PH pro operating erratically

1628 views
7 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2009
  • From: The banks of the St. Lawrence
  • 208 posts
Help! New NCE PH pro operating erratically
Posted by RailfanS on Thursday, January 5, 2012 4:16 PM

Hi,

Well I got my new PH pro radio set in today and haven't been able to get the thing to work yet. I've been studying the manuals since I ordered the system last week and I've checked my wiring, so I know it's hooked up right. I haven't tried hooking up the radio portion yet, as I can't get the system to work  with the pro cab throttle plugged in. I presently have it connected to a circle of EZ track. The procab won't go past the startup screen, it reads "NCE Procab Ver. 1.3 Cab address= 2". When I plug my powercab in (using the 4 wire cord) it does the same thing for a few seconds and then enters powercab mode, like it does when I plug it into a PCP. When I place one of my loco's on the track it runs full speed reverse with the rear headlight on, this loco is equipped with an NCE D13SR decoder and is set to address 1121. When I add another loco, it runs and constantly changes directions. This loco is equipped with an NCE P2K-SR decoder and is set to address 1120. I also checked the P515 transformer and it is putting out the proper 15V AC.

So what does it sound like to you guys? Is it possible something got bumped during shipping? Is it just a dud?

So far I'm very disappointed, as this is a big investment for me. I was also under the impression that NCE test all of there products before shipment, which makes me wonder why I'm having this problem in the first place.

Yes, I will be emailing NCE immediately. Just hoping that someone here had suggestions so I can get it to work now...

Thanks,

Jamie    

Cape Vincent Southern Railroad

HO scale Horseshoe Curve in 5’x10’

My YouTube

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, January 5, 2012 4:59 PM

 Do you have the short cable connecting the control bus jack on the right with one of the control bus jacks on the left? What do the lights show? On Page 20 is how to do a full reset to clear the memory of the command station, try that.

            --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • From: The banks of the St. Lawrence
  • 208 posts
Posted by RailfanS on Thursday, January 5, 2012 5:03 PM

Fixed, it

I took the command station apart and found that the upper board had been completely knocked out of it's socket. I plugged it back in and it's fine. Must of happened during shipping. 

Cape Vincent Southern Railroad

HO scale Horseshoe Curve in 5’x10’

My YouTube

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
  • 5,743 posts
Posted by simon1966 on Thursday, January 5, 2012 6:43 PM

Great news.  It happens to the best of them, and NCE is one of the best.

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • From: The banks of the St. Lawrence
  • 208 posts
Posted by RailfanS on Thursday, January 5, 2012 7:00 PM

Well after playing with it for a few hours I must stay, I'm very happy with it. Tomorrow I'll begin the process of installing it on the portable layout.  I was also surprised to find out that NCE has begun to install internal antennas on their Pro Cab units. The only way to distinguish my wireless unit from a traditional one is a small red LED on top.   

Cape Vincent Southern Railroad

HO scale Horseshoe Curve in 5’x10’

My YouTube

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Thursday, January 5, 2012 8:00 PM

Whoever the delivery company was (FedEx, UPS, USPS) they must have dropped it from a height of over 10 feet to knock the board completely out of its socket like that.

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 3,312 posts
Posted by locoi1sa on Thursday, January 5, 2012 8:22 PM

Glad you found the problem yourself. Believe it or not this is a common malady with the PH pro. It seems that getting knocked around in the back of a delivery truck can in fact loosen the boards. I have heard that NCE will try a different socket with a tighter grip. They also are prone to having the IC chip loosen up also.

        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
    July 2006
  • From: Utah, USA
  • 1 posts
Posted by swissrails on Sunday, August 26, 2012 6:14 PM

Thank you so much for posting this.  I had the exact same problem-- hard to believe it came loose, but it did!  Finding this post saved the day! 

P

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!