NCE Power Cab not working, sometimes

[Nickel Plate Road]

Happy Holidays Everyone.

    I recieved a NCE DCC power cab as a gift 3 years ago. I finally broke it out of the box after I had a section of track laid down. I put a loco on it default address 3, since then I am unable to get the pendant to work properly. Sometimes the increase speed on the right of the thumbwheel works other times, who knows. I was able to get to program on the main a month back as I followed the book with the starter set.

   I purchased a power booster and the right add on electronics, but I can't get the power cab to respond to select loco or I have to press down very hard to get the whistle to work etc etc. Maybe I fat fingered something? Is there a reset, like using a paper clip somewhere. I called NCE but they're closed until 1/2/29 the same I go back to work. Any ideas on what may be the issue, beside me?

Thank in advance for your help

[tstage]

NKP,

A few questions for you for clarification:

1. Does your Power Cab work fine w/o the power booster?
2. Is your power booster the NCE Smart Booster?
3. Are you using a UTP panel (vs the PCP panel) for connecting your Power Cab to the Smart Booster?  Or, do you have it connected directly to the front connector ports of the Smart Booster?

Tom

[Nickel Plate Road]

[quote user="tstage"]

NKP,

A few questions for you for clarification:

1. Does your Power Cab work fine w/o the power booster?
2. Is your power booster the NCE Smart Booster?
3. Are you using a UTP panel (vs the PCP panel) for connecting your Power Cab to the Smart Booster?  Or, do you have it connected directly to the front connector ports of the Smart Booster?

Tom

 

1) No, used original electronics for progarmming track. Power Cab acts the same.

2) Yes purchased directly from NCE

3) Yes as per NCE instructions.

Regards Tom

 

[tstage]

Tom,

Thanks for the clarification.  If the buttons are iffy, it sounds like the button membrane may be suspect.  I would call NCE when they are back from Christmas break and tell them your issue.  They may have you either ship your Power Cab back...or send you a replacement membrane, if that is the problem.  It's an easy replacement.  All you have to do is:

1. Remove the screws from the back on the Power Cab
2. Remove the old membrane
3. Install the new membrane
4. Reinstall back of Power Cab and tighten it down

The membrane is similar to the ones used on your computer keyboard and literally lays in place.  It's literally a 5-min procedure.

Hope that helps...

Tom

[BigDaddy]

Nickel Plate Road

I have to press down very hard to get the whistle to work etc etc. Maybe I fat fingered something? Is there a reset,

That doesn't sound correctable with a reset, but there is such a thing.  Different effects on the power cab vs the pro cab.  It is on page 59 of the powercab manual.