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Cables for NCE DCC controllers

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  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Columbia, IL
  • 394 posts
Cables for NCE DCC controllers
Posted by wdcrvr on Sunday, January 6, 2019 10:23 PM

I have the NCE Power Cab system.  I also have the 5 amp booster.  So I have a cable that is 6p4c which has 4 wires in it.  I have looked at telephone cables that are also 6p4c RJ11 cables.  I realize that the connectors at each end of the NCE cable are oriented the same on both ends where as the connectors at each end of the phone cables are oriented so that the wires are in reverse order at each end.  My question is:  would it not work if you cut the connector off of one end of the phone cable and reinstalled it so that it matched the orientation of the other end as they do on the NCE cable?  Seems simple to me or am I missing something?  I don't want to just try it and fry my NCE Power cab controller or the new NCE Cab 06 controller I just acquired.  

Thanks for all input.

wdcrvr

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,581 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Monday, January 7, 2019 2:50 AM

Best to ask NCE directly. They have a warning on their website to not use phone cables with the Power Cab:

https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201799499-NCE-DCC-Cables-Explained

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
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  • From: lavale, md
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Posted by gregc on Monday, January 7, 2019 4:40 AM

wdcrvr
y question is:  would it not work if you cut the connector off of one end of the phone cable and reinstalled it so that it matched the orientation of the other end as they do on the NCE cable?

that's what i did

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

  • Member since
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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Monday, January 7, 2019 6:54 AM

 Yes, cutting the end off a phone-wired cable and crimping on a new end in the correct orientation is perfectly fine.

 When I just needed a couple of cables, I boought a longer telephone extension and some extra ends. So for two of the cables, I only needed to crimp one end off - I measured from the factory end, cut, and crimped a new connector on. And did the same at the other end of the store bought cable. 

 You CAN get pre-made ones witht he correct orientation from companies like Monoprice, for a lot less than hobby shops seem to charge for "DCC cables". Same thing, 6p4c cables wired straight through "data" as opposed to crossed over "phone". 

                                        --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
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  • From: Western, MA
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Posted by richg1998 on Monday, January 7, 2019 12:55 PM

And the crimp tool is not expensive. I bought one some years ago. I did Internet and phone wiring in my house before wireless some years ago. Maybe year 2000.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Columbia, IL
  • 394 posts
Posted by wdcrvr on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 1:20 PM

Thanks for all the replies.  Yesterday I took an old 6p4c telephone cable and cut off one connector.  Then I put on a new connector flipped around to keep the wire orientation the same as on the other end of the cable.  Used it on my NCE controllers.  Works like a charm.

Thanks

wdcrvr

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