Hello everyone, hope your all ready for a Merry Christmas.....Anyways, i have a problem. I have a new NCE Powercab starter set. I ran my bus lines and feeder wires for the little track that i had laid last week. All ran fine with no problems at all. Tonight the only difference from last week is that i added some more track to my layout. Basically just cut the track and laid it on the road bed and it is currently being held in place with t pins and push tacks. I thought i would show my son how good the loco ran so i plugged in the power supply. The powercab just continusaly reboots and i have no red track power indicator light on. I checked all tracks for any possible shorts, t pins touching, anything that may cause a short but i see nothing at all. If i unplug the track lead power connector from the back of the PCB then i get my red track power light. If i plug the track power lead connector back into the PCB it just begins restarting over and over and the red track power ststus light goes out. From what i know this is a safety feature to shut the system down when it detects a short.....What in the world has changed lol. Like i said, all i have done is to add some more track to my layout. I am using Atlas code 80 track and custom line #6 turnouts un powered. Anyone have any ideas as to what i might check? Thanks!
Trainzman2435If i plug the track power lead connector back into the PCB it just begins restarting over and over and the red track power ststus light goes out. From what i know this is a safety feature to shut the system down when it detects a short....
Merry Christmas
I don't know anything more than the above, regarding Power Cab behavior.
I don't know N scale but in HO scale atlas turnouts do not require insulated rail joiners.
I would double check every inch of track again for touching t pins or anything bridging the rails. If there is nothing, remove the new track, ideally right where it connects the old track and it should work.
If it does not work in the original configuration, I would rig up a short piece of track as a test track. If it keeps rebooting with a single piece of track, it is the Power Cab. This assumes that the connectors don't have stranded wire with wild strands touching the opposite wire.
In motorcycles and layout wiring, if things stop working after you do something new, the problem is usually the last thing you did and not a new equipment failure.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Trainzman2435Tonight the only difference from last week is that i added some more track to my layout. Basically just cut the track and laid it on the road bed and it is currently being held in place with t pins and push tacks. I thought i would show my son how good the loco ran so i plugged in the power supply. The powercab just continusaly reboots and i have no red track power indicator light on.
I model in N Scale and use NCE. When I first started, I had the same problem. I used a meter and found that I had reversed two feeder wires.
York1 John
Any of those T pins shorting the track? The ones I use can't possibly touch both rails in HO, but with N scale track, I'm pretty sure they could.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I am pretty sure that i have not created a reverse loop. The tracks in the middle of the layout heading north accross the yard are not even connected yet. As for accidentally reversing one of my feeder wires, the system operated as it should until i added what little bit of track that i did....I included the pics to showwhat i have done if that helps. Thanks everyone!
From the pictures I can only see 2 sets of feeders. To be clear you added new track, but did not add additional feeders?
Looking down the layout, from the power cab end, the far left side is disconnected, so it essentially a fish hook shaped layout with a branch and a passing siding. No reverse loop in that.
We can't see the far end, but you have a clear and uncluttered view to see the t-pins down there.
I stick with my original trouble shooting plan of returning the track to the original configuration. If the PC is still indicating a short, connect it to a single isolated piece of track.
I would move that 1 leg inboard toward the wall avoiding peoples' feet and making a smooth area to attach fascia.
Those T pins are definitely wide enough to short the track, if one of them is twisted at all. Lined up parallel to the rails, you're ok, but if one is turned - you'll have a short.
BigDaddy From the pictures I can only see 2 sets of feeders. To be clear you added new track, but did not add additional feeders? Looking down the layout, from the power cab end, the far left side is disconnected, so it essentially a fish hook shaped layout with a branch and a passing siding. No reverse loop in that. We can't see the far end, but you have a clear and uncluttered view to see the t-pins down there. I stick with my original trouble shooting plan of returning the track to the original configuration. If the PC is still indicating a short, connect it to a single isolated piece of track. I would move that 1 leg inboard toward the wall avoiding peoples' feet and making a smooth area to attach fascia.
Henry, thanks for your input and suggestion to the leg on the peninsula, i actually had planned on doing just what you said but due to time just have not got around to it yet. As for the other end, there is no t pins touching the rails there either but i will do as you suggested and attach my system to a test track. As for the sets of feeders, i actually have 4 sets soldered to the track you see. Thanks again!
rrinker Those T pins are definitely wide enough to short the track, if one of them is twisted at all. Lined up parallel to the rails, you're ok, but if one is turned - you'll have a short. --Randy
Randy, thanks for your input but i have checked every single t pin to make sure it wasnt touching the rails anywhere several times now but i dont see one anywhere that is....I am at a loss. One day it works perfectly, a couple days later and i add a little more track and now i have a problem lol....IDK!
Trainzman2435Henry, thanks for your input and suggestion to the leg on the peninsula, i actually had planned on doing just what you said but due to time just have not got around to it yet.
Please let us know what you find out. As I said, I experienced something similar when I began laying track, but it was my mistake and not an NCE issue.
York1 Trainzman2435 Henry, thanks for your input and suggestion to the leg on the peninsula, i actually had planned on doing just what you said but due to time just have not got around to it yet. Please let us know what you find out. As I said, I experienced something similar when I began laying track, but it was my mistake and not an NCE issue.
Trainzman2435 Henry, thanks for your input and suggestion to the leg on the peninsula, i actually had planned on doing just what you said but due to time just have not got around to it yet.
York1, will do....Thanks!
Since the only thing you did was add that extra track - diconnect the extra track and see if it goes back to working. If it does, there is an issue with that new track (which almost has to be the problem - too coincidental for the PowerCab to fail precisely the same time you added new track). If it works, reconnect the extra track, but maybe remove any turnouts in the new track. It wouldn;t be the first time there's an Atlas turnout with an internal short - under the frog there are 3 layers, the frog, and the two jumpers carrying the closure rail across to the opposite frog rail. Someone else had that problem, the injection machine apparantly failed to inject the one layer of plastic when the turnout was made and those two jumpers touched each other, which is definitely a dead short.
rrinker Since the only thing you did was add that extra track - diconnect the extra track and see if it goes back to working. If it does, there is an issue with that new track (which almost has to be the problem - too coincidental for the PowerCab to fail precisely the same time you added new track). If it works, reconnect the extra track, but maybe remove any turnouts in the new track. It wouldn;t be the first time there's an Atlas turnout with an internal short - under the frog there are 3 layers, the frog, and the two jumpers carrying the closure rail across to the opposite frog rail. Someone else had that problem, the injection machine apparantly failed to inject the one layer of plastic when the turnout was made and those two jumpers touched each other, which is definitely a dead short. --Randy
Randy, thanks...I found the problem sir. Turns out that it was a brand new Atlas Custom Line #6 turnout causing the problem. I removed it and added a new powered Atlas #6 in its place and all is good. I have attached a couple of pics of the turnout in question. Any idea if they are fixable or should i just take it back to the hobby store where i bought it from? Thanks!
There's nothing obvious in the pictures. The fault is probably internal. If your shop takes returns - I would return it and get a new one.
Trainzman2435Turns out that it was a brand new Atlas Custom Line #6 turnout causing the problem.
Glad you found the problem. That's one thing that I have not experienced, and I have 10 Atlas turnouts. I got lucky. When I expand the layout and add more turnouts, I will know what's going on if the system shorts out.
York1I will know what's going on if the system shorts out. Add Quote to your Post
Wiring for DCC has a diagram of a buzzer (60% down the page) you can construct yourself with a $2 China Ebay buzzer, a 9V battery and 2 battery clips.
Backward feeders or a bad turnout should be immediately obvious. The booster or command station should not be attached during testing.
York1 Trainzman2435 Turns out that it was a brand new Atlas Custom Line #6 turnout causing the problem. Glad you found the problem. That's one thing that I have not experienced, and I have 10 Atlas turnouts. I got lucky. When I expand the layout and add more turnouts, I will know what's going on if the system shorts out.
Trainzman2435 Turns out that it was a brand new Atlas Custom Line #6 turnout causing the problem.
rrinker There's nothing obvious in the pictures. The fault is probably internal. If your shop takes returns - I would return it and get a new one.
Rich
Alton Junction
I never had a problem with Atlas track or turnouts, but then I haven't purchased any since they moved the manufacturing to China.
Probably just a coincidence...
But this isn't the first person to have such a problem with a brand new turnout, that's why I thought of it. I remember it being posted here previously. Seemed unlikely, but sure enough, the problem was a short in the turnout. They have to be a bit tricky to make, though an experienced injection molding operator probably has no issues - considering all the years they've made turnouts like this with few if any issues.