Hi all, a little over a year ago I dismantled my NJ Layout. I disconnected and repackaged the NCE DCC system and transported it and other items to my new retirement home in VA. So the system has been in a box since October 2018.
Here's the questions:
1. Do I need to replace the battery in the control station?
2. Will I need to reprogrm locomotives or is that information stored on the decoders?
3. What else if anything can I expect.
Gary
Q1 - won't hurt if you do
Q2 - Loco info stored in decoder
Q3 - nothing that I am aware of.
Ron
gdelmoro3. What else if anything can I expect.
The purpose of the battery is so that whatever is stored in the command station's brain gets retained. This would include any macros you set up along with any consists you created.
If the existing battery is still viable, that information would still be retained. There is a process to follow in the manual allowing you to change the battery without losing the information.
I would recommend that you try the system with a loco on a short section of track to see if everything works (or doesn't work) prior to changing the battery. If things don't work, then you can take out the battery and test it prior to replacement. That way you'll know if you have a battery issue or something else.
If things do work prior to the battery change, and don't work after, then you'll know that your issue is due to the new battery installation. Be sure to check the fresh battery before installing.
Thanks for the replies.
The system is now 5 years old. Think I'll call NCE before I do anything because even if it all works, how long can these batteries last?
If not now, I'll probably Ned to change it soon. Unless these batteries last longer than other flat batteries.
Have any of you been runnIng this system longer than 5 years with the same battery?
gdelmoro Thanks for the replies. The system is now 5 years old. Think I'll call NCE before I do anything because even if it all works, how long can these batteries last? If not now, I'll probably Ned to change it soon. Unless these batteries last longer than other flat batteries. Have any of you been runnIng this system longer than 5 years with the same battery?
Rich
Alton Junction
I’d just go ahead and change the battery. You’d just be wasting their and your time asking them how long the battery will last, because I think there would be numerous conditions that would affect the answer.
Plus if the battery is already 5 years old, I think you are already on borrowed time. In addition, if you are starting fresh, might as well have a fresh battery. Those things are not that expensive.
And check the manual. I seem to think that I remember something in there about battery life.
I think I'll set it up and try it. Hopefully it still works. If so, I'll follow the NCE procedure and put a new battery in. Hope mine is a good as Randy's
Mine is late 2011 so now 8 years. I plan to change it rather than have it give out when I am wanting to get something done or show off the trains. NCE suggests 5 years, so obviously beyond that the probability of it going out increases from there significantly.
https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204516659-Replacing-the-backup-battery-in-NCE-Command-Station-Powerhouse-PH-Pro-CS02?mobile_site=true
UPDATE: I got the CR2032 battery and just replaced it. The way my NCE box is installed it was easiest to unplug the various wires, remove and open the box unpowered and replace the battery. The battery swap takes no more than a minute or so and my system did not lose its settings (such as consists). While the NCE text says it is preferred to replace with power on (protecting against causing a short), the video demonstrates doing unpowered and notes that within a few minutes the system settings are not usually lost.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
The only issue with doing the battery with the power on is the entire side of the battery is metal, and if you accidently drop it on the exposed circuit board, you can short things out. That's why the recommend putting a piece of paper over the exposed boards.
The battery is only used with the system powered off. So if you use the system regularly and run trains all the time, the battery doesn't get much use. But packed away in a box for a few years - I'd just replace the battery. They are cheap enough.
Loco settings are saved int eh decoders. Shouldn't have to do anything there. They shoudl still run on whatever address they were programmed to when put away, with whatever other settings you might have made intact. I pulled out a couple of locos that have been in a box since I moved almsot 6 years ago and they still worked as expected, no need to reprogram them.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks Randy
rrinkerLoco settings are saved int eh decoders.
Consists are saved in the command station. Not a big deal if you only have one, but if you have a dozen and some of those engines are in hidden staging....
That's when you Program on Main, address 00, CV19=0. Now none of the decoders is in a consist. And assuming the battery died or was removed, the command station memory is cleared as well. If not, there is a Clear All Consists options on the menu.
rrinker That's when you Program on Main, address 00, CV19=0. Now none of the decoders is in a consist. And assuming the battery died or was removed, the command station memory is cleared as well. If not, there is a Clear All Consists options on the menu. --Randy
Not sure what you’re saying. The idea was to change the battery w/o losing all the consist addresses.
Just a quick way to get out of it if the command station memory is lost. Given that the OP has had the system shut down and packed away for a while, if his battery is dead, anything in there is already toast.
In fact, it wouldn't hurt after a long period of downtime to actually take out the battery and leave it out for a while to truly clear the memory, a weak battery could possibly leave it in a corrupt state.
Back to the immediate topic, I'm not a big fan of telling people with unknown levels of electronic compentency to do things to systems with the power turned on. Not that I couldn't fumble the battery as easily as anyone else. I would never attempt a powered up replacement if the CS was up under the layout. Sitting out in the opn on top of the workbench - yeah, I'd probably try it, if I had a lot of consists or somethings. Do follow the recommendations and put paper over the exposed board area to minimize the risk if attempting it with the system powered up.
Do wish they put two battery holders in there like Digitrax did on their older systems that used a battery for memory backup. That way you can put in a new one first, THEN remove the old one. Of course, still doesn't help if you wait too long and the old one is actually dead.
Would be nice if either system would actually monitor that battery and tell you it was getting low - the current draw is so low that the battery SHOULD last nearly its shelf life, however you never know what you get with batteries these days, even a brand new one sealed in the package with an expiration date 5 years from now can be dead as a doornail.
Thanks Randy,
my skill level is novice compared to you and others on this forum. However I have replaced and installed decoders, converted DC locos to DCC and wired both DC and DCC layouts and control panels.
the CS is in a box so I can make the change on the bench.
So I understand, all I can lose is "consists" (I only have 2). All other programming, speed tables and CV changes are on the locomotive decoder. Correct?
Correct.