EDIT: Please don't read further w/o realizing I described what turns out to be a non-problem. (Thanks to those who replied already). I was mis-reading the short indicator lights on my panel (long story). After I removed all rolling stock, I checked the rail power with my RRampMeter (1st time used in 12 years) and found there was power indeed, everywhere. When I put the locos back on, all worked fine. I don't have any ideas why nothing responded before I (incorrectly) concluded a short was occurring, but all is fine now. Trust me, I'm suitably embarrassed. I am glad to have things in working order for the grandkids to enjoy during their holiday visit. Unfortunately, that will be the last episode for the layout as we will move next year, and the layout is not at all moveable (poor planning in 2011).
Happy holidays to all!
Below is the the original post incorrectly describing a non-short issue.
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My 11 year old layout today exhibits a never seen short circuit problem and I'm not sure how to best go about troubleshooting. I have the NCE 5A PowerHouse Pro system and three "sub-districts". The NCE output is split to two OG-ARs on reversing loops and one OG-AR for the mainline. My control panel has a short circuit LED from each of those boards, and with power on all three are showing short (and nothing works). If it matters, I have an on layout program track but I have that switched off.
Of course I have seen shorts from time to time, either from a rolling stock derailment, the famous short at a turnout due to a flange touching the wrong rail piece, etc. But in all prior cases, only the section where the problem existed shorted and only that indicator LED lit. I assume that the NCE is not detecting a short at its end since the three sub-district breakers are obviously tripped but the LEDs are lit, so the 3 boards are receiving power from the NCE system.
That said, I do have limited rolling stock on the layout and could start by removing it, but I strongly suspect that will not help.
Any advise on what can cause such a problem and/or how to logically go about troubleshooting would be much appreciated.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Check your turnouts for foreign matter such as a truck or coupler spring, or a bit of rail that was snipped at some point. These things can migrate to the TO over time. I always start there. Use a magnifying glass.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Look for any closed or bridged gaps. Look for bared wiring everywhere there could possibly be any rubbing or slow bending of wires allowing them to come into contact. Broken, abraded insulation.... look everywhere.
Sloppy solder gob that might have sagged even microscopically over time and made undesired contact.
Sometimes, if you have hardened ballast and needn't fear tracks sproinging back into tangent anywhere, you can cut one joiner pair and isolate part of the layout. Try the power. No short? Maybe you have constrained your sleuthing to a small area now.
The first thing I do is undue the last thing I did. Any changes to the layout? Unplug the boosters one at a time. Check rail gaps for a closure from expansion and contraction. Unplug the reversing sections one at a time. Unplug the command station to see if the short disappears. In other words. Narrow it down to one section at a time.
Pete.
Paul, I have the same NCE DCC system as you, and I have divided my layout into 3 power districts controlled by PSX units and four reversing sections controlled by PSX-AR units. I would start troubleshooting with a call to NCE Customer Service for their advice. Those guys are terrific in narrowing down the problem.
Rich
Alton Junction
peahrens EDIT: Please don't read further w/o realizing I described what turns out to be a non-problem. (Thanks to those who replied already). I was mis-reading the short indicator lights on my panel (long story). After I removed all rolling stock, I checked the rail power with my RRampMeter (1st time used in 12 years) and found there was power indeed, everywhere. When I put the locos back on, all worked fine. I don't have any ideas why nothing responded before I (incorrectly) concluded a short was occurring, but all is fine now. Trust me, I'm suitably embarrassed. I am glad to have things in working order for the grandkids to enjoy during their holiday visit. Unfortunately, that will be the last episode for the layout as we will move next year, and the layout is not at all moveable (poor planning in 2011). Happy holidays to all! Below is the the original post incorrectly describing a non-short issue. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My 11 year old layout today exhibits a never seen short circuit problem and I'm not sure how to best go about troubleshooting. I have the NCE 5A PowerHouse Pro system and three "sub-districts". The NCE output is split to two OG-ARs on reversing loops and one OG-AR for the mainline. My control panel has a short circuit LED from each of those boards, and with power on all three are showing short (and nothing works). If it matters, I have an on layout program track but I have that switched off. Of course I have seen shorts from time to time, either from a rolling stock derailment, the famous short at a turnout due to a flange touching the wrong rail piece, etc. But in all prior cases, only the section where the problem existed shorted and only that indicator LED lit. I assume that the NCE is not detecting a short at its end since the three sub-district breakers are obviously tripped but the LEDs are lit, so the 3 boards are receiving power from the NCE system. That said, I do have limited rolling stock on the layout and could start by removing it, but I strongly suspect that will not help. Any advise on what can cause such a problem and/or how to logically go about troubleshooting would be much appreciated.
Paul, I just fired up my layout after six months away, and about a year after my last programming of any kind. I just received a new steamer and wanted to assign it the cab number. I got into programming mode on my Digitrax throttle, that's second nature now. What tripped me up was how to proceed once I had Paged Mode selected for the address change. I just stared at the throttle and had no idea how to proceed. It's a long address, and the DT400 will poll the operator to set long vs. short. But how do you enter the long address on the display when it says, "Ad2? y/n". It took me a moment, but I finally tried clicking the other encoder knob and it changed to Add4?, and ahh...I've got my mojo back.
All this to say I can sympathize immediately with where you were at back there, dreading a substantial puzzle and maybe not being able to meet your 'Christmas obligations'. Hopefully all that's left for you is a simple decoder reset. That will happen when you have the kids in there and want to show them the trains operating. Never fails.
selector I got into programming mode on my Digitrax throttle, that's second nature now.
Sometimes it's the little things that trip you up.
There were occasions when I'd power up the layout and push the "track power on" button(s) — the engines came to life, some with the headlights on, etc. passenger car lights came on but I could not select or run a locomotive.
Turns out I neglected to look at the tiny dot, smaller than a flea's eyelash, on the LCD display that indicated track power. It was blinking in stead of steady on.
Sometimes those rubbery Digitrax buttons don't respond well. Powering off then on again made everything good, but for a little while it threw me for a loop.
Good Luck, Ed
Don't feel bad. I was at the store checkout today. Put my card in the reader and for the life of me couldn't remember my pin number! I've used it thousands of times. Had to use the credit card instead. Just like going into the workshop and forgetting why you went there. It happens. More frequently as the years tick by.
I took a decade long hiatus from the hobby and now getting things together again. I can't believe the stuff I have. Projects that I started, stuff I bought and forgot why, and how things operate again. The numbers on the side of the locomotives got a lot smaller in ten years. I have to keep my cheaters Velcro to the throttle or low on the nose at the workbench.
Happy holidays.