The MRC power packs that I have scoped have uneven wave forms in AC and the DC has been inadequately filtered. Also, at least at no load they put out significantly higher maximum voltage than claimed - in at least two cases I've tested, as much as 22 VAC out of the "16VAC" auxiliary output, and as much as 16 VDC at max throttle out of the variable DC output. And last but not least the ones I have tested have shown excessive variation in voltage at load.
I am a PowerCab user too and also have the Smartbooster although mine, purchased two+ years ago, is only 3 Amp output. So you'll know that their literature emphasizes that inputs greater than 16VAC require a cooling fan, and inputs of 24VAC or more must be absolutely avoided, or damage will result. You should at least use or borrow a voltmeter to make sure your MRC auxiliary output is not exceeding the recommended voltage.
cacoleParagon2 locomotives do NOT have a QSI decoder -- it is a decoder designed by Broadway Limited themselves to get away from paying QSI royalties
Oops! Thanks, Chuck. I should have remembered that.
cacoleand to also replace the Blue Line sound-only decoders that were so problematic.
I just want to comment on this. I had heard the same thing before I bought my Blueline 4-8-4 Niagara. However, I absolutely LOVE the sound of this particular Blueline locomotive. Guttural and impressive; no other sound locomotive comes close - except maybe the Loksound decoder in my PCM F3.
I also like the fact that I can add the motion decoder of my choosing. I picked up and installed a Lenz Silver MP decoder (because of the excellent BEMF) and I couldn't be happier with the low-speed response at speed step 001. It's as good as my Trix 2-8-2 Mike and nearly rivals my Steward FT A-B unit, outfitted with a Lenz Gold decoder.
Chuck, what exactly were folks having a problem with?
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Paragon2 locomotives do NOT have a QSI decoder -- it is a decoder designed by Broadway Limited themselves to get away from paying QSI royalties and to also replace the Blue Line sound-only decoders that were so problematic.
You need to download the Paragon2 decoder Technical Reference Manual from Broadway Limited to know what CVs are supported.
For the Paragon2 Hudson, this is the applicable reference manual:
http://www.broadway-limited.com/support/manuals/P2%20Steam%20Tech%20Ref%201.01.pdf
Ed,
So, it appears that both the "multiple" CV (CV 49 = 128, CV50 = 255, and CV56 = 113) reset and the "single" CV (CV8 = 8) reset works with the new QSI decoders. That would be good to confirm with QSI.
I do have the older 3A version of the Smart Booster (SB3) and do look forward to upgrading it to the newer 5A (SB3a) someday. I also use a Digitrax PS315 3A wall transformer with mine. If I do upgrade, it looks like I'll have to buy a new transformer, too.
Tom
Thanks Tom, Randy and everyone else with for your well-appreciated input.
Last night I first tried to reset CV19 to 0 as it was the easiest to try, with no luck.
I next tried to reset CV49, CV50 & CV56 on the program track. This resulted in changing the address of the engine to 3 but also changed the other CV’s to other fuctions and the engine would not run.
I next tried to reset all the CV’s in the decoder by using step 7 in the programming mode of the NCE Power Cab. This gave me the same results as resetting CV49, Cv50 & CV56.
I next tried to reset CV8 to 8 on the program track. This reset all the CV’s back to the factory settings and the address to 3. I could now run the engine and all the sound functions worked as intended. I re-programmed the long address to the engine number.
I than re-connected the Smart Booster as I did originally, but this time I removed all the engines from the track. After powering up the booster, I placed the engines, one at a time on the track. Now everything is working like a charm.
To answer some of the other question, this is the new 5 amp NCE Smart Booster that increases the capacity of the Power Cab. I will let everyone know how it performs after I use it for a while.
As for the Power Cab, I think it is very ease to use and at $150 for a complete DCC package, is a great value.
A question for Steamnut. What do you mean by MRC transformer “output is dirty”? I am not sure what this term means.
Again, thank you everyone, for your help.
Ed
My comment doesn't address your specific problem directly although it might address a contributing issue.
I highly, highly recommend that you purchase a dedicated transformer. THe output from your MRC is "dirty" and may also not deliver enough current.
Any wall wart with 16 VAC output (a common option) and at least a 40 volt amp current rating will do - at a considerable savings from the $50 that NCE wants for its matching wall wart.
Which smart booster do you have. The older 3 amp or the newer 5 amp? Besides what was reviewed already you might not have enough current to run many loco's. Depends on what is available from the power pack aux terminals. You should get it a good transformer. I personally didn't like the smart booster. I had 2 of them that would constantly trip. I wound up switching to the pro 5amp system.
Springfield PA
Unless you changed the three CVs, your QSI decoder probably did NOT reset. I would just go ahead and try resetting your decoder that way to be sure. (Unless the Paragon 2 QSI decoders have a different reset now.)
The plus about using Programming track mode to reprogram your decoder with is that you get CV "read back" - i.e. you can read the CV values directly from your Power Cab screen. You don't get CV read back in OPS mode.
If the address has changed, you won't be able to do it in Ops Mode. The program track modes don't care what the address is.
Unless the PowerCab can program in Ops Mode to address 00 like Digitrax can, which broadcast programs to EVERY loco on the track (make sure you take everythng off except the one you want to program). Comes in handy to reset sound decoders that won't work ont he program track without a booster and you've forggoten the address to do Ops Mode.
Also, it should have either a jumper or the magnetic magic wand to do a reset. Also, after issuing the reset sequence, you need to remove and then reapply track power to complete the reset process.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hi Tom,
I reset in OPS mode. I can try a reset on my program track, but If the loco address has changed, as I suspect, will changing CV49, CV50 & CV56 have any affect?
Did you reset your Hudson decoder using Programming on the Main (OPS) mode or your programming track? I like to reprogram on the programming track. However, you'll still need your Power Cab's PCP panel to do that.
Also, the reset for a QSI decoder is a three-fold operation:
You should hear the horn toot, if done correctly.
PS
It seems like the long address of the Hudson may have changed when I connected to the booster. If I could reset the engine to factory settings, this might fix it, but I don't see how to reset the loco, in the paperwork I received with the engine, without going to the current loco address. I have tried changing CV8 to 8, but again, if the address has changed this will have no effect with the engine.
Last night I set up and connected my new NCE Smart Booster to my layout. I had been previously been running DCC via NCE Power Cab without any problems. However, now that I have connected the Smart Booster to the layout, I don’t get any response from my BLI Paragon 2 Hudson. My other DCC locos work fine (BLI F7 and Heritage steam).
I tried resetting the Hudson to the factory settings with no results. What do I need to do to re-set the Hudson to factory settings? I gave the Smart Booster powered by the accessosry 16 VAC of an old MRC Dual Pack Transformer. The power requirements for the Smart Booster are 14 to 18 VAC. What did I do wrong when I connected the booster?