hello. i have a nce power cab and before i got the nce smart booster i could read the amps instead of the time. now, i know you can't program with the smart booster, however, is there any way to get the amps to read instead of the clock with the smart booster. now, if i go back to just the power cab, the amps are there instead of the clock. why won't it stay there when i revert back to the smart booster? thank you
Because, when you add the booster, the power cab no longer knows what is coming out of the other end.
LION bought an ammeter (back in 1969) and that is the last item between the power sources and the tracks. It tells me what power the traction motors (and HEP) are drawing. Even with five trains running at once, I have never gotten it above 1 amp, and that is a 15 amp power source going into the layout.
But LION does not do DCC so your results may vary.
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
You can build your own DCC amp meter or buy the Ramp meter from Tony's Trains.
I built my own DCC amp meter for about $12.00 about three years ago. I use a $5.00 multimeter. I bought a few from Harbor Freight some time ago.
Our club has the DIY and shows a little over 3 amps with about twelve sound locos. The Power Pro, 5 amp system, trips at about 4.8 amps when I use a heavy duty rheostat as a variable load.
DIY. Rob does not show the meter anymore but he uses the same meter.
http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/DCCammeter10.html#PCB
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.
Bull,
The command station and booster of the Power Cab are overridden or bypassed when you add the Smart Booster (SB3a). So, because of that, you no longer have access to the amp meter feature in your Power Cab. You can build or purchase an amp meter, as Rich mentions above.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
thank you all for your replies. tstage, at least now i understand this nce system a little better. i guess i will have to either build or purchase a meter. thanks again for the info. bill