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NCE Power Cab Problem

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  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: La Mesa,CA
  • 145 posts
NCE Power Cab Problem
Posted by Marty C on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 12:21 AM

I have upgraded my Power Cab with the 1.65v chip. While the system operates well, I am intermitently getting some spurious displays on the LCD. Usually if I hit enter the display goes back to normal. The most annoying thing that happens is when entering address numbers to select a loco it will sometimes either not take the number or will take the first three numbers and when I enter the fourth it reverts to blank and I have to start over. Eventually it takes all but I never experienced these kind of annoyances before the upgrade. Anyone else seeing these kind of anomallies?

 

Marty C

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 12:46 AM

Marty:

I am going to assume that you have the new chip fully seated, so the only thing I can suggest is to give NCE a phone call. I suggest a call instead of an e-mail because I just got a message from them that they are experiencing a flood of spam e-mails. They suggested that I call instead.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,249 posts
Posted by tstage on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 12:54 AM

Marty,

Since you performed the EPROM chip upgrade yourself, my guess is that the new chip is not seated properly in the socket.  Remove the back from your Power Cab, carefully remove the EPROM from the socket, check for any bent pins, then try re-seating it again.

Two things to keep in mind:

  1. Be sure to ground yourself to some metal before touching and/or removing the EPROM - ICs can be easily damaged by static electricity
  2. Place the EPROM into the socket then press it down evenly at both ends so that it seats uniformly into the socket

Marty, did you ground yourself before you removed the EPROM from it's protective ESD bag the first time?  If not, hopefully the chip didn't get zapped.  If you're still having the same problems after re-seating the EPPOM, you may need to contact NCE to have them send you another chip.  It may cost you though.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: La Mesa,CA
  • 145 posts
Posted by Marty C on Thursday, February 14, 2013 12:29 AM

Thanks for both inputs. I don't think I had a static electricity problem. The Cab works fine when connected to my program track at my work station. The anomalies only occur when it is connected to the SB3a on the layout. I spoke with NCE and they advised that there was a glitch with the SB3a software and the upgrade and recommended I change the Pro Cab address to 3 when connected to the SB3a. I did that after ensuring the chip was seated properly but I still had some anomalies. I then changed the address to 4 and most went away. I still sometimes have a problem in the selecting loco screen in that when entering the address the numbers don't always come up on the screen and if I hit the number again it either jumps back to blank or misses the number and skips to the next one.There are times when it works fine and others when it takes three or four tries before I can get all four numbers entered. I will probaly call NCE back when I get a chance. All the other functions seem to be working.  Interesting problem that doesn't prevent me from operating the layout but does get a little frustrating. If it continues, I may put the 1.28 chip back in and see what happens.

 

Marty C

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