Hi guys need your help,I am running my HO layout with a NCE Power CAB system,the problem I am having is when I hook the power wires to the main line track I get no power to the track,the red power indicator light blinks on an off an the engine does nothing but if I hook the wires to the programming track everything is fine. This just started out of nowhere everything was fine
HELP
ripgp30
Sounds like a short circuit. anything derailed or are any tools laying across the rails?
Jim
Rip,
So, your programming track is separate from your layout? If the Power Cab is working fine on the programming track then it sounds like there's a short on the mainline somewhere. Did you do any work on your layout recently?
Also, does your Power Cab try to reboot, as well? If you did do some track work on your layout, I'd look for a stray trail nail or something metallic that's shorting across your railing. If you don't see anything obvious then try vacuuming your track. Perhaps it will pick up the pesky nuisance.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Was your layout running before you hitched up the Power Cab? If so, your wiring should be OK, check for something loose, either on the track, as mentioned or wires touching somewhere you have done recent work.
If this is a new set up, check to be sure all your feeder wires are correct, just one hitched to the wrong side will short out the system. Do you have any metal track bumpers or metal coupler height gage on the layout that are not insolated from the power?
Just a couple of thoughts.
Good luck,
Richard
AND LOOK FOR A REVERSING LOOP! You may not have intended one, but there might be one there nonetheless. Run your finger along the starboard track, no matter how you go through loops and switches it should NEVER end up on the port track. (LIONS are dyslexic and do not know right from left... Port and Starboard are obvious).
If you end up on the port side rail, then this is your problem, and you will need to cut a gap or otherwise insulate your tracks. There is more to it than just putting a gap in there, that will remove the short until the train runs over it and then the train itself will short it out. So you need a second gap and then a way to control the power on the section that you have gaped out.
But inspect it first, and then if this is your problem, come back to us with a track diagram and someone (not the LION--- him does not dew DCC) will help ewe out.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
cowmanWas your layout running before you hitched up the Power Cab?
if not, you could use an ohm-meter to determine if there is indeed a short and try to isolate it.
if it was ok, you can do the same to see if there is a short and isolate it. you might start with disconnecting the NCE from the layout and possibly checking if there is a short between the NCE and the wires you connect it to the layout with.
test and isolate. if the section with the short is too big, try electrically dividing it in half.
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading