Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Broken battery clip slot on NCE power cab

3007 views
7 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Winnipeg Canada
  • 1,637 posts
Broken battery clip slot on NCE power cab
Posted by Blind Bruce on Thursday, February 12, 2015 10:29 PM

The battery clip nearest the top of the power pro "hammerhead" throttle, has fallen out. Caused by the plastic bar that holds it in has snapped off. It is very thin to begin with so I thought maybe somebody may tell me what to do. The clip has no wires, it just connects the two center batteries together and pushes the other two up against the wired clips. A new case from NCE is $20.00 and will take time to get here. I guess that is best although an external battery pack would work but be cumbersome as well as unsightly.. What say you?

73

Bruce in the Peg

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, February 14, 2015 6:24 AM

Bruce, you face a difficult dilemma here.

You could buy an external battery holder and tape it onto the back of the throttle, but that would be fragile and cumbersome.  

There are battery holder manufacturers out there where you could purchase a replacement holder to fit inside your throttle.  But that repair could be a delicate process.

A return to NCE for repair makes the most sense except that you will be without the throtte for a period of time.  Since this is a Power Cab, you will be shut down for a good period of time.  So, it would probably be best to operate in tethered mode until summer arrives and you can better afford the down time while waiting for your Power Cab to be repaired.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Saturday, February 14, 2015 8:01 AM

Rich,

Bruce calls it a Power Cab in his title, but it is a Pro Cab throttle.  The Power Cab does not use batteries.

Bruce's best bet would be to purchase a replacement case from NCE instead of sending his cab in for repair.  This would take much less time, at least.

 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, February 14, 2015 8:15 AM

cacole, thanks.  I have a Pro Cab, actually two of them, myself, so I assumed that the Power Cab wireless throttle was similar.  Bad assumption.

In any event, with the Pro Cab, the battery holder holds 4 AAA batteries, two side by side pairs, end to end.

Back to my original advice, just run it tethered until summer, then send it back to NCE fo repair during the down season.

cacole, if NCE sends Bruce a replacement battery holder, how difficult would it be to do the install himself?

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: United Kingdom
  • 552 posts
Posted by bsteel4065 on Saturday, February 14, 2015 8:16 AM

CoolIMO $20 is worth it if it means you have uninterupted and continuous use of the handset. Go buy a new case.

  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: Winnipeg Canada
  • 1,637 posts
Posted by Blind Bruce on Saturday, February 14, 2015 8:25 AM

Rich, what is a"down season"? It is always winter in Winnipeg!!! LOL

I will order a new case and run tethered when I need the hammerhead. Otherwise I have a cab06 for wireless. If I can't see how to wire the new case,  I have a few friends who will help me. Thanks to all.

73

Bruce in the Peg

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, February 14, 2015 9:49 AM

Blind Bruce

Rich, what is a"down season"? It is always winter in Winnipeg!!! LOL

Yikes!

A few years back, I bought a second Pro Cab so that I minimize the risk of being unable to operate should my Pro Cab need repair.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Monday, February 16, 2015 7:54 AM

richhotrain

if NCE sends Bruce a replacement battery holder, how difficult would it be to do the install himself?

Rich

 
The battery holder is moulded into the case and is not a separately replaceable part.
 
Other members' advice to use an external battery pack of some type is dangerous -- if you don't get the polarity correct, you destroy the controller.
 

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!