I have an n scale layout and am using NCE Power Pro 5. Everything works fine. I have about 25 locos sitting on various sidings, main line, etc. I turned off the power supply. When I came back and turned it on, several of the locos suddenly started running. Shut it off. Turned it on again, same thing. After one or two cycles of this, I turned it on and nothing moved. Later, when I turned it on after a period of being off the same thing happened.
I assume this is something common that I just don't know about since I'm new to the hobby. Any help would be much appreciated.
Dcc correct? I see a couple possibilities.
1 speed settings for the locos aren't turned all the way down
2 DC mode is not turned off in the decoders, I think this is most likely. It's a simple change to one of the CV settings.
3 that's a lot of locos that are sucking power on startup, especially if they have sound. Perhaps removing some or cutting power to the sidings they park on will help.
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
Yes, DCC.
Number 2 was the problem. I reprogramed CV 29 so that DC was turned off and it eliminated the issue. I guess the way I wired things there must be enough of a delay in the signal to some of the tracks that the decoder assumed DC rather than DCC.
There is only 1 loco with sound right now. Most of the locos are sitting on tracks around a turntable. Anyway, now that I reset the decoders, no more problem.
Thanks for your help.
The startup load of all those locos on the track is probably dropping the DCC signal enough that decoders that are set to allow DC operation are seeing DC and not DCC on power up.
It's not a bad idea to still install kill toggles for sidings, even with DCC - in part to prevent this. Unless you take your locos to someone else's layout and need them to work on DC, it's also not a bad idea to adjust CV29 to disable DC operation. The menus on the PowerCab should allow this to be set, or you cna use a calculator like the one here: http://www.2mm.org.uk/articles/cv29%20calculator.htm to figure out what value should be in CV29.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Check the 'Recall' button on the throttle. Scroll through all the engines that are in memory and make sure all have their speed set to zero.
The above suggestions are very good. The 'load' of 25 N Scale engines could be a problem at start up. .2 amps per engine gets you to 5 amps fast. Changing your decoder settings to 'NMRA Digital' only should get rid of the unexpected start up movement. Also, substandard bus/track wiring can cause this issue.
I have heard of folks adding a 'kill' switch for the engine terminal so that the engines parked there do not draw current when the system is powered on. Only the engines on the main track get power. The 'kill' switch is set to 'on' after the layout is powered up. The 'in-rush' current draw of the decoder capacitors can produce this problem.
If you do not have a RRampMeter from Railroad Specialties, that would be a good investment - You might be amazed at the voltage drop you will seem across your layout! One of our club members has one with a 1156 lamp attached(2.2 amp load) that we use to verify wiring changes.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
'NMRA Digital' Could you please explain? Thanks
No DC - Bit 2 od CV29 off. If you read the formal language of the actual NMRA standards and RPs it says things like that. Basically, DCC only, no automatic analog conversion (which is the opposite 'formal' way of saying it - most people just say DC operation)