I am new to dcc this year. I bought 2 used powercabs and a new sb5 booster. after rewiring the layout with 14 ga wire I am still loosing control of all engines. one day everything works great and then next day no control for any engines. when I go to my bench test track things work perfect, engines start up on track but no control even after a reset. ver 1.65 comes up when this is happening. 1.65b comes up on controller when things are working right. any ideas would be helpful and welcome thanks
I don't now how this question sneaked by but it did.
to the forum, your first few posts are moderated.
Is you DC power pack not just unplugged but completely disconnected from the track?
The more info you can give us the better.
What engines are these? Did they run before on DC? Recent Ebay purchase? How many engines do this?
What did you reset, the decoders or the powercabs? Both can be reset, and I would do them both.
Does this happen with both powercabs?
Does no control mean that nothing happens or do the engines take off at high speed?
Is there a section of track where they always run normally and then you lose them in a different section of track?
Many people disable DC control of DCC engines to prevent things like losing control. That's all I can think with the info you have given us, but more people will be along shortly, I am sure.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Your SB5 probably needs to be upgraded to 1.65B. If you get 1.65B when the PowerCab is plugged in to the PCP at the bench, and you see 1.65 when using the SB5, it's the SB5 that needs to be upgraded. There were some issues so NCE replaced 1.65 with 1.65B pretty quickly. That may be your problem.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
The upgrade is just a chip he plugs in? He did say he bought it new.
edit, wrong link
https://www.ncedcc.com/online-store/SB3a-SB5-EPROM-Firmware-Upgrade-Chip-1-65B-p40150638
Yes, just a chip. It so happens to be the main microcontroller, since they are not EEPROMs that can be updated via a software updated process. Depending on how fast SB5's move, it's easily possible to get one that still has the older version while being new in the box. Sounds like his PowerCab already has 1.65B - I think they sell a LOT more PowerCabs than they do SB5s so the old PowerCabs have probably all been cleared off the shelves.
BigDaddyIs you DC power pack not just unplugged but completely disconnected from the track? The more info you can give us the better.
Henry,
Maybe the original post was edited but the OP never mentions using or connecting a DC pack to his track. He's just having issues between the new SB5 and the used Power Cabs...
lunar,
Contact NCE and share with them your observations. Chances are - if your SB5 is brand new and there is a compatibility issue between it and your Power Cabs between of the versions - they may send you the replacement eprom free.
It's an easy replacement. All you need is to remove the lid of the SB5 and pry up on each end of the eprom with a small flathead screwdriver until it disengages from the socket. Just make sure that ALL the legs of the replacement eprom are in the socket before pressing it down into the socket.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Tom I was just taking a shot in the dark because we have seen others with left over DC connections that they didn't initially tell us about. I didn't know anything about booster upgrades, so this thread is educational for me.
I brought it up because just the other day there was another newcomer to DCC who, like the OP here, started by pulling out some old DC stuff and running it, then bought a PowerCab and a DCC loco. And left the DC power pack connected to the track, which caused his problems. So I was just making sure this wasn't happening here as well. You never know.
rrinker I brought it up because just the other day there was another newcomer to DCC who, like the OP here, started by pulling out some old DC stuff and running it, then bought a PowerCab and a DCC loco. And left the DC power pack connected to the track, which caused his problems. So I was just making sure this wasn't happening here as well. You never know.
Which brings to mind as to why doesn't NCE doesn't include a warning at the very beginning in the reference manual...DISCONNECT ANY DC POWER PACK(S) FROM THE LAYOUT (in bold caps I might add).
Bear "It's all about having fun."