I have a NCE Power Cab system that I am trying to hook up. When I turn it on, none of my locomotives respond. The sound doesn't turn on, and don't respond to commands. None of the solutions on NCE's website worked. I used a NCE DCC Twin before and it worked fine. Im not sure what could be wrong.
I'm assuming that you are getting a display on the Power Cab readout.
Here are a couple of simple things to check:
The Power Cab must be plugged into the left hand socket on the PCP panel.
You must be using the straight cord with six wires as opposed to the coiled cord which has only four wires and is only used if you are using the Power Cab as a throttle with a larger NCE system. The four wire cord does not provide power to the track and it would seem that the track is not powered if you are not getting any sounds.
Those are two of the basics that I can think of. If those don't help, hopefully others can walk you through the recovery process.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Along with Dave's suggestions, have you connected the track wires to the 2-connector port at the back of the PCP panel? And is the connector completely seated into the board socket?
Lastly, you have a manual for your Power Cab?
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
hon30critterThe Power Cab must be plugged into the left hand socket on the PCP panel.
And the panel should be not be mounted upside down.
Maybe we shouldn't assume you have a display, do you?
If there is no display at all, either the power supply, PCP board or the cab is dead.
If the display functions normally, a Harbor Freight voltmeter is going to be your friend. Is there voltage at the back of the PCP board where the green plug goes?
If yes, are the track wires solidly attached to the green plug?
Is there voltage at the track, once you attach the plug?
I doubt a no voltage problem would be cured by a cab reset. Nor do know if voltage, with no DCC signal is a possible error mode, but it's easy to do on page 59 or the Power Cab manual.
I'm also assuming this is the same layout where the NCC Twin worked and not a brand new layout.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Yes, but which "left side"? He has to make sure he doesn't have the board upside down.
BigDaddy hon30critter The Power Cab must be plugged into the left hand socket on the PCP panel. And the panel should be not be mounted upside down. Maybe we shouldn't assume you have a display, do you? If there is no display at all, either the power supply, PCP board or the cab is dead. If the display functions normally, a Harbor Freight voltmeter is going to be your friend. Is there voltage at the back of the PCP board where the green plug goes? If yes, are the track wires solidly attached to the green plug? Is there voltage at the track, once you attach the plug? I doubt a no voltage problem would be cured by a cab reset. Nor do know if voltage, with no DCC signal is a possible error mode, but it's easy to do on page 59 or the Power Cab manual. I'm also assuming this is the same layout where the NCC Twin worked and not a brand new layout.
hon30critter The Power Cab must be plugged into the left hand socket on the PCP panel.
1. The panel is not mounted upside down. It's mounted with the LED on the bottom
2. I get the normal display. The wires are solidly attached to the plug.
3. There is no voltage to the track. The power pack is getting 13.8 VDC. The panel itself is getting 13.8 VDC. The track power is not getting any reading
4. Yes, it's the same layout. I tried this panel on a test track as well, and it's giving me the same problem.
Is the LED on the panel on? If so, measure the voltage at the plug on the panel on the AC scale.
Don
dslack4903. There is no voltage to the track. The power pack is getting 13.8 VDC. The panel itself is getting 13.8 VDC. The track power is not getting any reading
What I meant by the power supply, is commonly called a wall wart, that plugs into the PCP and the wall.
By power pack, do you mean the hand controller?
The output at the back of the PCP, before you stick the plug into it, ought to be 13.8 V. There is not a lot that can go wrong, down stream of that. The wires may not be stripped enough, the plug can not be full inserted, the wires may not be properly soldered to the track I have a circuit breaker, but I believe the power cab should blink if there is a short.
BigDaddy I have a circuit breaker, but I believe the power cab should blink if there is a short.
I have a circuit breaker, but I believe the power cab should blink if there is a short.
Correct. The Power Cab has built-in short protection and will blink if a short is detected.
BigDaddy dslack490 3. There is no voltage to the track. The power pack is getting 13.8 VDC. The panel itself is getting 13.8 VDC. The track power is not getting any reading What I meant by the power supply, is commonly called a wall wart, that plugs into the PCP and the wall. By power pack, do you mean the hand controller? The output at the back of the PCP, before you stick the plug into it, ought to be 13.8 V. There is not a lot that can go wrong, down stream of that. The wires may not be stripped enough, the plug can not be full inserted, the wires may not be properly soldered to the track I have a circuit breaker, but I believe the power cab should blink if there is a short.
dslack490 3. There is no voltage to the track. The power pack is getting 13.8 VDC. The panel itself is getting 13.8 VDC. The track power is not getting any reading
Yes, by power pack I mean the cord that plugs in from the wall to the PCP.
I stripped the wires enough, but i did notice the plug from the wall wart goin into the panel does not go in all the way, but it feels like it is
Carolina Northern Is the LED on the panel on? If so, measure the voltage at the plug on the panel on the AC scale. Don
yes, the LED on the panel is fully on. No shorts are detected
dslack490 Carolina Northern Is the LED on the panel on? If so, measure the voltage at the plug on the panel on the AC scale. Don yes, the LED on the panel is fully on. No shorts are detected
dslack,
The power supply plug does not go all the way into the board socket of the PCP panel. On mine there's probably ~1/8" visible gap where the outer shiny contact of the plug is visible once fully plugged in.
dslack490,
You seem to have done everything right, so at this point I would suggest contacting NCE directly.
https://www.ncedcc.com/contact-nce
Good luck. I can feel your frustration! DCC can be like that. Try to avoid using a bigger hammer!!!
Do we know for sure that the track feeders from the green plug to the track work? That is why I wanted to know if there was power at the PCP output in back. No power there, eliminates the feeders as a problem.
Rumors in the forum are that NCE service is backed up. So I would still try a cab reset.
It appears the OP isn't having much luck trouble shooting, so I though I'd give this advice, go through the set up again from the start (or maybe just the part that wasn't working).
It may seem obvious or stupid, but when I was trying to get JMRIs switchlists to work last summer, starting over and going a bit slower just to be sure everything was right did work!
Of course if you think there is a issue with your system, I guess you'd need to contact NCE. I can't help you there, I have used NCE only once in my life!
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!