I have the 2amp NCE starter system. Is it possible to use a isolated sideing for the program track and also use it as a normal siding?
I am a member of a club that has a programing track built into one of the yards that you flip a switch on it to program and we also have a stand alone programing area connected to a computer.
Curt Webb
The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad
http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/
Just be sure to use a DPDT center off switch to prevent any voltage spike to the program track when switching from program to main.
REMEMBER, before flipping the DPDT switch to Program Track, put the Power Cab into the Program Track option.
I had a mis-wired DCC sound install and the Power Cab told me there was an error.
If I had still been in the normal mode with the Power Cab and flipped the switch to program track, the decoder would probably have smoked as the Program Track option limits the current to prevent decoder damage. Not so in the norml mode.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Also be careful that you don't drive a loco over the isolated section while the progam track is turned on.
Springfield PA
We run our program track with a ptb100 program booster. That feeds a dpdt switch as does the regular DCC. We use that switch to set it to normal or program operation. It's a center off switch which is the normal position of that switch to more or less force us to remember what the track is for in the yard. It also helps when you have guys over who are unfamiliar with the set up. Make sure its very well identified. Of course the track will have to be electrically isolated.
Richard
You need to get the Auto switch for your Power Cab from NCE. If you put the Power Cab into program track mode you will re- program every loco on the rail road. There is only one set of track wires from the Power Cabs panel. It does not distinguish between a dedicated program track and running rails. The Auto switch will give you an automatic program track and isolate the layout so all the power goes to the program track.
http://www.ncedcc.com/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=6&category_id=1
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
My understanding is the system has a ops out jack and a program jack out I could be mistaken. It asks me if I want to program on the main or program track you must make a choice. When operating on ops. program output is off, when program track is chosen both are on. So a DPDT switch would work, question is and common sense tells me I would use a common ground. The only thing I ever wired with a DPDT are tortise switches. Am I correct or totally wrong?
It also asks which loco number I would like to program
If it's asking which loco you want to program that is probably the Ops mode which is programming on the main. The program track doesn't care what the loco number is. Whatever loco is on the track it will get the program commands. Ops mode will send it only to the specific loco.
Looked at the auto-switch $25.00, DPDT switch $2.50 Hmmmmm
I suppose that I really don't NEED a program track just thought it would be nice
KHM60 I have the 2amp NCE starter system. Is it possible to use a isolated sideing for the program track and also use it as a normal siding?
See page 12 of the Power cab manual. There are instructions for doing this. Even a drawing.
Martin Myers
KHM60 Looked at the auto-switch $25.00, DPDT switch $2.50 Hmmmmm
Not wasting an entire afternoon because you forgot to throw the DPDT and accidently programmed half your engines: Priceless!
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
NCE sys has 2 options OPS or program, OPS asks for engine number, program mode will be isolated to the small siding, kind of idiot proof.
Just take off all the engines except the one you want to program
You only do it once so no big deal
And with the starter system you can't have that many on the track so taking them off is no big deal
That is what I did
51% share holder in the ME&O ( Wife owns the other 49% )
ME&O
KHM60 NCE sys has 2 options OPS or program, OPS asks for engine number, program mode will be isolated to the small siding, kind of idiot proof.
The PowerCab does NOT have seperate program track outputs, so unless you wire up a DPDT switch per the instructions and REMEMBER to switch it when programming, or use the Auto Switch insteadof the DPDT, if you use program on the program track mode it will send those program track commands to the entire layout and program any locos left on the track. Exactly how the middle Digitrax system, the Super Empire Builder, works.
Ops Mode only programs the addressed loco, but you geberally cannot change an existing 4 digit address withotu first assigning a temporary 2 digit address. Sometimes you can;t change the 2 digit address if the loco is already using it - in other words, if the current address is a short address, you can set a long address in ops mode, or if the current address is long, you cna set a short address in ops mode. A very few decoders do not allow any address programming in ops mode.
Just fyi with Digitrax, not those kinds of problems. When you put it in program mode with your throttle it uses a different set of outs.
We adjust CVs probably more frequently then others. Especially sound levels which need adjusting depending on the room size/number of locos, etc. One thing that has made this a lot easier is to use decoder pro where the program remembers the last CV setting. This has allowed us to program on the main a lot more since we don't have to remember the CV settings, the computer does. So, we don't need a lot of CV reading. it's freeware and gives you as many throttles/cabs to open as you can handle.
Only the Zephyr and Super Chief (DCS100). The Super Empire Builder (DB150) does not have a seperate set of outputs for a program track and works like the PowerCab.
sorry my mistake I thought Nce had 2 out puts, you were correct only 1 that serves as OPS and progam. It might not be the safest way to go, (with a DPDT switch) but it is the least expensive. I will just hve to be very careful.
I have had the Power Cab since it first came out. I use the program track a lot more then POM. The most important thing to remember about having a program track is the current limiting and possibly saving a very expensive decoder if there is an installation error. ALL newly installed decoders should be placed on the program track before going to the main line. Even already installed decoders in locomotives have problems new out of the box. Its your money. Use it or lose it any way you wish. The $25 auto switch has been an investment to me.
Like Randy has stated. Picture this in your mind. You just acquired a brand new loco with sound. In your excitement to hear and run this new loco you forgot to flip the toggle. You address it and throttle up and all your locos start moving. Another scenario is the brand new $100 Tsunami you just put in a 2-8-0. You did not realize one of the tender trucks had spun around. Power up the main line and poof. Smoke should not be coming from the tender? Then tell me you don't need a program track.