I have removed all engines from the tracks I've checked all tracks for something that may have fallen on tracks to cause a short (nothing) I've checked all pin conections on the NCE unit, everything seems as it should. Still no power to tracks (main or programing). The lights are still as in my last post. The red light by control bus (left side of unit) is steady red, the red light by "status" is not on and the amber light next to it is on steady. I've checked the track all around the layout with a volt meter and I get nothing. I can't find any shorts and all pin conectors are tight. I'm lost, any suggestions?
Call (don't email) Jim at NCE. I am told he is very helpful.
when you're clueless ... start at the beginning ... divide and conquer
diconnect the throttle from the railroad and verify with a voltmeter that you have power at the throttle.
then connect it back and try disconnecting parts of the railroad to isolate the problem. If you can divide it in half, hopefully you can isolate it to one half or the other. then divide that half in half ...
you'll be surprised how quickly you can find the problem
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
If you call NCE, Larry is the go-to guy.
Rich
Alton Junction
Take a closer look at the 4-pin connector plug.
One thing that you could do is to disconnect the two wires from the track side of the 4-pin connector plug. Insert two short lengths of wire and test with a volt meter to see if you have any output power.
Rich,
You are correct. Larry is the man. Don't know what I was thinking when I typed Jim.
skagitrailbird Rich, You are correct. Larry is the man. Don't know what I was thinking when I typed Jim.
Larry retired this January.
Jack W.
I just tested the power output directly from the PowerPro after removing the 4 pin plug and there is no power. Also after I power off the system the Prowercab wireless throttle remains on. The back light goes off and none off the keys do anything but it still reads out the loco #, the time, the direction and the last speed it was set for. only removing the battery shuts it down completly.
mike33469 wrote the following post 2 hours ago:
Hi Mike
Is your NCE plugged into the back of the the panel mounted ( can't think of the name)if so I once missed the connecters and plugged in along side, which caused me a lot of head scratching before I traced it down.
Not sure if this will help but, who knows?
Good luck.
Lee
Everything is plugged in properly, the system was working fine 3 days ago. I did nothing except turn it on to run a train and now nothing. Very mysterious.
If there is no joy here, there is a very active NCE Group you can join. I have the Power Cab and have been to this Group.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/NCE-DCC/info
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.
There is a good chance that the two circuit boards have separated from one another inside the command station box. The upper circuit board may have come loose from the lower circuit board and, if so, needs to be reseated.
mike33469I just tested the power output directly from the PowerPro after removing the 4 pin plug and there is no power. Also after I power off the system the Prowercab wireless throttle remains on. The back light goes off and none off the keys do anything but it still reads out the loco #, the time, the direction and the last speed it was set for. only removing the battery shuts it down completly.
You originally said that you have a PowerPro system, and now you say PowerCab. Or are you using a PowerCab on the PowerPro command station. And if you are using the PowerCab on the PowerPro command station, are you using the correct connector cable?
In any case, if the wireless handset was in use when you turned off the command station, it will continue to display whatever was on the screen at the time. To shut off the handset, you need to push and hold the "Expn" key. You will get a screen with two options. Option 1 will shut off the handset. You should not have to remove batteries.
So, whatever happened?
Which cable are you using for the power cab handset. The flat one or the coiled one? Also, is the power cab plugged into the control bus or is it unplugged?
Since my last post my father has past away and I've been spending all my time at my mothers house. She is almost 93 and as you might imagine is having a tough time. Hopefully she'll start feeling better next week and I'll be able to spend a little time at home to figure out whats up with my NCE. I will let you know what happening when I'm able.
Sorry to heart about your father's passing. My condolences.
Take care of the really important things, like helping your mom get through this. The trains will still be waiting and we'll be here when you get back.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Today I had a chance to call NCE. I found out that Larry is no longer at NCE. I spoke to a gentleman named Ed. He thought it might be my power supply so I switched it out for a Loy's Toys Fuel Tank. Still no track power. He suggested new batteries for the throttle, no luck. Then he had me remove the cover for the base station and check for loose boards or anything looking out of order, everything inside looks fine. I guess I'll have to pack it up and ship it back to NCE. I don't know what else to do at this point.
First, my condolences for the loss of your father. My own father passed away 18 years ago. That feeling of loss never really goes away.
Sorry to hear that NCE could not resolve the problem over the phone. I was confident that it was merely an issue of reseating the two boards. Nothing else to do, but to send it back for repair. Bummer.
Let us know what NCE reports back to you. When they return the repaired command station, they will note the problem on the paperwork.
Larry is no longer at NCE? I thought he was the owner -- maybe he has sold the company ?
No, that's Jim Scorse.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I was surprised to learn that Larry had retired. I don't recall any mention of that on the NCE-DCC forum (Yahoo Groups). Larry was a member of the Customer Service staff and he was usually the guy to answer the phone and deal with technical issues. He will be missed.