Sorry for the comments from the bleachers, but, this was covered in his thread he started about doing a conversion from DC to DCC.
I thought it was made really clear to NOT have both systems hooked up the layout at the same time.
Mike.
My You Tube
I'll go back to the test that the OP did where the Power Cab was simply connected to a piece of flex track, and everything worked fine. That tells me that there is nothing wrong with the Power Cab.
So, the Power Cab ought to be connected to the layout without a DC power pack anywhere near the layout. Ditch the DC power pack until you confirm that the Power Cab works on your layout or figure out what is wrong with your wiring that is causing the Power Cab not to work.
Rich
Alton Junction
Drew needs to completely unplug the DC from his layout, not just from the wall, but unplug the wires from the DC power pack to the layout.
Then plug in the NCE system, and ONLY the NCE system, and see if it works.
I'll go back to the viewing area,
2002p51 BigDaddy Are you saying that the NCE, while not connected to the power supply, was still connected to the bus while you were running DC ? That would be a yes. I was under the understanding that it was possible to run a layout using DCC sometimes and DC at others, just not at the same time. Is that not so?
BigDaddy Are you saying that the NCE, while not connected to the power supply, was still connected to the bus while you were running DC ?
Are you saying that the NCE, while not connected to the power supply, was still connected to the bus while you were running DC ?
That would be a yes.
I was under the understanding that it was possible to run a layout using DCC sometimes and DC at others, just not at the same time. Is that not so?
FWIW from a non-electrician that wouldn't know a watt or amp if it bit me in the butt, I had my DC power pack connected to my test track via alligator clips and my Power Cab connected via feeders soldered to the rail and the screw terminals on the panel and also had the flashing LED. Disconnected the alligators and everything was fine. Try totally disconnecting the DC power supply from the track and see.
Good luck,
Len S
2002p51I was under the understanding that it was possible to run a layout using DCC sometimes and DC at others, just not at the same time. Is that not so?
Yes, but those that do, put a DPDT center off switch in the circuit. I believe what is switched is the hot feeds to the track, not the power supplies to the DC and DCC system.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I use the Atlas #215 because I had so many left from previous DC layouts.
CAB A is the DCC and CAB B is DC. The center position is OFF.
When using DCC, all switches are moved to the A side, and the DC power pack is unpluged from the wall.
When using DC all switches are moved to the B side, and the DCC power is unplugged from the wall.
The Atlas Selector is basically a SPDT switch.
Both rails are gapped for blocks, and both rails have feeders. NO common rail wiring.
Thats how I do it.
EDIT: I was thinking one type of switch, and typed another.
BigDaddy Yes but those that do put a DPDT center off switch in the circuit. I believe what is switched is the hot feeds to the track, not the power supplies to the DC and DCC system.
Yes but those that do put a DPDT center off switch in the circuit. I believe what is switched is the hot feeds to the track, not the power supplies to the DC and DCC system.
Well, that's easy enough to do and certainly worth a try. Thanks for that tip.
Before you do anything with any DPDT switches, physically put the DC transformer in the next room. Then check and see if the Power Cab works correctly.
Bear "It's all about having fun."
richhotrain So, the Power Cab ought to be connected to the layout without a DC power pack anywhere near the layout. Ditch the DC power pack..."
So, the Power Cab ought to be connected to the layout without a DC power pack anywhere near the layout. Ditch the DC power pack..."
In other words, physically put the power pack in the next room.
Mel, before the OP starts to fool around installing DPDT switches, I believe he should confirm that the Power Cab is working on his layout or find out and fix any wiring problems that prevent the Power Cab from working properly.
I agree with the last three posts by bearman, so I won't bother repeating them.
Except to say, I fully support the KISS method.
Yes, only ONE system can be connecteed to the track at once. It soudned like the DC power pack was being disconnected and then the Power Cab connected and for whatever reason did not work. That's probably why it didn;t come up until now. Details are important in troubleshooting, especially when no one can see. Yuo're actually lucky the PowerCab wasn't damaged running DC with it still connected.
If both the PowerCab and the power pack were connected, no wonder it wasn't working.
I think we had this discussion before, but the Selector is a SPDT switch, not DPDT. If you make one positon DC and the other DCC< that means there is a common wire, common rail wired, where the DC and DCC are connectoed. ANd if that covers 4 sections of the layout, then it's tooe asy to accidently leave one set to the other power system and end up crossing the block boundary. One big center off DPDT switch is the way to select between DC and DCC, and then feed into whatever you want for the rest of the wiring. The center off mode ensures there is no chance of the contacts in the switch connecting the two systems together - usually if DC and DCC feed each other, somethign gets damaged - more often than not the DCC is the one that takes the hit.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Exactly, Mel. You have to proceed deliberately and methodically.
Sounds like you are back feeding from the DCC system into the DC system. Even with the power plug pulled, there are still electronic parts across the output. And, you are back feeding from the DC power into your PowerCab. Disconnect the track wires from DC power supply.
SouthPenn Disconnect the track wires from DC power supply.
Disconnect the track wires from DC power supply.
Hooray! The problem is solved! I disconnected the wires to the bus from the back of the DC power pack and just like that, I've got DCC over the entire layout!
That's all that was causing the entire problem!
So now I just have to do a little more wiring and install a toggle to switch between the two and I'll be up and running!
I greatly appreciate all who pitched in on this and gave their help and advice. You guys are the best. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I'll be downstairs running trains the rest of the day!
:)
2002p51, if you start fooling around with DPDT switches or whatever, make sure you know what you are doing, otherwise, toss the DC transformer and convert your DC locomotives to DCC or put them on display. And, have fun with DCC. And you are welcome.
And the Case of the Missing Electrons is closed...FINALLY.
Never mind, can't get the video to work!
bearman 2002p51, if you start fooling around with DPDT switches or whatever, make sure you know what you are doing, otherwise, toss the DC transformer and convert your DC locomotives to DCC or put them on display. And, have fun with DCC. And you are welcome.
I've wired up lots of DTDP switches in my time so I'll be fine. And I do plan on converting as many of my DC locomotives as I can but that will take awhile doing them one at a time as the availability of "hobby" money allows. :)
You are supposed to connect Your DC output to a DPDT Center Off toggle switch on one leg and Your DCC output connected to the other leg. Without doing that You've created a path for the DCC signal/AC to mix with the DC output, all the DCC unit see's, is that there is DC power on track. On DCC the AC signal flows back and forth like Your house wiring does. With a DC connection, which will be Your DC power pack, even though it is off the wiring is still there and the DCC signal can't return.....so it's viewed as a short by the system
A very similar situation would happen in Your house wiring if the Neutral and Hot wires were mixed at an outlet and you wanted to use a drill etc. with a polarized plug..........It will work for awhile, but will eventually stop, until you unplug the drill.
Take Care!
Frank
mbinsewibut unplug the wires from the DC power pack to the layout.
Thats what I was thinking when I first asked because potentially the DCC current is probably going to follow the leads from the track into the DC power pack.