Tremmy albeit 2 at a time
that can be changed from 1-6. see Number of Recalls in manual pg 60, rev 1.65
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Hi Jeff
An update...I realized that my brother some time ago bought a power cab which I have been using simply as a secondary controller. I did not realize it was a complete system, so I hooked it up as the directions said, replaced the fascia panel with the special panel with the red led and started operating trains with no shorting out to speak of. I did contact NCE about the Power Pro and after explaining some the the troubleshoiting steps I had been taking, they said to send it in. I guess the good thing is that I can still run trains, albeit 2 at a time while Power Pro is being looked at. The real downside is that I have to reprogram all my macros.
Chris
Tremmy Hi Rich, I realized that my brother some time ago bought a power cab which I have been using simply as a secondary controller. I did not realize it was a complete system, so I hooked it up as the directions said, replaced the fascia panel with the special panel with the red led and started operating trains with no shorting out to speak of. I did contact NCE about the Power Pro and after explaining some the the troubleshoiting steps I had been taking, they said to send it in. I guess the good thing is that I can still run trains, albeit 2 at a time while Power Pro is being looked at. The real downside is that I have to reprogram all my macros. Chris
Hi Rich,
I realized that my brother some time ago bought a power cab which I have been using simply as a secondary controller. I did not realize it was a complete system, so I hooked it up as the directions said, replaced the fascia panel with the special panel with the red led and started operating trains with no shorting out to speak of. I did contact NCE about the Power Pro and after explaining some the the troubleshoiting steps I had been taking, they said to send it in. I guess the good thing is that I can still run trains, albeit 2 at a time while Power Pro is being looked at. The real downside is that I have to reprogram all my macros.
Rich
Alton Junction
Hi Mike,
Well rather than building a test loop, I realized that my brother some time ago bought a power cab which I have been using simply as a secondary controller. I did not realize it was a complete system, so I hooked it up as the directions said, replaced the fascia panel with the special panel with the red led and started operating trains with no shorting out to speak of. I did contact NCE about the Power Pro and after explaining some the the troubleshoiting steps I had been taking, they said to send it in. I guess the good thing is that I can still run trains, albeit 2 at a time while Power Pro is being looked at. The real downside is that I have to reprogram all my macros.
Mike, I will definitely try that. In between working and general craziness that goes on, I only have an hour or two at night to troubleshoot.
Tremmy
Tremmy Hi Rich, When the unit shorts, the red led to the left next to the control bus flases slowly, about two or three times, then the unit resets and operates normally. If I'm not mistaken, the yellow led to the right of the cab bus flickers as well. Chris
When the unit shorts, the red led to the left next to the control bus flases slowly, about two or three times, then the unit resets and operates normally. If I'm not mistaken, the yellow led to the right of the cab bus flickers as well.
NCE says that a slow flash on the left side for the track power output is a short circuit for sure. Remove the two wires for the track power output only, leaving the input power connected. See if the status light changes to solid. If it does change to solid the box is not damaged, but you definitely have a short circuit elsewhere.
If the light does NOT change with the track unplugged, then the box is damaged and needs to be sent in for service.
The yellow light should remain solid.
Tremmy, I really think your next step is to hook your Power Pro up to a test oval of track instead of the layout, set a couple locomotives on it, and run it for a while. See what it does.
It could be that you have a very minor/high resistance short on your layout somewhere that isn't enough to instantly trip the unit, but as the temperature in the circuits increase as it sits there shorting out, it finally trips the unit. Perhaps you not getting a tone with your multimeter is a sensitivity or resistance issue? Just guessing here.
Mike
Tremmy Rich, what I did was read Mark Gurries site on dcc, and the info there says I should not have bus runs longer than 30 feet. Well, of course, I have a bus run of about 50 feet. Could running the power Pro in such a fashion have damaged something over time? Chris
Rich, what I did was read Mark Gurries site on dcc, and the info there says I should not have bus runs longer than 30 feet. Well, of course, I have a bus run of about 50 feet. Could running the power Pro in such a fashion have damaged something over time?
NCE does make recommendations about the wire gauge to be used with their 5 amp systems. The manual for the 5 amp Power Pro says to make sure that your layout wiring can stand a continuous 5 Amps of current. NCE recommend a minimum of #16 feeder bus, preferably #14, and at least #22 AWG power drops from the rails to the feeder bus. I use 14 gauge solid copper wire for my buses and 22 gauge solid copper wire for my feeders.
Hi Jeff,
No, I have never adjusted the voltage. It current sitting at 14.3 volts. Tonight, I took a multimeter and hooked inline with the track feeds and measured 1.4 to 1.7 amps with 3 locos running.
It's just that to me, a physical short is something that is either shorted or it's not. Physical shorts don't just randomly happen then go away. So my instincts tell me it's some sort of buildup and then discharge in a capacitor being caused by my track work in that I have bus runs that are well over 30 feet.
Tremmy I opened the unit and checked the volatage via the suggested method by NCE, and the output reads 14.3V which I'm assuming is normal?
I opened the unit and checked the volatage via the suggested method by NCE, and the output reads 14.3V which I'm assuming is normal?
What can you tell us about the flashing light?
Which light? Control Bus or Cab Bus?
Is the flashing light slow or fast, long or short?
Hi,
I opened the unit and checked the volatage via the suggested method by NCE, and the output reads 14.3V which I'm assuming is normal? I hear that N scale modellers run it at 10V.
Sending back to NCE will definitely be the last resort if need be. Thank you for the suggestions.
I will try putting a fan around the unti as well as doing the test trest idea. All good suggestions.
AlienKing,
I will give this a try tonight and see what happens. Good advice, thank you.
No, when the track isnot hooked up, it does not exhibit the bahavior, which seems to point more and more to track. It's just that to me, a short is a shot, and not something that builsd up to a short. Very perplexing but I'll have to check my track as others have suggested as well.
Hi Mark,
I will try this, thank you.
Hi Pete,
No, when the track is not hooked up, there is no strange sound and no shorting. I'm just under the impression that a short is a short is a short. That's why I don't suspect track as causing it, but you might be right in that the track is causing something due to the summer months kicking in.
Hi Batman,
I will defintely give this a try. My layout has many turnouts.
Be well!
I too have had nce power pro 5 for about 15+ years. Normally no issues. I have a 16x24 layout double track main and no power districts or circuit breakers, jusy one snubber at the end of the bus. I will add that I do not have a helix, any return loops, wyes or other reversing sections either. I run sound locos on a routine basis consisted with other locos, no voltage issues. The problems I have are with turnouts, while I generally have six axle locos Ive noticed that I have needed to run power feeds to the turnout running rails because Ive never had the need to power a frog. These seem to correct a lot of stops and starts. Check ALL your turnouts for loose parts that have come off. Even something as small as a staple or even a track nail stuck in a turnout will cause a short when the loco causes it to make contact. I use a shop vac once a week to keep those things cleaned out.
As far as the command station goes, have you manually turned up the voltage inside the unit? If so, its possible that its over powering and the voltage regulator is going out. I know nce says this is possible, I did it to mine and as a result, 3 years later, it was smoked. If you have not done that, then it could be an internal issue and just needs an upgrade, which it will have to go to nce for that as well. The flashing light on the front indicates a short, directly on the track because thats a track status light. If the light on the right is flashing, its the command station. Send it to nce, let them repair it and enjoy trains for the next 10 years or more.
By the way, if its the command station a booster will do absolutely nothing to stop the short. The command sration will ultimately just shut that down too.
It does sound kind of like a heat-related issue where the command station warms up and then the condition triggers. So the tests of just running the command station with no track, and another with just a small circle, should both be good data points.
If it doesn't occur with no track attached, then some current has to be flowing to make it happen. If it does happen with the small circle, then you know it's nothing to do with your layout and it's all on the command station.
From those NCE links that I posted, it should be informative to learn more about the red flashing lights on the command station.
Do you have any sectional track you could use to make a simple circle? If so, disconnect the base station from the layout and run a loco or 2 on the small circle for a bit to see if it still shorts out.
In re-reading your initial post, I wonder if the fact that the flourescent ceiling lights sometimes won't fire up when the humidity is high provides a clue. Definitely something to consider.
There are a couple of articles on the NCE website that may be helpful to you.
https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201797455-flashing-status-light
https://ncedcc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/202575119-Ph-Pro-Power-Pro-5-amp-connections-and-status-lights
Good luck!
To Wrench's point, unhook the unit from the layout and power it up. Does it short out after a time with nothing hooked to it?
Check the area where the sounds are coming from for dust accumulation. If you find some, clean the area with a brush and vacuum cleaner. Be usre the unit is unplugged before you do that.
Dust can cause a short.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton