NCE Power Cab programming track DPDT

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L

lgjc

New Member
I am trying to wire my NCE Power Cab for a separate programming track.

If I wire directly from the PCP track output to the main line, all is well.

I got an automotive DPDT, center off, toggle from Radio Shack rated 12V20ADC. If I wire from the track output to the two middle terminals on the toggle switch, and wire the main line to the two upper (or lower) terminals, the Cab lights up, but nothing happens on the track. I have two DCC locos, and neither will respond at all to this wiring setup.

The terminals on back of the toggle are numbered down the left and down the right as follows:

1 4
2 5
3 6

So, if I connect the track output to 2, 5, and the main line to 1, 4, it doesn't work.

Also, if I wire the track output to 1, 2, and the main line to 3, 4, still no action on the track.

Should I expect this toggle switch to work? What wiring combination should I try?
 
lgjc,

I had the same issue exactly, wired up a programming track and nothing happened! Evidently, that is exactly what is suppose to happen, but I still don't understand why.
 
I believe the situation is this with the Power Cab. There is no provision for a separate programming track as it comes from the box. The programming track is an option from the prog/esc key. If you select "use programming track", it will turn the whole layout, or at least the part of the layout that is connected to the Power Cab, into a programming track. The way to use DPDT switches under this circumstance is to have a DPDT connected to the rest of the layout that is NOT the programming track and turn the rest of the layout off before you go into the programming track feature of the Power Cab. NCE makes a product called the Auto Switch 524-226 that will automatically disconnect the rest of your layout from the programming track. There is a writeup at http://www.tonystrains.com/technews/nce_aswitch_review.htm
 


I understand about the main line being turned off during programming. However, I haven't even gotten to the programming feature of the cab. The System Reference Manual discusses a separate programming track and shows wiring for a DPDT switch, so I was actually trying to follow the instructions. (Imagine that -- a man following the manual?) I see the NCE Auto SW, but shouldn't need to do that.

Seems to me that if the toggle is working properly, and all I do is take my track output and run through the toggle switch, and turn the toggle switch in the correct position, then the trains should operate just as when wired directly from the track output to the track. I haven't wired from the toggle to the programming track yet (which is isolated).

So I think that either I don't have an appropriate toggle switch, or I have an appropriate toggle switch but don't have the correct wiring connections.

Doing an internet search and forum search yields a lot of discussion and many diagrams that look simple. And much of the literature and videos about DCC talks about the wiring being simple. I'm a CPA can do tax returns, but connecting wires to a toggle switch seems to be a challenge. Oh well. It's all fun.
 
I would wire the output from the Power Cab to 2,5 and the wire to the main to 1,4. Don't use the other option you list for now, if at all. To get DCC to the main, be sure you turn the toggle in the direction OPPOSITE 1,4.

By the way, have you tried the Power Cab on the main without a DPDT -- just to be sure that part of the whole setup is working?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
lgjc said:
I am trying to wire my NCE Power Cab for a separate programming track.

If I wire directly from the PCP track output to the main line, all is well.

I got an automotive DPDT, center off, toggle from Radio Shack rated 12V20ADC. If I wire from the track output to the two middle terminals on the toggle switch, and wire the main line to the two upper (or lower) terminals, the Cab lights up, but nothing happens on the track. I have two DCC locos, and neither will respond at all to this wiring setup.

The terminals on back of the toggle are numbered down the left and down the right as follows:

1 4
2 5
3 6

So, if I connect the track output to 2, 5, and the main line to 1, 4, it doesn't work.
Click to expand...
It should if this is a normal DPDT switch.

Is there a gap between any of the terminals. Say:

1 4

2 5
3 6

?


Should I expect this toggle switch to work? What wiring combination should I try?
Click to expand...
Did you wire track power to 2 and 5, main line to 3 and 6?

Do you have a multi-meter? Set it for continuity and probe the terminals. Document what's hot. Flip the switch and repeat. That should tell the proper wiring or if it is a bad switch.
 
So what you are saying is that something should happen, unlike what I was told? That being the case - what should happen?
 
lgjc said:
...
The terminals on back of the toggle are numbered down the left and down the right as follows:

1 4
2 5
3 6

So, if I connect the track output to 2, 5, and the main line to 1, 4, it doesn't work...
Click to expand...

Did you try this with the toggle switch in both positions? One thing that people who are not familiar with wiring toggle switches often don't realize is that with the vast majority of toggle switches the direction of the toggle is opposite the connections on the rear of the switch. So, with this example wired as you stated, you would have to have the toggle flipped DOWN for the layout to work. The reason for this is the toggle works kind of like a see saw with the exposed part that you flip on one side of the pivot and the terminal connectors on the other side - when you flip it up, it connects the center and bottom terminals and when you flip it down it connects the center and top terminals.
 
wombat457 said:
So what you are saying is that something should happen, unlike what I was told? That being the case - what should happen?
Click to expand...

Not sure what you're referring to, Tony. I have a layout that I converted from dual-cab DC to Power Cab DCC, with option of powering off the DC or DCC supply to run the other flavor. I retain the old dual-cab DC DPDTs. If I go to prog/esc on my Power Cab and then use programming track, it will change any block on my layout to the program track unless those blocks are switched off (or to the other choice, not a good idea in general). If I switch block switches to DCC (down in my case, meaning upper terminals), they go to DCC. I believe this is what is what "should" happen. If all my DPDTs are center off, nothing will happen, even though the Power Cab will think it is turning on the program track.
 
Thanks for your responses. All is well now. :-)

I have wired track output to 2, 5, and main line to 3,6 and it worked. Also left track output on 2, 5, and changed main line to 1, 4 and that worked as well. Thought I had previously tried that with switch in appropriate positions. Anyway, it is working as expected now. Thanks again.
 


jwb said:
Not sure what you're referring to, Tony. I have a layout that I converted from dual-cab DC to Power Cab DCC, with option of powering off the DC or DCC supply to run the other flavor. I retain the old dual-cab DC DPDTs. If I go to prog/esc on my Power Cab and then use programming track, it will change any block on my layout to the program track unless those blocks are switched off (or to the other choice, not a good idea in general). If I switch block switches to DCC (down in my case, meaning upper terminals), they go to DCC. I believe this is what is what "should" happen. If all my DPDTs are center off, nothing will happen, even though the Power Cab will think it is turning on the program track.
Click to expand...

jwb,

I have a Digitrax and an NCE system. When I made a separate "programming track", as per the directions, and turned on the power to it nothing happened when I put a loco on it to program. It was as if the track was dead. I checked the wires and they were well connected.
When I questioned what I had done wrong, I was told that nothing will happen, that what I was experiencing was correct. I could no understand that if what I was experiencing was correct, then how do you know if the loco has been programmed? If nothing reads on the Controller, how do even get in to program a loco. It just didn't make sense to me, and still doesn't.

As of now, all I do is program on my main line making sure no other locos are on it.
 
When you use an NCE on the programming track (I use this) the only thing you will hear is just a slight clicking sound, it is very quiet, when setting the addresses and other things. Then let the controller go back to normal, select the loco number and move it forward and backwards a little bit, and try the lights. If it has sound when you let the controller go back to normal while still on the programming track it is just like being on a mainline so everything should work.

David
 
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