Hey Folks,
I have a NCE Pro Cab that when in use the status light starts flashing indicating a short/overload. The engine stops then 2-3 seconds go by and it resets itself. The engine starts movng again. I removed the wires that go to track to isolate the pro cab and it still will every once in awhile start flashing short/overload. Is it time to panic or call NCE? Is there a wiring issue that I missed?
Thanks!
I don’t have a ProCab so I can’t offer specific advice, but here are a few general suggestions that may help:
Don’t panic. That’s rarely a good course of action.
Did you disconnect the buss wires at the track end or the ProCab end? If you did the track end, check the ProCab end to be sure there isn’t a strand of the wire touching the other terminal, etc. Even if that end looks good, you may want to disconnect it anyway.
Besides just checking the track buss, check everything else. Think back to the last change you made and pay special attention when checking that.
Look through the manual. NCE may have some trouble-shooting or diagnostic info. I believe NCE has a system reset; if so, try that.
If all else fails, write down a description of your DCC installation with all of the particulars, and also a description of the symptoms. Then call NCE, from near the system if at all possible. That way, if they ask you to try something you can quickly and easily do so.
Keep in mind that they are a small business, and don’t have a tech staff on call 24/7/365. Monday is also likely to be their busiest tech support day. Give them time to get to you and help you with your issue.
HTH and GL,
Steve
Quoting from page 15 of the Power Pro System Reference Manual:
STATUS LIGHT
This light will illuminate steadily under normal operations. Flashing indicates an abnormal or fault condition. Here is a description of the various conditions indicated by the status light.
Steady On – track power is on and operations are normal.
Rapid Flash – No DCC signal from command station (control bus cable is unplugged, programming track in use, etc.).
Slower Steady Flash – Short circuit (over current shutdown). The booster will shut down for 2-3 seconds or until the short or load of over 5.1 Amps is removed.
Based on your problem, I’d say you have a short in your wiring or locomotive. First, try running a different engine. If your Power Pro still shuts down, you have a short somewhere in your wiring. If it’s in the wiring, don’t try running anything more at all until you correct the problem.
Thanks for the info.
The only two wires going into the Pro Cab is power and it continues to do it. Guess I will try to email NCE tomorrow.
I got a new proto2000 0-8-0 with sound that i cant run and it is killing me 
Try the NCE Yahoo group. Lots of very experienced trouble shooters on that list.
Dave H.
If you possibly can, CALL them rather than e-mail. If they need you to try this, then that, it will be much faster and easier. And, unlike big companies, you can usually get to an actual person that actually knows the product pretty quickly on the phone. True, though, that Monday morning is probably not the best time to do that.
One other alternative . . . where did you buy it? If from Tony’s or Litchfield or some of the other DCC dealers, call them. Tony’s, especially, is quite good at helping sort out the usual problems.
There should be two wires into the command station for power input.
There is a spot for two wires to go out to the track or track bus.
There is a spot for two wires to go out to the programming track.
There is a phone type plug for the command bus or throttle to plug into.
You should have 6 wires and phone plug connected to your command station. Disconnect EVERYTHING.
Connect the power in. Make sure it is connected to the power input terminals. Do you still get the flashing light? If yes then the problem is in the command station.
With NO connection out of the command station and ONLY the two wires into the command station, plug in the throttle. Do you get flashing light? If yes then the short is in the throttle.
Connect the track power connections to a piece of track NOT CONNECTED TO YOUR RR. Do you get the flashing light?
Put an engine on the track. Do you get the flashing light? Then problem is probably in the engine.
Connect another piece of track, NOT CONNECTED TO YOUR LAYOUT, to the programming track output terminals. Do you get the flashing light?
If you haven’t gotten the flashing light yet then the problem is probably in your layout.
Dave H.
Thanks for the help I tried all the above suggestions and the problem continues. I emailed NCE and Larry responded quickly saying the unit need to be returned for repair at NCE.
Thansk for your help folks.