On Tony’s Train Exchange site it is written that “all Tsunamis require the PowerPax Programming Track Booster to program on the programming track”. Is it really mandatory? Is there any other way to do it with a NCE PowerCab?
Guy
I have several brands of decoders, including Tsunamis and have never had a problem programing them with my Power Cab. I have had a time a two with the telephone style connecters. The weight of the wire hanging on the connecter has caused a connection problem.
Good luck.
Lee
A powerpax is only needed if you are using the PROGRAMMING TRACK (page mode programming).
However, it is very possible to program the loco’s address in OPS MODE (mainline mode).
To do so, you need 4 things…
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You have to know the current address of the locomotive. Typically this is 03 or 3 from the factory. If you can dial it up and make it move, then you are good to continue to the next step.
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You need to find out the values of CV 17 and 18 for the new address you want to use (assuming you want 4 digit addressing). Here is a calculator to figure it out…
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In OPS MODE programming, program CV 17 and 18 to the values you calculated above.
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In OPS MODE programming, program CV 29=34 for 4 digit, DC conversion off and 3 point speed table…from this chart found here…
Remember that in OPs mode, when setting the address, you have to set 17 and 18 BEFORE 29 or this wont work. Some systems automatically set CV 29 THEN 17 and 18…resulting in a loco that has no ID…
If you did it correctly, then you should be able to dial up your loco’s new number and move it. All other CVs can be programmed in OPS mode with the loco selected. However, with Tsunamis and NCE, you might have issues with programming if the loco is in motion (IIRC)…just stop the loco to program it.
No power pack needed.
Hope this helps.
David B
Guy,
You shouldn’t need any sort of booster at all with your Power Cab. NCE designed it so that it gives a little extra oomph in programming mode just for sound decoders. I’ve never had an issue myself programming sound decoders on the programming track.
Tom
I’ve used the following all to program Tsunamis and other soudn decoders on the program track with no booster: Digitrax Zephyr, Digitrax PR3, Digitrax Super EMpire Builder (DB150). OK, the last doesn;t really have a readback program track, but it programs anything, all the time. But so does my Zephyr and my PR3.
–Randy