Stumped on dcc

[Dayton08]

Hi. I'm am at a loss. Me and my daughter are building a layout it is 6by12. We ran a bus wire which 1 is red and one black. ran 12 feeders. We have the power cab from nice and can run one train no problem with sound. When we put another train on it kicks the Powercab circuit and won't let me run. We checked all wires to make sure we didn't cross one.any ideas would be great. Thanks in advance.

[rich1998]

Welcome.

What scale?
Right now it sounds like the second loco is shorting out the Power Cab or drawing too much current.. Does the Cab in your hand shut down? Sounds like it shuts down, goes blank. We need more info.
Did you try running that second loco alone? How much current does it draw?
Does it happen at different locations on the layout?

The Power Cab should show you how much power, current,  the loco is drawing.
My Power Cab does. I can run three HO sound locos, max.

Rich

[Dayton08]

Sorry we are doing an ho scale. The bus wires are 14 gauge. Yes. The screen and all go blank and then tries again. I will put the loco on and check the current draw. No it's every where on the layout even just sitting on the track. Thanks for the help

[jward]

It sounds like you are overloading the power cab. Are both locomotives sound equipped? Do you have any wout sound you could try? DOes one locomotive in particular shut down the system when you add it? If so, can you run it by itself?

If you are overloading the system you have a couple of solutions. You can try one or all of them.

1. Try running non sound locomotives. They draw significantly less current than sound ones, and are less likely to overload the system.

2. Try isolating your sidings so you have a place to park locomotives when not in use where you can kill the power to them. DCC decoders draw power even when not running, if there is power on the rails. Google block control wiring to see how to do this if you don't already know.

3. add a power booster to increase your system's capacity. This is an expensive solution, but well worth it if you intend on expanding your roster of locomotives. Be aware, some DCC boosters are NOT compatible with your power cab, so follow NCE's recommendations for your booster. NCE i hear has excellent customer support. Have you tried contacting them directly?

[Dayton08]

The loco that is overloading it is not sound equipped and does it even when it's the-only one on the track. And I bought another one of the exact same and it does the same thing. I'm running a soundtraxx 8 pin decoder in it. Which when I ordered it that's the one that was recommended. It programmed just fine but that's it. I have a plane dc version of this loco and had no problems with it on dc. I have not contacted nce yet. I was just wanting to make sure that it wasn't my wiring or something I may have overlooked. This loco is brand new. I have only 2 locos the one with sound and the one without.

[Trainman203]

I don't think it's been asked yet.  Does the second and problematic engine run well by itself?  With no other engine on the layout?  Or does it trip the system by itself while alone .  Basic  troubleshooting and problem isolation.  If it's a problem all by itself , "problem solved."  If only a combination of the two engines does it, maybe an overload.  Do you have a multimeter?

Congratulations on selecting an NCE.  I got my Procab 10 years ago and have never looked back.

[Trainman203]

There's an NCE forum.  This issue maybe should be discussed there instead of here.

[Dayton08]

No I don't have a multimeter yet but I'm going to pick one up this weekend. No as soon as I put it on the track and try to turn on the pro cab it Kicks. I love the power cab it is so easy to use. Thanks for all the help. I will contact the engine manufacture and ask. I'll try the nce forum too.

[jward]

Just for curiosity sake, what is the offending locomotive?

[rich1998]

Pull the decoder and plug in the DC adapter and see how the loco runs on DC. The Power Cab cannot run a DC loco. You need a DC power pack.
I do know most decoders are one amp limit.
What are both locos?

Since the loco shuts down the Cab, you will not see the current on the Cab display.

A standard multimeter usually cannot display DCC current.
Mine can but I have an special circuit board for this. It is good for five amps.

I would even put the loco on the tracks with no decoder and see what happens. Experiment.

Two locos doing the same thing is strange. Either a short or too much current and just not a direct short.
Just thought of something. Some Bachmann steamers, a tender truck can swivel 180 and cause a short. Make sure both trucks are not picking up on same track. Each truck picks up oin opposite track. THey have to agree with the pickups on the loco. One truck not correct can cause a short.  try the tender alone.


Rich

[rich1998]

If this is confusing, co to the information page and look up you loco and tender. You can see which side the insulator is on for the tender wheels.
I have heard of this before. Seems likely, Not all tenders do this, It only takes one truck.
My locos are packed away.

Right now I cannot see anything else.

Rich

[Dayton08]

The loco is the Bachmann 4-8-4 Union Pacific. Item # 53502. If the tender is not plugged in to the engine, they both can sit on the track and every thing is fine it's when it's all plugged in. I'll pull the decoder this weekend and see how it runs on a dc track. I'll do some looking into the tender.

[rich1998]

Look under the tender, are the pickups clearly mounted, not shorting? Insulated wheels on opposite sides? They should be. I do not know if the tender wheels on that loco can swivel 180 degrees.
I do not have that loco.
There must be difference between the loco and tender pickups. Check the wheels and pickups carefully.
Generally, something wrong with the tender, as soon as you plug in the loco you get a short.

Rich

[Maletrain]

The PowerCab should be able to run 2 DCC sound-equipped HO locomotives.  It has a current rating near 2 amps.

From the descriptions that have dribbled into this thread, it sounds to me like a short circuit in one locomotive, and it sounds like it is being caused by the pickup in the loco being opposite the pickup in the tender.

Not knowing the particular locomotive, I have to ask: Are you sure that the plug on the cord between the loco and tender is not up-side-down?

[Dayton08]

The tender wheels have a pin and notch in them so they only go on one way. The plugs are the same they will only go in one way. I emailed Bachmann last night and waiting on a reply. I will grab some pics of the bottom of the tender and loco tonight after work.