NEC Power Cab dead (power wise)

[Bruce Depot]

Managed to find time this morning to doing a bit of running with the layout, first time for about 8 weeks. Anyway switched

the mains plug on but NCE power cab and red light on circuit board both dead, I know the mains is working as the old Gauge master

controller works when plugged in.

I may have heard a click from the NCE cable mains plug when the power was switched on but not going to swear to it.

 

Has anyone had this problem before?

 

thanks

Keith

 

[amdaley]

Have you checked the power supply ?

[Bruce Depot]

How would I do that?

 

I know the mains socket works, but is it likely the NCE mains plug/cable is now faulty?

 

thanks

[amdaley]

Don't know if you have fuses in your plugs over there but if you have then I would check the fuse first.

 

If you have a digital multi meter you can measure the output of the power supply.

Don't have a power cab myself but I presume the center core is + positive & the outer silver connector is - negative.

 

If you don't have a meter then try a 12 volt car light bulb.

 

If no output is measured on multi meter put your ear to the power supply to see if you had hear any sort of sound from it.

If it hums then that is normal but if it ticks it will probably need to be replaced.

 

If the power supply is ok then look at the power supply connector on the back of the power panel. Take it out & put it back in several times to make sure it is making a proper connection.

 

 

 

 

[Bruce Depot]

Had a go at testing the power lead, seems dead?

Wall socket and travel adaptor both tested and working fine.

Can get no life (or noise) out of the 12 volt end of the lead.

 

Has anyone else had problems like this with the NCE power lead,

presume a new one is required, hopefully they can be brought

on their own.....?

 

thanks

Keith

[Gilbert]

^{I've had both a power supply failure- inexplicable and not solved - and a PCP failure during the last few years - the PCP I was able to track down a loose connection between board and output and do a small fix. In terms of the power supply I got a replacement unit from Digitrains that had the UK plug as an integral part - I actually bought two as I use my NCE at shows and didn't want to risk a recurrence...}

^Chris

[Bruce Depot]

Thanks Chris

I´ll look at getting a new power cable once Chrismas has passed and the post settles down a bit!

cheers

Keith

[Brian]

Worth a try is to leave the Power Supply Unit (PSU) for a couple of days unused and in a cool but dry place. 

Then plug back into the mains and check if there are DC volts arriving at the moulded plugs tip.  DO NOT allow anything to connect together the moulded plugs inner and outer barrel or it will shut down due to the short circuit.  

If you can read a DC voltage or a connected small 12v lamp (not more than 5watt ideally) and it illuminates all is good.  Or even plug it back into the NCE panel but do ensure the two Track feed wires are removed first, then see if it has returned to life by the red LED illuminating and the Powercab display coming on.

These PSUs often have internal thermal overload devices which can in some case take ages for them to self reset. There is nothing lost in trying this other than a couple of days waiting!

[Ray H]

Is there any chance that you might accidentally be using the coiled lead between the PowerCab and the PCP? A friend of mine did that only yesterday and wondered why nothing appeared to work.

 

Have you got the flat ribbon cable plugged into the left hand socket?

 

Is one of the pins on either of the connecting plugs bent and not making contact?

[Bruce Depot]

Thanks Brian, will leave alone and try it Sunday and see if any improvements.

cheers

Keith

[Bruce Depot]

Hi Ray

Have not unpluged the controller from the circuit board, can confirm it is in the left socket mind as double checked that this morning before taking the mains cable to photo it.

Will follow Brians suggest and not touch anything until Sunday and see if any change then.

[soony]

Are you using the right cable  , should be the flat one and not the curly one , and are you using the correct socket of the pair on the black panel with the red LED on it..

[royaloak]

Do you pack the transformer away when not in use?

If yes then do you wind the wire around the body?

If yes then you might have fatigue cracked the cables inside because they have been bent too sharply back and forward, this is something a lot of people do with earphone leads and then wonder why they dont work any more!

[Bruce Depot]

Just been and tried again, disconnected the track supply and plugged the power cable back in with the controller plugged in the left hand socket. Still totally dead with no life in it. 

 

Soony, I don´t use the curly one, and nothing else had been unplugged.

 

royaloak-No its always left in situ, note from the photo about mind that the transformer seems to be part of the mains plug. USA style. Its not like a UK laptop cable with the

transformer is part way it.

[dasatcopthorne]

A new power supply cost very little from Coastal DCC. Give them a ring and get a new one before Christmas.

 

Dave

[Brian]

Just been and tried again, disconnected the track supply and plugged the power cable back in with the controller plugged in the left hand socket. Still totally dead with no life in it.

 

Soony, I don´t use the curly one, and nothing else had been unplugged.

 

royaloak-No its always left in situ, note from the photo about mind that the transformer seems to be part of the mains plug. USA style. Its not like a UK laptop cable with the

transformer is part way it.

Annoying! Oh well nothing lost other than a couple of days!

Just to confirm your panel has the red LED at the bottom and the flat lead is then in the left hand socket.

I see you're located in Lanzarote, so I assume you'll need a Power supply with Spanish style mains socket connection pins. Perhaps there is a more local NCE distributor in mainland Spain? Otherwise try your eBay site for a 12 volt 1.5 to 2.0 Amp regulated DC power supply

Edited December 18, 2016 by Brian

[Bruce Depot]

Thanks Brian

Can confirm the control panel is as you say.

Will look at options, if I buy a power supply off ebay etc, is there a certain plug size I need or are they a standard size?

[Brian]

Hi

I think you will find the PCP has a 2.1mm x 5.5mm DC socket.

Which is the size used in virtually all CCTV and LED 12 volts regulated power supplies of which there should be many on ebay.

[smokebox]

You want more than 12volts for the NCE Powercab or the locos will probably run rather slowly.

 

There have been many reports of slow running with the Powercab when a lower voltage power supply is used. I can't remember for sure but I think the maximum is 15Volts.

[BromsMods]

The L11BQ power supply from Maplins was recommended to me many years ago by NCE.  When I bought mine it was £10 more expensive than they are today!  However, it has worked well and is reliable.

[Bruce Depot]

Just found a mains adaptor, only goes up to 12v but more importantly it has a switch to set the polarity, anyone now if it should be  - or + for the plug centre?

also 500ma unregulated,  is that enough to get the power cab working?

[Nigelcliffe]

Just found a mains adaptor, only goes up to 12v but more importantly it has a switch to set the polarity, anyone now if it should be  - or + for the plug centre?

also 500ma unregulated,  is that enough to get the power cab working?

 

I wouldn't use it beyond the most basic of testing.   Why?   "Unregulated", so its just a transformer and rectifier, rather than a switched-mode power supply which has a reliable voltage.  12v is marginal, will probably give a low track voltage.   And 500mA isn't enough, you could do with more than 1A, and probably 2A. 

 

For testing, if its the right size connector and you resolve the centre pin polarity (read the previous power supply, it is labelled, but a bit blurred on your photo), you should be able to show the PowerCab is functioning, and then buy a decent power supply.  

[10000]

It must be regulated. You can use up to 3amp. and 10 to 15 volts. The higher the voltage the better as it affects volts to track.

[Bruce Depot]

thanks, give that adaptor a miss then.

Going to see what´s for sale here, then order from the UK if nil found...Christmas will get in the way mind!

[amdaley]

thanks, give that adaptor a miss then.

Going to see what´s for sale here, then order from the UK if nil found...Christmas will get in the way mind!

 

The second one down the page here is what you're looking for.

 

http://www.coastaldcc.co.uk/products/nce/power-supplies/