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Powerhouse Quick Start Guide
[go to
NCE Corp. product page]
Want to operate a locomotive almost immediately?
Don't want to read lots of manuals? This Quick Start Guide is the
place to begin.
PART I - TESTING OUT YOUR POWERHOUSE:
- Connect the long (7 foot) cable from the
cab into the Powerhouse CAB BUS socket.
- Plug one end of the short (1 foot) cable
into the Powerhouse CONTROL BUS socket that is next ot the CAB
BUS socket. The other end of this wire plugs into either one of
the remaining CONTROL BUS sockets. This connects the "Command
Station" portion of the Powerhouse to the "Power Booster" portion.
- Acquire a power source with a voltage output
within the range of 12-18 volts AC or 18-28 volts DC. Do not
exceed these voltages as damage to the Powerhouse is certain
to result. Tony's Train Exchange sells suitable power supplies
for DCC. Ask for a unit that can supply at least 6.25 Amps at
16 volts AC. If you absolutely must get up and running tonight,
an MRC power pack may also suffice for quick start testing purposes.
The power pack must be rated for at least 40VA to complete the
Quick Start setup successfully. Some of the large scale/high power
MRC packs are capable of putting out 35 volts DC which will potentially
damage your Powerhouse DCC system so be careful here. Some of
the smaller packs may not have enough voltage to power up your
new Powerhouse. If there is not enough voltage (under about 12VDC)
the left hand STATUS light on the powerhouse will flash quickly.
There will be a similar indication if the DCC signal from the
command station is lost . You can try this by momentarily unplugging
the short cable (try it when you apply power to the system in
step #9). The Powerhouse is factory adjusted to put out the NMRA
recommended 14.25 volts for N, HO and S scales.
- Connect the power source to the Command
Station's power terminals and the Power Station's power terminals
as shown below (do not plug it in to the wall yet):
Obtain a length or two of flex track to be used
as your DCC quick start test track. Better yet, use that old
circle of snap track you've had kicking around for years. Do
NOT connect the Powerhouse up to your layout yet. We want you
to test the operation of your new DCC system without the complication
of troubleshooting any layout wiring, closed gaps, broken switch
points, etc. Once you are confident that your new Powerhouse
DCC system is up and running as advertised then hook it up to
the layout (after finishing the Quick Start Guide). If you
have a locomotive with a DCC decoder already installed, connect
two wires from your test track to the TRACK terminals of the
Powerhouse and skip to step #7. We recommend you get at
least one decoder installed by a dealer or locomotive manufacturer
just so you have a good example of how it's done.
- Strip about ¼" of the insulation from the
red and black wires of one of the supplied decoders and connect
them to the TRACK terminals of the Powerhouse. Strip about ¼"
from the orange and gray wires and connect them to the loop of
Snap-Track. This will allow you to run a locomotive on the loop
just as if it had the decoder installed, but without having to
learn how to install a decoder just to test out your new system.
Any remaining wires from the decoder will remain unconnected for
now. See figure below.
- Place a locomotive on the track have a decoder
installed inside of it. Do not use a decoder-equipped locomotive
at this time.
- Carefully inspect all wiring to make sure
proper connections have been made. Do not permit unused decoder
wires to touch each other. A piece of tape helps here.
- Now double check all steps to be sure wiring
is correct. Especially the decoder wiring.
- Plug in the power source and/or turn on
the power.
- After about 3 seconds the display of the
cab should show something like:
LOC:003 00:03AM
FWD:000 -------
This is what we call the "NORMAL DISPLAY".
The fast clock in the upper right hand corner will most likely
show a different time.
The following cab buttons must be pressed in
the proper sequence to acquire control of the locomotive #3
(in the above example locomotive #3 is already selected):
- Press SELECT LOCO button once
- Press the "3" button once. DO NOT press 0
then 3.
- Press ENTER
Note: By convention, all locomotive
decoders have their short address set to 3 at the factory.
CAB TIP - If you make a mistake while entering
numbers on the cab just keep pressing more numbers until the
number entry field clears, then enter the correct numbers.
CAB TIP #2 - Whenever the cab is waiting for
you to enter data (a flashing black square is on the screen
at the point where the numbers will go) you can press the PROG
key to "escape" what you were doing and return to normal operation
mode.
CAB TIP #3 - Whenever you have pressed a button
(such as SELECT LOCO) and you want to keep what ever number
that is already on the screen just press ENTER.
- To operate the locomotive, the following
controls are used:
- The speedwheel will increase/decrease speed.
The speed control buttons that flank the speedwheel may also
be used as desired to control the loco speed
- Pressing the DIRECTION button will
cause the loco direction to change.
CONGRATULATIONS! You are now operating
one locomotive with DCC control. In most cases, less than fifteen
minutes has elapsed since you started reading this Quick
Start Guide.
- If you wired a decoder to the track in step
#6 you will need to disconnect it from both the Powerhouse and
the track at this time and connect your test track to the TRACK
terminals of the Powerhouse.
Operating one locomotive is fun -- for awhile.
But operating two or three locomotives is a lot more fun for
a much longer time. Advancing beyond DCC testing requires decoder
installation into locomotives and perhaps a few straight pieces
added to your circle of track. Consult the decoder installation
sheet provided separately. After you have at least two locomotives
with decoders installed we can continue with the objective of
two locomotives simultaneously operating under DCC control.
To accomplish this, both decoders need to be installed in their
respective locomotives and at least one decoder will need to
be programmed with a different address.
To proceed beyond this point you need
at least one locomotive with a DCC decoder installed.
PART II - PROGRAMMING A LOCOMOTIVE ADDRESS
- The first item of business in this section
is to connect a programming track We simply use an old piece of
snap track connected to the PROGRAMMING TRACK terminals
of the Powerhouse ('terminal' tracks work great for this). The
programming track should always be electrically separate from
the main line.
- Put a locomotive with an installed decoder
on the programming track.
- Press the PROG button four times
to get to the programming track menu. Your cab should read:
SEL MODE xx:xxPM
USE PROGRAM TRK
xx:xx represents the fast clock which may display
any time at this point
TIP - In the future you can use
a shortcut to get to the programming track, from the normal
operating display press PROG then 4 (the programming track menu
is the fourth menu when pushing PROG)
- Press ENTER to use the programming
track and you will see:
PROG TRK xx:xxPM
1=STD 2=CV 3=REG
NOTE: The left hand STATUS light
of the Powerhouse will flash rapidly indicating that the power
booster portion of the system has turned off track power. This
is normal and indicates the main track power is off
- Press "1" to use standard programming.
You will see:
MAIN OFF xx:xxPM
MANUFACTURER:___
After a moment the blank space after MANUFACTURER
will be filled in with "011" which is the NMRA code for NCE
Corporation.
If you get a CAN NOT READ CV message the decoder
is not responding. Check the locomotive, decoder and programming
track wiring.
- Press ENTER read the decoder version
(this will vary depending upon which model decoders were shipped
with your system).
- Press ENTER once more to read the
"short" address of the decoder. You will see:
MAIN OFF xx:xxPM
SHORT ADDR: 003
By convention all DCC locomotive decoders are
set to short address #3 at the factory. If your decoder has
not had its address changed you will see a short (2 digit) address
of 3 here. We are going to accept the existing Short Address
by just pressing ENTER to accept the value already programmed
by the factory.
TIP - A decoder can have 2 different
addresses, the Short Address (values from 1-127) and the Long
Address (sometimes called 4 digit with a range of 0000-9999).
A decoder can use one or the other but not both at the same
time. Some entry level decoders such as MRC can only use the
Short Address.
- Next you will see the Long Address (normally
factory set to 0000). It may take a up to 30 seconds to read the
long address. This is the one we will change.
You will probably want to enter the number on
the side of locomotive as the Long Address. Type in the number
of the locomotive and press ENTER. You have just changed
the Long Address (but it is not activated yet).
- Press ENTER to accept the existing
acceleration value (we'll change it later)
- Press ENTER to accept the existing
deceleration value (we'll change it later)
- Press ENTER to accept the existing
start voltage (we'll change it later)
- You should now see:
SET CFG? xx:xxPM
ENTER=NO 1=YES
The configuration menu is where we activate
the Long Address so press "1" to get to:
DIR BIT? xx:xxPM
ENTER=NORM 1=REV
Press ENTER here to have the decoder
run in the "normal" direction
SPD STEP xx:xxPM
ENTER=28 1=14
Press ENTER here for the decoder to use
28/128 speed mode
DC MODE xx:xxPM
ENTER=NO 1=YES
Press "1" here to enable analog DC conversion
so your decoder will automatically detect if you are running
on a regular DC layout. You will see:
SPEEDTBL xx:xxPM
ENTER=STD 1=ALT
Press ENTER here to keep using the 'standard'
factory speed table. Then see:
ADDRESS xx:xxPM
ENTER=S 1=LONG
Press "1" here to activate the long address
(finally)
Press ENTER again to skip programming
the speed table.
Press ENTER again to skip programming
CVs (configuration variables)
You have just completed the hardest part of
DCC… programming the locomotive on the programming track.
By now the left status light of the Powerhouse
will be glowing steadily indicating that track power has been
restored. If not press PROG to escape from programming
and back to the normal operating display. Put your freshly programmed
locomotive on the test track.so you can run it.
- To select the locomotive:
- Press SELECT LOCO button
- Press the digits corresponding to the Long
Address you just programmed..
- Press ENTER
At this point you should have control
of the locomotive. Now is the time to program up a second locomotive
and run them both.
RUNNING TWO LOCOMOTIVES WITH ONE CAB
- Select the first locomotive you wish to
run using the above procedure (step #13)
- Press RECALL to store this locomotive
in one of the internal recall "slots" of the cab. The display
of the cab will now show a locomotive of 000 selected.
- Select the second locomotive and start running
it.
- By pressing RECALL you can toggle back
and forth between the two different locomotives.
At any time you can select a new locomotive "over
the top" of any locomotive already on the display. The existing
locomotive will be forgotten by the cab with the new one taking
it's place. Any locos in RECALL will still be there.
Congratulations, you have full multitrain
operation with DCC. This concludes the testing of the system
Now is probably the time to hook the Powerhouse up to your layout.
Make sure that your layout wiring can stand a continuous 5 Amps
of current. We recommend a minimum of #16 feeder bus, preferably
#14 and at least #22 AWG power drops from the rails to the feeder
bus.
PART III - DCC OPERATIONS:
The following part of this Quick Start Guide
will familiarize you with most of the features of the Powerhouse
DCC system. Powerhouse DCC System Reference Manual can be
consulted for other specific technical information, system limits,
specifications etc. If you have questions regarding items not covered
in our manuals the company phones are usually manned from 8:30 AM
to 6:00PM Eastern time. We do run a second factory shift in the
evening from 5:00PM until midnight several nights a week. There
is not always someone in the offices on these nights but if you
leave a message someone may be around to hear it and pick up the
phone. The sales and help number is 716-671-0370.
Each following part will cover use of one subject
or feature of the Powerhouse DCC System.
A FINAL COMMENT: The material contained in this
Quick Start Guide is neither complete nor comprehensive.
It is not a substitute for reading the other manuals describing
the POWERHOUSE DCC system. Once the initial thrill of running one
or two locomotives wears off, it is seriously suggested that you
take the time to read our System Reference Manual. While
it may appear intimidating at first, it is actually easy to read
and very informative.
Phone: (716) 671-0370
FAX : (716) 671-9337
E-mail: JSCORSE@AOL.COM
ADJUSTING DECODER PARAMETERS WHILE ON THE
MAINLINE.
A multitude of decoder parameters (normally called
Configuration Variables or CVs) can easily be adjusted. You can
use the PROGRAMMING TRACK (already covered in Quick Start) or PROGRAMMING
ON THE MAIN (the official term is Operations Mode Programming).
Programming on the main is much easier on your rolling stock as
you don't have to handle the locomotive to get it over to the programming
track. Note: MRC, Lenz and Digitrax 120 series decoders do not support
this mode of programming. You must use take locomotives with these
decoders to the programming track to change any parameters. All
NCE, System One, Ramtraxx, and Digitrax 140 series decoders will
work fine on the main.
- Press PROG once to get to:
SEL MODE xx:xxPM
PROGRAM ON MAIN
- Press ENTER to access PROGRAMMING
ON THE MAIN.
- The locomotive you are currently controlling
is shown on the cab display. If this is not the locomotive you
wish to program you can type in a new address. Otherwise just
press ENTER to program the one you are controlling. You
will be presented with the following menu:
LOC: xxx xx:xxPM
1=CON 2=CV 3=CFG
Press '2' to program by CV number.
- You are prompted to enter the CV number.
To change the start voltage we will program CV #2. Press '2'
then ENTER.
- Next enter the value (try 30 for a dramatic
effect… you can always change it to a lower value) then press
ENTER. As you press ENTER you may be able to hear
a soft 'click' in the locomotive. The is the decoder momentarily
blipping the motor to acknowledge the programming commands (this
happens on the programming track too).
- Press PROG to escape back to normal
operation mode and try running the locomotive. If the loco is
a pretty good runner it will take off like a jack rabbit because
we have set the start voltage too high. Go back to step #1 and
program CV 2 to a lower (saner?) value such as 4 or 5. Try different
values until you get the best start when you crack the throttle.
Some Useful CV numbers:
| CV |
DESCRIPTION |
| 1 |
Short address (can not program if already
activated) |
| 2 |
Start voltage |
| 3 |
Acceleration rate |
| 4 |
Deceleration rate |
| 17 |
Long Address (can not program if already
activated) |
| 19 |
Consist address (add 128 if the direction
in the consist is reversed) |
SELECTING AND CONTROLLING A LOCOMOTIVE
SELECTING A LOCOMOTIVE
To select a locomotive, press SELECT LOCO.
Enter the locomotive address (usually the number on the side of
the loco) and press ENTER.
NOTES: A decoder can have 2 different
addresses, the Short Address (values from 1-127) and the Long Address
(sometimes called 4 digit with a range of 0000-9999). A decoder
can use one or the other but not both at the same time. Some entry
level decoders such as MRC can only use the Short Address.
As you see above, the range of the short and long
addresses overlap at the low end. You can have a long address of
6 and a short address of 6. They are not the same. To use a short
address (range 1-127), select it on the cab by entering only the
significant digits (no 'leading' zeros). To enter a long address
in the range of 1-127 put a zero before the digits. A long address
between 1 and 127 will have and asterisk (*) before the loco address
as on the cab display as below:
LOC:*006 xx:xxPM
FWD:025 -------
We find that most modelers rarely use long addresses
in the 1-127 range.
CONTROLLING HEADLIGHTS AND OTHER DECODER
FUNCTIONS
Pressing HEADLIGHT (or the '0' key)
will alternately turn the headlight of the locomotive on and off
with each button press.
To toggle other function simply press the number
key that corresponds to the function you wish to control. ie: The
'1' key controls function 1.
Your cab will display which functions are on and
off in the lower right corner of the display. The letter 'L' stands
for Headlight (Function 0) and numbers 1-6 stand for functions 1-6
(functions 7 & 8 are not displayed on the cab but work if you push
the buttons). In the example below the headlight, functions 2 and
6 are on.
LOC:4449 xx:xxPM
FWD:025 L-2---6
CONSISTS - OLD AND ADVANCED CONSISTS EXPLAINED
Before setting up any consist an explanation is
needed to understand the operating differences between the old style
consist (required by MRC and Digitrax 120 series decoders) and the
advanced consist operations (all others).
ADVANCED
Besides the Long and Short addresses advanced decoders
have an additional short (1-127) address for consist operation located
at CV19. Selection of the Long or Short address is done by choosing
the long/short selection in CFG programming (also known as CV29).
See PROGRAMMING ON THE MAIN or the PROGRAMMING TRACK sections in
the QUICK START portion of the manual. A consist is activated when
the Consist Address (CV19) is something other than 0 or 128.
A decoder is added to a consist when the Powerhouse
Command Station sends an advanced decoder a command to set the consist
address to the consist number. The decoder will now use the consist
address for speed and direction commands. This has many advantages
including less need for communications on the track and no keeping
track of consist set-ups on the layout.
Each loco in an advanced consist will still respond
to function or programming commands at the original address. This
means that the operator can turn on or off lights and other functions
for each loco individually.
To kill an entire consist, a command is broadcast
on the tracks for each decoder with that consist address to clear
its consist address and return to individual operation. Locos can
also be added to or dropped from the consist on an individual basis.
OLD STYLE (also called Brute Force or Universal
consisting)
The command station builds and keeps track of each
consist in the memory of the Command Station and each command to
the consist from the Cab generates a separate command to each of
the decoders in the consist. Use this method of building a consist
for MRC and Digitrax 120 series decoders. You can also add advanced
consists as members of an old style consist
To kill a consist the memory of that consist is
cleared within the command Station. The decoder does not know it
is in a consist.
TO SETUP AN ADVANCED CONSIST
Press SETUP and you will get the following
prompt on the cab display
CONSIST xx:xxPM
ENTER=ADV 1=OLD
This screen allows you to choose the type of consist
to be created. For those consists that only contain advanced decoders,
press ENTER to select the advanced mode.
SETUP xx:xxPM
CON ADDR: _
The consist number can be any number from 1 through
127. Enter a number followed by pressing the ENTER key. There
is nothing scared about the consist number except it must be different
from any other short addresses on the layout. We usually start numbering
consists at 127 and work down from there.
SETUP xx:xxPM
LEAD LOCO: _
This prompt will allow you to enter a lead locomotive
number (makes it easy to turn the headlight on/off and other things.
You can enter a short or long address here corresponding to the
lead locomotive in your consist. The consist can later be selected
by either the consist address or by the lead locomotive number.
It makes it easy when you have lots of consists sitting in staging
tracks if you can call up the train by the lead loco number rather
than an invisible consist number.
SETUP xx:xxPM
DIR THIS LOCO: F
If the lead loco will be facing 'forward'
in the consist just press ENTER to accept the forward direction.
If its direction of travel will be reversed (loco faces 'backward')
press the DIRECTION key to reverse it.
CON:127 xx:xxPM
ADD LOCO: _
Enter the second loco number (decoder address) for
the consist followed by pressing the ENTER key. Note:
There is no limit to the number of locomotives assigned to an advanced
consist.
CON:127 xx:xxPM
DIR THIS LOCO: F
Treat this screen as you did with the lead locomotive.
The above two screens will be repeated so that you
can add all of the locos in the consist. Once the consist is complete,
press ENTER with no loco number on the ADD LOCO screen.
ADDING OR DROPPING LOCOS WITH AN ADVANCED
CONSIST
ADDING A LOCO
Press ADD LOCO
ADD LOCO xx:xxPM
CON ADDR: _
Enter the number of the existing consist (either
the consist address or the lead loco number) to which the loco is
to be added and then press the ENTER key.
CON:127 xx:xxPM
ADD LOCO: _
Enter the loco number (decoder address) followed
by the ENTER key.
CON:127 xx:xxPM
DIR THIS LOCO: F
If the locomotive will be facing 'forward' in
the consist just press ENTER to accept the forward direction.
If its direction of travel will be reversed (loco faces 'backward')
press the DIRECTION key to reverse it.
The above two screens will be repeated so that you
can add all of the locos in the consist. Once the consist is complete,
press ENTER with no loco number on the ADD LOCO screen.
DROPPING A LOCO
Press DELETE LOCO
DEL LOCO xx:xxPM
ENTER LOCO: _
Enter the address of the locomotive you wish to
drop from the consist.
This will drop the particular loco from whatever
consist it was part of. There is no need to know the consist number
for this operation. You can now select this loco by it normal address
and drive it away.
CLEARING AN ADVANCED CONSIST
Press CLEAR
DEL LOCO xx:xxPM
ENTER LOCO: _
Enter the consist (or lead loco) number and press
ENTER. This sends a command to all decoders with this consist
address to clear consist address. All loco's that were assigned
to this consist will no longer respond to the consist address.
SETTING UP AN OLD STYLE CONSIST
Press SETUP
CONSIST xx:xxPM
ENTER=ADV 1=OLD
For those consists that will contain any of the
basic decoders such as MRC or Digitrax 120 series, press 1.
Please note that our limit on an old style consist is four locomotives
per consist. The initial display will be as follows:
CON: 000 xx:xxPM
000 000 000
This screen is displayed to show all 4 locos in
the consist. There are currently no locos in this consist so they
are set to 000. Press the ENTER key to continue.
Press the ADD LOCO key.
CON: 000 xx:xxPM
ADD LOCO: _
Enter the loco number followed by the ENTER
key. The first loco to be added will be the lead loco (the loco
number displayed on the screen during normal operation). The consist
will respond to this number.
CON:4449 xx:xxPM
DIR THIS LOCO: F
The loco direction is assumed to be forward, if
it is to operate in reverse press the DIRECTION key. This informs
the Powerhouse which direction the loco is facing in the consist line-up.
Press the ENTER key to continue.
Press ADD LOCO for each loco to be added.
This operation leaves the consist as the active unit for this Cab.
By pressing RECALL the operator can change to another loco/consist
but the old style consist will stay with this Cab until it is either
passed by assigning it to another Cab or is cleared. When you are
done adding locomotives press ENTER or PROG at the
ADD LOCO prompt to escape.
OLD STYLE CONSIST ERRORS:
CON:4449 xx:xxPM
CAN NOT ADD LOCO
If you get this message the consist already contains
four loco's which is the maximum amount that we support in this
style of consist. Press ENTER to continue. There will be
a follow-up screen as below:
CON:4449 xx:xxPM
CONSIST NOW FULL
This screen reaffirms the previous screen. Press
the ENTER key to continue.
SCREEN DISPLAYED WHEN OPERATING OLD STYLE
CONSISTS.
CON:4449 xx:xxPM
078R 023 4254R
The R indicates that the loco is backwards
in the consist.
- Loco 4449 is the Lead Loco.
- Loco 78 is an basic (MRC/DIGITRAX) decoder operating
backwards.
- Loco 23 is operating 'forward".
- Loco 4254 is operating backwards.
ADDING/ DROPPING OR CLEARING AN OLD STYLE
CONSIST
ADDING A LOCO TO AN OLD STYLE CONSIST
The Cab must have the old style consist as the active
loco. Press the ADD LOCO key.
CON: 000 xx:xxPM
ADD LOCO: _
Enter the loco number followed by the ENTER
key. The first loco to be added will be the lead loco (the loco
number displayed on the screen during normal operation). The consist
will respond to this number.
CON:4449 xx:xxPM
DIR THIS LOCO: F
The loco direction is assumed to be forward, if
it is to operate in reverse press the DIRECTION key. This
informs the Powerhouse which direction the loco is facing in the
line-up facing . This effects only the direction of the loco, not
lighting. Press the ENTER key to return to normal operations.
DROPPING A LOCO FROM An OLD STYLE CONSIST
The Cab must have the old style consist as the active
loco. Press DELETE LOCO
DEL LOCO xx:xxPM
ENTER LOCO: _
Enter the address of the locomotive you wish to
drop from the consist. This will drop the particular loco from the
consist it was part of.
CLEARING AN OLD STYLE CONSIST
The Cab must have the old style consist as the active
loco. Press CLEAR
KILL? xx:xxPM
ENTER=NO 1=YES
Press 1 to clear the consist from the Command
Station memory.
We welcome comments or suggestions
from readers; please write
or call.
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