Basic Set Up of 5 Amp Power Pro System
An NCE P515 power supply (15VAC - 5AMP) is the preferred transformer for
your system. If you are using a different transformer be sure to measure the
actual no load voltage before connecting it to your system. Many 16 Volt
transformers put out 19 to 20 Volts with no load. If you have a transformer that
puts out more than 18 Volts do not use it. The maximum input voltage to your
Power Pro or PB105 is 18 Volts AC. Voltages higher than 18 Volts AC will
ultimately destroy your booster resulting in an expensive repair charge.
Contents of the 5 Amp Power Pro System:
Power Pro System Box with 4 pin and 2 pin plugs
Pro Cab
Seven foot coiled cable
Twelve inch flat cable
UTP cab bus panel
Power Pro system reference manual
We recommend that you follow the instructions below to connect your system to a
small test track first. After your system is checked out completely and known to be
working then consider the final installation locations for components and
connections to the track.
TRYING OUT YOUR POWER PRO:
#1 Disconnect the existing power supplies from your layout.
#2 Connect the long (7 foot) coiled cable from the cab into the Power Pro CAB BUS
socket.
#3 Plug one end of the short (1 foot) cable into the Power Pro CONTROL BUS socket
that is next to 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 Power Pro to the “Power Booster” portion.
#4 If in place, pull the 4 pin plug from its socket on the face of the Power Pro. Connect
your power source to the screw terminals marked POWER. Your power source must
have 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 Power Pro is certain to result. If there is not
enough voltage (under about 12VDC) the left hand STATUS light on the Power Pro
will flash quickly. There will be a similar indication if the DCC signal from the
command station is lost . The Power Pro is factory adjusted to put out the NMRA
recommended 14.25 volts for N, HO and S scales..
#5 Set up a test track. Obtain a length or two of flex track, or better yet, use that old
circle of Atlas Snap Track you’ve had kicking around for years. Do NOT connect the
Power Pro up to your layout at this time. 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 Power
Pro DCC system is up and running as advertised then hook it up to the layout (after
finishing the Quick Start Guide). 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.
If you have a locomotive with a DCC decoder already installed connect two wires
from your test track to the TRACK screw terminals of the Power Pro. Plug this
connector into the Left socket.
#6 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 will help here.
#7 Plug in the power source and/or turn on the power.
#8 The display of the cab should look 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.
4
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):
a. Press SELECT LOCO button once.
b. Press the “3” button once. DO NOT press 0 then 3.
c. Press ENTER.
Note: By convention, all locomotive decoders have their short address set to 3 at the
factory.
TIP #1à 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.
TIP #2 à 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/ESC key to “escape” what you were doing and return to normal
operation mode.
TIP #3 àWhenever 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.
#9 To operate the locomotive, the following controls are used:
a. The thumbwheel will increase/decrease speed. The speed control buttons that
flank the thumbwheel on either side may also be used as desired to control the loco
speed.
b. Pressing the DIRECTION button will cause the loco direction to reverse.
CONGRATULATIONS! You are now operating one locomotive with DCC control. In
most cases, less than twenty minutes has elapsed since you started reading this
Quick Start Guide.
After completing your Quick Start, go to Page 8 - “Completing the Quick Start.”
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