Hi Any assistance anyone can provide in relation to the following problem would be greatly appreciated: I recently upgraded my n-scale layout to DCC (NCE Powercab) when my Broadway-limited Alco's arrived a couple of weeks ago. The BLI Alco consist runs very well, with no noticeable problems with the DCC connections, voltage drop, etc. As recommended by NCE, I installed an automotive globe on my main track feed to protect the equipment from shorts. I have now received and installed TCS decoders into my fleet of DCC ready Kato engines. All up, I run the following consists: 1. Broadway Limited PA / PB (dummy) / PA 2. Kato F7A / B / B / A (4 units with TCS decoders) 3. Kato PA / PB (2 units with TCS decoders) When I start to run the either of the Kato consists at low speed (up to about speed step 30), the loco's run very well... performance seems to drop off as the speed steps are increased. What strike's me as odd, is that as the speed is increased, the globe wired into the main track feed increases in intensity. At the highest speed step, the globe is almost as bright as if there was a track short. This only occurs with the Kato locos with the TCS chips. According to the amp meter built into the NCE Powercab, I am only drawing about 0.5amps; so I don't believe capacity is an issue. Am I missing something obvious? Any help or suggestions would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Update... i have removed the globe from the circuit; and everything seems to be working as it should be expected... strange...
You were simply drawing too much current for the automotive light bulb trick to work with the bulb you were using. You may have gotten a bulb with too low a wattage rating. Once the bulb starts to glow noticeably, it's resistance will increase a lot cutting the voltage to the trains affecting how they run.
NCE recommends it in their documentation. They also have a product based on this, "CP6"... this is all relatively new to me, so I am still scratching my head. Anyway, the layout works a treat now that the bulb has been removed.
Do your recall to part number of the bulb that you used? Like#1156 or#1034 or something like that. Sounds like what CSX Robert said.
Sounds like the 1A globe is installed. Try the alternative higher rated 1.75A globe (which is on the PC's output limit). The closer your current gets to the globes rating the brighter it glows and the higher the filament resistance rises (causing the glow), as per CSX Robert's comment above.
