NCE MINI PANEL INSTULATION ON GP Model RR

[@arthurhouston3]

If you do not understand any steps post your question and I will answer it. Visit my world at grandepacificmodelrr This is a org web site you will have to put the part in front and org at end you tube does not allow links that is why i can enter it the normal way.

[@MineMountModels]

This is the most timely video post I have subbed to. I have been looking into the Mini Panel for a couple weeks now. I am going to use it to control 4 hidden staging tracks. I can't thank you enough for this video. I am eagerly awaiting the AIU, Switch 8 and block detection videos. Keep 'em coming.

[@FishplateFilms]

Hey Arthur, Thanks for teaching an old "signal" dog ,some new tricks!! I'll be watching all your how to vids a few times I reckon!! Cheers Gregg

[@lionellance]

Great video thanks for sharing and keep up the great work

[@MineMountModels]

Thatnks for the advice. I have since installed my Mini panel and hooked up a tempoary momentary push button control panel to operate my 4 staging tracks. It work great. Although the "1 and 2" inputs are not working. I did post this quandry on the NCE group page with no real answer. Others have said this happens with inputs 1 & 2. Oh-well. :(

[@FishplateFilms]

Thanks Arthur, I thought they were Atlas. Peco are expensive but good , I like the Tillig one piece turnouts, but their sleeper (tie) spacing is wider ,I got a ME turnout to try, nice but there's a huge gap each side of the frog? The Atlas look good on your layout!. It's Sunday morning about 10.00 am when you messaged me, almost 30 deg cel., in for a hot one!! Thanks and cheers mate!,Gregg

[@pacbeltrr38]

Thanks Arthur, you answered my question as well!! I've been getting Peco code 83 turnouts at *$27.00us each* because I was never sure about Atlas. I haven't used them since the early 80's, and hadn't heard anything great about them... Well, now that I'm dirt-ass poor, I should give them another look!! Carmine 🚂

[@arthurhouston3]

95% of all the switches on the GP are Atlas Custom line 563 - 564 #6. And 561 - 562 #4. They were used because the work and strand the test of time. Club I belong to in Baton Rouge La. USA Has used them for over 20 years. Second reason they cost under 15 dollars us. I would have used peco but dollar devaluation and cost of peco would have doubled that expense. I uses Alta's code 83 track their over all system works very well.

[@trackspike64]

I really like your video well done

[@MineMountModels]

Now I have to get detection going so I can keep track of the hidden tracks. That will happen soon. I saw your explanation of the BD-20's. I might also use photo detection. Still not sure. I want it to end up lighting LED's on the panel to show me when to stop the trains and occupation.

[@arthurhouston3]

Works great for yard ladders. Set up a marco.

[@eveannwallis4939]

A good explanatory video, thanks, it's most helpful. BUT what exactly are you hitting for your procab accessory short cut command? (which key or button). Cheers, Eve Wallis

[@arthurhouston3]

Select Accessory think what your asking.

[@FishplateFilms]

Arthur, at the 21.00 mark, what brand turnouts are you using?, plus I love the Westinghouse switch machines on the turnout!!, reminds me of work,LOL Cheers Gregg

[@richncc6379]

Thanks aurthurhouston3. I plugged my cab into the setup jack on the mini panel. I used the wire that came with the mini panel and plugged it into the output jack on the mini panel and the other end into the jack I use for procab. the Pro Cab boots up however the mini panel is not recognized by the Procab abd there is no light liting up on the panel.

[@arthurhouston3]

Have to give mini panel and address. And it has to be in the cab bus line. That is the six flat wire that goes from front of Command station, to the UPTs that you plug the Pro Cab into run your trains. So from command station to a UPT panel from UPT panel to Mini Panel out of Mini Panel to another UPT panel. The mini panel has to have a cab address suggest up in the 40 range. You have 63 cab addresses from 2 to 63. DO NOT USE 2 to 18 these are pro cab radio addresses.

[@richncc6379]

+arthurhouston3 Do you mean from the back side of UPT?

[@arthurhouston3]

Yes you can use it on Kato switch but you will need the devise that kicks the swittch. I have forgot name of devise. Go to NCE DCC CHAT ROOM ON YAHOO and ask question how do i through kato switch with NCE switch 8 or switch it. The mini panel controls these devises. They control switch motor.

[@arthurhouston3]

If you are doing a latter and connecting severl switch in a macro. Write it on a piece of paper first before you try and enter in the inputs. Example. Input 1 Step 1 101 to 1, Step 2 102 to 2 , Step 3 103 to 1. you are writing code and if it is input wrong it will not work. One of the most difficult things to do is the steps to get to a point to change or delete something. Lots of screens to go through.

[@thomasgrassi8817]

Hi Arthur Does the DCC system have to be active when you program the Mini Panel. I only have one Power Cab and it hs to be connected to the UTP Panel to power the DCC system. When I plug in the Power Cab into the Mini Panel with power off my Power cab does not work. So how can I have the DCC system on with out my power cab?

[@arthurhouston3]

Yes, It is how you program it. NCE Command station has to be on and a controller plugged into the mini panel. Do one small baby step on one terminal and make sure you get one switch to throw. before jumping into multiple switches.

[@thomasgrassi8817]

@@arthurhouston3 What is the model number of the command station?

[@arthurhouston3]

@@thomasgrassi8817 The Command station has to have eprom that reads March 2007 C if say Mach 2007 B that will work as C up grade only had to do with Cab 06. You can check this by going and looking at set up command station. NCE will get you new E prom If you have to open while open change out the batterie. Will lose any stored info in the command station.

[@arthurhouston3]

Sorry missed the power cab. You need to see 1.65 e prom version for power cab. The mini panel will work it has to have a cab address so here you are limited. Think you only have 2 3 4 5 available. Make it 5. It runs off cable plugged into the plug in the back of the PCP. Yes you will need a second Pro Cab to program this devise. IE Cab 3. I have a feeling there is a limit on ACCY numbers. On line help with Power Cab at NCE DCC site will give you future help. I tried calling NCE to talk to Matt about it but to late. Busy tomorrow with visit to big N scale layout.

[@richncc6379]

There is a jump pin that needs to be used. Once in place Power Cab recognized mini panel.

[@arthurhouston3]

Bingo you gave it an address.

[@trackspike64]

can you use these for snap switches like kato N scale ??

[@walshrd]

What do you do with the programming jumper? Ignore it?

[@arthurhouston3]

In the case of this model you pull it off of making the connection and then put it back on one terminal for storage. This may have changed like all of other devises. New one have differway of putting into program mode.

[@meltonpieman959]

Hi Arthur. I am just starting to install my first NCE mini panel to operate my turnouts. As I have a small layout I am operating it all from one central switch panel. I want to use LEDs to show the selected lines (like your small panels in the video). I can see nothing to say that I can use the mini panel (inputs only) or any cab bus device to drive these LEDs, OR AM I WRONG? I have been intending to wire them to a micro switch within the motor for each turnout. That means quite a lot of wiring - can you suggest any alternative? Regards David

[@arthurhouston3]

All my LED lights are controlled by the electric switches on the tortious switch machines you have to create a very low DC voltage sours and make sure you put resistors on them to insure not more than 2 volts.  That way it is totally separate from the DCC command system.

[@meltonpieman959]

Thank you Arthur. That is what I had planned to do. David

[@arthurhouston3]

will do in futher but is what is for this one and no reshoot.

[@richncc6379]

Do you mean from the back side of the UPT panel to the Mini Panel? I use the flat cord too that came with the mini panel?

[@arthurhouston3]

yes it has to be in the cab bus line. It has to have a cab bus number assigned. IE Cab 40. Please go back and read instructions and look a diagrams provided.

[@arthurhouston3]

It the picture in the start the 6 wire flat wire is the cab bus on the left.

[@JonathanRBermanMDBocaRaton]

I followed the minipanel wiring to a "t". The LED on the Minipanel constantly glows red. The PowerCab, in the setup port does not "boot" into the minipanel----the display on the PowerCab stays at CAB 7, then launches just like a PowerCab. What did I do wrong? DOes the board need to be reset? How do you do that when you cannot program the minipanel?

[@arthurhouston3]

You will need to turn on power cab with the power cab controller plugged into left plug pcp. Then plug mini panel to right plug. Then you will need a second pro cab controller to program the mini panel and first thing you need to do is assign the mini panel a cab number. The computer running the mini panel is inside the power cab. I have not ever run one with a power cab. Cab addresses are limited 3 4 5 I think.

[@arthurhouston3]

The power cab i do not believe support cab 7 2 3 4 5. You have to change the mini panel address to another cab number. I do not see how you can set up a mini panel on a power cab system with out another pro cab controller. Poser cab has to plunged into left side of PCP at all time on cab 2 for there to power and connection to the right side cab buss cable plug or one on the back of the PCP. So you have to have a second Pro Cab controller to make cab address change and set up the mini panel. Suggest trying cab address 4 for the mini panel.

[@FBMRR]

Arthur, are there any benifits to using a mini panel rather than a switch 8 with a button board?

[@arthurhouston3]

Yes, if you use the trigger on the switch it of right side, with a button to throw, will not report into the command station and you do not know position of switch on a JMRI panel on the computer. My going through a mini panel computer knows position of the switch. Mini panel is also the way to work ladders of switches. Push one button and maybe two to three switches throw same time. You wright a macro that the mini panel keep in memory. IE push button 1 it throws switch 101 to 2 potion and switch 102 to 1 potion. Up to four commands per terminal and you can link terminals. Mini panel commands get reported in command station which is talking to the computer that is running JMRI panel pro in my case layout editor.

[@FBMRR]

Perfect explanation. I couldnt find that anywhere on NCE website. You are awesome my friend. Thanks.

[@arthurhouston3]

I have never seen or heard a comment out of anyone at NCE that they acknowledge that the system interacts with JMRI. And now with the light it you can have a complete CTC system with all the signals.

[@FBMRR]

Cant wait to see you get that rolling. Ill follow in your foot steps.

[@arthurhouston3]

All up and running until last Monday, has been for 9 years. Lighting strike last Monday and have some damage command station was fired and is on way back from NCE repaired today.

[@chucksmith155]

Hi Tom what size switches and L E D s are yiu using

[@arthurhouston3]

Use 2 MM LEDs 2 volts DC. and the switches are mini switches. you can use push buttons. Anything that is momentary contact.

[@canadianlocomotivelogistics]

What’s the difference between a mini panel and AIU 01

[@arthurhouston3]

Big one AIU 01 is detection devise works on Cab Bus other is a control devise. Controls switch decoders and can hold macros. Also works off of cab bus.

[@arthurhouston3]

AIU 01 is a devise that read detection. From BD 20 ie blocks. Works on cab bus.

[@arthurhouston3]

Mini panel controls switch decoders and can hold macros to be run.

[@richncc6379]

Need some help connecting two switch 8 MK2'S to a Mini Panel. Coundn't find answers in NCE chat nor any videos specific to this question..

[@arthurhouston3]

You do not hook up switch 8 to mini panel. You connect it to Track bus. You program each of the 8 switch machines. Switch 100 101 102 103 etc. Then you connect mini panel to Cab bus. Then program mini panel to through Switch 100 to 1 and swith 101 to 2 etc . Need to watch kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIDVn4tqmq6ibs0 Mini panel control switches though the command station. Other uses for Mini Panel but it is mainly to set routes on a number of switches. Yard latter. Etc.

[@arthurhouston3]

Get your switches hook up first and working with your controller. Then move to the mini panel.

[@VE3NMW]

Turn the radio off in the background.