The Powercab is marketed as a 2 amp system. I’ve read other places that refer to it as 1.7 amps. HOWEVER, when you unplug the power supply that comes with it over and take a real close look, it says that it is a 1.1 amp supply!
So I’m assuming that the Powercab cannot magically produce current that isn’t there. Bottom line, if you were to replace the power supply with a slightly better one that actually does put out 2 amps, would you end up with the system as advertised?
I’m not sure how important this even is, I’ve run two trains with a couple more sitting and idling. Never came close to going over an amp. But it would be nice to know I could.
The Smart Booster, rated at 3 Amps, is the NCE recommended way of upgrading the power output of the Power Cab. They actually rate the basic Power Cab at 1.7 Amps.
Yes, they rate it at 1.7. That’s the basis of the question. How can it be rated at 1.7, when the power supply that comes with it only puts out 1.1?
I’m pretty sure that at some point I’ll be adding the Smart Booster anyway. This just always struck me as odd that it can be rated at a higher output than the input would seem to allow.
Mine says 1.11 amp 15 watts. Thats what it normaly puts out but is able to create 2.0 amps for a short burst. Putting 2 amps through those tiny wires in the cord all the time would be kind of dangerous.
I think the power cab will put out more then it’s rated at. I can run two trains with two locos on each with another one idling. Another brand could could’nt start up with two on the track unless I lifted one, this may have been an anomally but Iam satisfied with my power cab. I like the programing screen for setting the CV’s
I e-mailed NCE about this, and the response was “We have tested the power supply provided with the Power Cab and note that it will run for hours and hours at near 2 Amps.”
The rating on the power supply may be where it starts to lose regulation, but it may work adequately to a considerably higher amperage. Ratings are sometimes not what they appear to be.
What is the dummy booster? I am looking to upgrade the ampage to my PC and the smart booster costs a little over 100 after the 2 parts are added together. Is there a link or something explaining it in more detail?
I believe it was an attempt at humor! However, any booster should work, as a booster, though you won’t gain he ability to disconnect the PowerCab, or to add a third (or fourth?) throttle.
He may have been refering to the NCE DB3 booster. It is a 3 amp booster without the command station capabilities of the SmartBooster, but I don’t know if you can use it with the PowerCab if you don’t already have a SmartBooster.
From what I remember, you can use the DB3 with other DCC systems. However, if you use it with the Power Cab, you need to use it in conjunction with the Smart Booster (SB3). (The DB3 is connected to the 3-port green connector in the back of the SB3.) Otherwise, you’d probably have competing boosters between the Power Cab and DB3.