I have a Zephyr on my small layout at home. It has so far worked for everything I want to do, and it lets me run a mix of decoder equipped and non decoder equipped locomotives. Though the Zephyr is a bit limited past the scope of smallish layouts, it is a great starting point and will become a solid core to a larger DCC system. Just my opinion.
Cahrn
I do think that the flat cable that comes with the Power Cab is of a heavier gauge than 26. Something to remember for anyone considering replacing or extended this cord is that the current actually passes through this cable not two, but four times: power supply to cab(1), cab to track bus(2), track bus back to cab(3), and cab back to power supply(4). The calculator that Steve linked to did account for the roundtrip.
I am a big fan of Digitrax’s system design and feel that if you desire to get into any signalling, detection, and/or automated or PC controlled operations and want it all integrated, Digitrax is the way to go. That being said, I do feel that NCE’s systems are good systems and better suited for many people.
While I don’t exactly agree with this, one thing I do not like about the Power Cab is it’s upgrade path. Of course the Power Cab can be used as a Pro Cab on a Power Pro system, and I like that feature. You can also upgrade it with the Smart Booster, but if you think you will ever want more than the 4 cab limit of the Smart Boooster, then you are better off going straight to the Power Pro system because if you go to the Smart Booster and then Power Pro, the Smart Booster will no longer be useable in the system - not even as just a booster. It is also important to remember that the PC interface and any other cab bus accessories, such as the micro panel, use cab addresses and cut into the number of cabs you can use. The Zephyr is advertised as having a 10 cab limit out of the box(the limit isn’t really the number of cabs you c
I’m not so sure that the statement regarding using the PC interface with the Super Booster or Power Cab cuts the number of cabs by one is correct. There are reserved cab addresses for specific uses, and I believe the 2 or 4 cab limit is still valid after adding the PC interface. But I’m willing to be proven wrong by an actual user.
Be that as it may, knowing the desired end state - particularly number of throttles - is as important in DCC planning as it is in DC. Otherwise, one ends up with dead end upgrade paths and wasted money. Not that all throttles have to be bought immediately - but provision does have to be made for the eventual total number. Even if some of the throttles will come from friends bringing their own, the total has to be planned for.
If remaining at a single or 2 operator level (2 throttles), to me the preferred form factor should be on
Fred, excellent summary.
I am a Digitrax Z user, but really like NCE products as well. When I purchased my Z there was not a choice. The PowerCab was not released yet and MRC had not yet moved onto their current line of DCC systems. Had I had a choice at the time, the Power Cab would have received very strong consideration as I like the form factor of the throttle.
Having said that, looking at where I am now, I would have hit the extent of the upgrade path on the PowerCab. The throttle limit is what would have nailed me. From day 1, there have been 3 of us using the layout simultaneously. We used the Z throttle and the 2 jump throttles. We quickly added a DT400 dual throttle bringing us up to an effective 5 throttles. Have since added a UT4 and a PC with virtual throttles. It is not unusual for me and the 2 boys to have 5 throttles in use all the time. We have also added a DB150 booster and are about to add at new DT402D and UR92 duplex wireless (in transit as we speak). All of which has and will be added with my trusty Z as the command station at the center of it all. Nothing redundant. This would not have been possible with the PowerCab, other than going right to a ProCab and avoiding the Smart Booster.
So I would concur. If you don’t have any real plans to upgrade the system in the future, and the Power Cab meets your needs, it is a great system. If you think you might follow a path like me then you can’t go wrong with the Zephyr.
I think this kind of sums it up or close to it for me. I kept my layout size restricted on purpose and can only keep 4 people busy for a couple hours. Now when I was looking to get started the main issue for me was the human interface and the Powercab looked more user friendly as I am not the sharpest tool in the shed. Shoot the SB3 nor the interface were out yet, but were in planning. My intention with this system is use on this layout and maybe take the throttle to someone elses from time to time. Now when I build my dream empire I will revisit all this and decide from there.
I do like the Digitrax loconet system where you can tie in signaling and all that goes with it. There are many pros and cons for each system and two big atvantages I think about is the recall stack of 10 and the jump cabs utilizing DC cabs in the Zephyr.
To each his own and choose what best fits you now and in the next couple years. I would not put to much wieght on features that you may not utilize for 10 years down the road. The idea behind these starter system is just that, get started. If you can afford signalling and such you would skip the starter systems anyway.
I looked at the flat cable that came with my power cab. It has 24awg written on it. Answers that.[swg]
I did some checks on my power cab.
With 10 sound decoders sitting on the track they draw .47 amps
With 6 sitting they draw .23 amps.
With 6 on the track, with 4 of them pulling, and sound on they draw about .97 amps. One of my grades is 3.3%
My locos are less than 2 years old so they are of newer design. I like the P. Cab because I find it simple to understand and I can read the CVs easly.
I did start out with A Digatrax and changed, No offense to anyone just my [2c] .
I don’t have enough track to have all 10 locos running at once so I run 4 or 5 off on a siding and cut the power to them.
Have fun.
Lee
This is not the first time I’ve heard this and I had the same thoughts at one time. I thought a Power Cab/Smart Booster combo would serve my needs for power and number of throttles for a long time, with only an upgrade to radio needed in the future. But the form factor was the killer for me. I was so disappointed once I started using it. NCE is such a fine company, with outstanding product quality, great radio performance, and absolutely wonderful customer service. It was hard for me to give up on NCE but I decided to take a chance on the Zephyr.
I’ve always admired the Ditgrax philosophy and design, and wasn’t disappointed. I started with a Zephyr and DT400, which I think is a perfect combo for many users. I guess I got lucky because the DT400 is, in many respects, just perfect for me. I later added radio, which performed flawlessly, and now I too expect to receive my DT402D/UR92 tomorrow. It took me a while, and had to spend a little money, but I’ve found the very best system for me, and the form factor was the clincher.
In comparing Digitrax, NCE and MRC there is another consideration that might be important to some. If you want to throw turnouts with your DCC system I’ve found that Digitrax can do this with fewer button presses and in a smoother, more efficient manner. This was just another little bonus I got with my Digtrax choice.
There are no reserved addresses for the PC interface. When configured for use with the Power Cab, the USB interface is forced to cab bus address 3, which is the only available address for auxillary cabs on a Power Cab system. When configured for use with a Smart Booster, the available addresses are 2-5, the same addresses availble for the cabs. The USB interface, Mini Panel, and Auxiliary Input Unit all reduce the number of cabs you can have on an NCE system.
Not neccessarily. A Zephyr will handle my layout, including the planned signaling, computer dispatching, and automated running, so why would I spend the extra money on a Super Chief system. You can save about $100 with a Zephyr and DT400 throttle over a Super Chief system. It was also easier for me to save up for the Zephyr and buy it, then save up for a walkaround throttle, instead of trying to save up for a Super Chief .
To be fair, if you like to use utility throttles, you can not throw turnouts from Digtrax’s utility throttles(you can from their DT series throttles and from the Zephyr), but you can from NCE’s utility throttles.
It’s my understanding that you cannot throw turnouts from the NCE utility throttles, like a 04p. You can do it by using macros on the 04p but that doesn’t work very well, and of course there is no display to let you see what you’re doing. I think you have to set a macro to throw a turnout, and then another macro to close it. Lots of button pressing and numbers to remember. I could be wrong on this but I asked the question on another forum and this is what I was told.
And yes, you cannot do it with a Digitrax UT4 either, but for me, using the throttle to throw lots of turnouts, the DT series and Zephyr control panel work nicely.
This thread has revealed what seems to be a real oversight in the PowerCab. This notion that the USB interface means that a 2nd throttle can not be added unless a Smart Booster is deployed really adds to the cost of a system when more than one operator is wanted.
In trying to check out the validity of this, I was trolling around on the www.litchfieldstation.com site and read the following
“Will NOT work with any known auto reverse module - the SB3 shuts down before the module reverses”
is this really true? There must be some really ticked off PowerCab users if this is the case?
So if you want a dual user system, with a PC interface so that you can run the JMRI program, then at discount web prices a Power Cab system is going to run you $378.00 a Zephyr will run you $303.00 (command station, PC interface, utility throttle, extra panel and Smartbooster for the NCE)
If you only want a single cab/user and the PC interface the NCE PowerCab is $187.00 compared to $223.00 for the Digitrax Z. Quite a big difference to add a single cab?
Basically you can pick apart any system and build a case for or against it. I for one agree that the Zephyr is a good product but when I was looking for a starter set I didn’t want something looking like an old Radio Shack starter electronics kit on the layout. [:D]
Picking apart is one thing, but if a potential purchaser has, or plans for a reverse loop (a turntable for example) not an uncommon thing, and the system they purchase can not handle automatic reversal then I think that is quite an important shortcoming to understand. On another forum I belong to there is a really angry PowerCab user who has been told by NCE that the only solution they can offer is to upgrade to a Power House system. I did not believe that what he was told could possibly be true, but it would appear that it is?
I wonder why a system wouldn’t handle an auto reversal unit. Maybe if they tried another manufacturers auto reverser it would work. Is it the max current draw that was the issue?
I don’t think that we’re doing much picking apart on this thread but really trying to give as complete a picture as we can to help the original poster make a choice. By the way, whatever happened to Taylor? I wonder if any of this has been of help to him. It would be nice to get some feedback from him.
P.S. I’ll take function over appearance any day of the week and… I think my Zephyr looks pretty cool and high-tech so I’m careful to keep it out where everyone can see it.
LOL.
Anyhow I googled the auto reverser issue and found it several places. The 3 amp power booster has an issue with them as well. Looks like the surge protection trips too quickly. I can say that the 3 amp booster I had in the past was very sensitive and tripped too soon. I wound up with the 5 amp system.
Here’s a link where someone appears to have had luck with this manufacturers reverser and the Power Cab.
I think you will find that there are several reversers that work with the Power Cab out of the box basic system, but none that work with the Smart booster add on that is needed if you want to add more than one extra cab and or USB PC interface.