Good. I’m heading over to Tony’s Train Exchange now and am going to order the NCE power cab, along with a DSD-100LC #820041 sound decoder for my BN Atlas GP-40.(and a 3/4" speaker). I’ll buy more decoders at my LHS. DCC…Here I come!
Hey post a pic of your layout, lets see what you’ve got so far. Here’s mine…its not updated, but close. I have not begun wiring yet as I was waffeling between DC and DCC.
Its now 2 years later…
has anyone confirmed if the NCE Smart Booster will in fact allow the Powercab to be disconnected and moved without stopping the train?
I just checked the NCE webpage, but I cant find anything about that…
thanks,
Scot
I just went to the NCE web site and had a look at the online manual for the Smart Booster, the following quote was taken directly from the first page.
“When using a Power Cab with the SB3, the Power Cab can now be
unplugged and used in true walk around fashion. It no longer needs to
remain connected for the system to work.”
It looks like the Powercab can be unplugged and moved during operation if the Smart Booster is part of the system.
I hope this helps.
Vernon
excellent! 
thanks!
Scot
Simple answer: Yes. You can plug and unplug your Power Cab without shutting down the layout.
Scot, if you’d like to read a review on the Smart Booster (SB3), go to my web site link at the bottom of this post and click on “Reviews” on the left side of the screen. The review for the SB3 will be near the bottom of the page.
Hope that helps…
Tom
Tom,
I have a some questions about the Power Cab and SB3.
I am a little confused here…
Jim
Jim,
Sorry for taking so long to answer your questions. I just discovered your inquiry while poking around My Forums:
Yes. You will only wire the PCP panel to the programming track. If the PCP panel is tied into the SB3, the SB3 software will override it and you lose access to the programming track mode on your Power Cab.
Yes. I think it’s always wise to change addresses on the programming track vs. using Programming on Main (POM)
That I’m not sure about because I haven’t ordered the USB port yet. My guess is that the answer is yes. However, I’d ask the guys at NCE that question - just to be sure.
Jim, perhaps you could wire the USB port with a DPDT(?) switch in order to use it with either the PCP pa
Putting aside the Digitrax vs NCE issue (both are excellent) I would not want to do without walk around cab, even for a small shelf layout. I like being where the train is.
The NCE powercab is walk around out of the box. If you do decide to go with the Zephyr, I would factor in the cost of at least a small hand-held walk-around throttle. The UT4, for instance, is around $60 street.
If you can, try the feel of the NCE throttle. Its a fairly big throttle and the wheel has a different feel then a digitrax ballistic throttle knob. You may find you favor one over the other… much like the difference in feel between a Nikon and Canon which is entirely personal and has nothing to do with which is “better”.
Chris
I faced the same dilemma a couple of years ago when I decided to take the leap into DCC. I did the usual research but what it finally came down to was a discussion I had with my LHS. I asked which one they sold more and their answer was Digitrax, 4 to 1. They had customers that initially went with DCE but switched to Digitrax when they wanted to expand. A discussion with your LHS in which you discuss how you plan to operate your layout would be beneficial. A Zephyr should easily handle 4-5 non-sound equipped locos or 2-3 sound equipped, all running simultaneously. My LHS knew how I operated and flatly said that the NCE would not handle it.
Actually, the Zephyr could handle all that AT THE SAME TIME. At least, mine did. 8 was the most I could keep from crashign into one another, my layout was only 8x12. I had 3 sound plus 5 non-sound locos running at the same time. They were all newer locos, P2K and the like, no old Blue Box Athearns - one was my Stewart DS4-4-100 which when measured on DC drew 0.025 amp STALLED. Yes, 25ma. But notice in the MR reviews, even the sound-equipped locos don’t draw all that much stalled - running even less. A lot of people go in for the overkill “OMG, I’m going to have 3 trains running on my layout, better get that 10 amp booster” Maybe if you’re in O scale or larger.
–Randy
I kinda flubbed around with this same question. As I was literally just starting out and it was my very first purchase I put alot of time and erergy into researching and making sure I bought the best that I could. And it wound up beign a total toss up. I went with the Powercab simply due fact that I like the hand held cab more than the stationary Zepher.
And a little bonus is that I can take it with me to the Club and use my Powercab as a throttle there!
I agree with most everyone that both are fantastic and you cannot go wrong with either one!
Welcome to the DCC age!
I realize I’m coming into this conversation several years too late, but it seems to me a couple of feaures have been glossed over. First, isn’t the PowerCab limited to adding only ONE addtional walk around throttle, and isn’t there a limit to the number or type of plug in panels that can be used? Also, is the PowerCab able to be converted to use a radio-wireless throttle as an additional throttle? As I write this, Digitrax has just released the updated Zephyr Extra, which now can handle up to 20 throttles instead of 10 and can control 28 functions, too.Digitrax having the jump port throttle feature also seems like a plus for anyone wanting to build their own DC tethered throttles “on the cheap”, but the Zephyr being able to use the wireless infra-red throttles (at very little extra cost) or either the radio wireless (at significant extra cost for either NCE or Digitrax) could sway the decision, depending on your needs.
Also, the Zephyr can be used to test a DC loco, something that neither the NCE or MRC systems support. I realize that it’s probably not a good idea to run a DC loco for any period of time using the address “00” feature, but it seems like it could be useful for occasional testing purposes
I do like the fact that the PowerCab is a very compact system that doesn’t look like it needs a special shelf or table underneath the layout or control panel just to hold DCC components, something the Zephyr does need, even though it is smaller than most DC power Packs.
One other thing that concerns me is the potential for voltage drop to the rails when using a longer tethered cable with PowerCab due to the small gauge of the wire contained in the tether cable. Can you even use a coiled tether cord with the PowerCab if you can find one with enough conductors?
Regards,
Bill
As the system comes, it is limited to one other cab. However, it is expandable to accommodate two or maybe three more.
The available expansion items (smart booster) also increases the available amperage.
Yes, you can use a radio cab with the Power Cab system. You would need the radio cab as well as the radio base station. The base station plugs into where one of the cabs would get connected.
Maybe the control of up to 28 functions is a good thing, but most people I know only use bell, horn, and light, plus maybe a couple more. Since some of the other function keys do different things from one manufacturer to the next, unless the operator walks around with a “noise list” in his pocket he’s not going to remember what does what anyway. But that’s my opinion.
Most of the folks who have posted here seem to not recommend running a DC engine on DCC. And if I were interested in seeing how a DC engine ran, for test purposes or otherwise, I think I’d want a regular DC power supply. So, again in my opinion, the ability to run a DC engine on a DCC system is no more than a gimmick.
Finally, the ability to plug in a large number of cabs, whether that number is 4, 10, or 20, is another non-issue with me. When you have a 1.5 to 3 amp system (if that’s what they are), how many locomotives can you run that you would need that many cabs? If you need that many operators, you would not have purchased one of the entry level systems to begin with.
While I agree with you maxman that running a DC loco on DCC is not the best, but it is far from a gimmick. At the club we had a member that ran all his engines on address Zero, in fact none of his locos had a decoder in them. He was a member for 10 years and never had the slightest problem with any of his units. He was even able to negotiate a reversing loop without a glitch, flipping the reverse direction on his throttle in the nick of time.
I personally don’t run locos on address Zero however for the past 10 years I witnessed someone do it without any damage to his fleet or the DCC system.
Well, when you add the SB3A, don’t you lose the programming track and the “exclusive” PowerCab functionality (the ammeter comes to mind), as well as basically throw away the PCP and original power brick? Unless, of course, you go through the trouble of using it to set up a programming track somewhere. But what if you originally set up your programming track as part of the layout, since that’s the way your PowerCab was configured? Now you have to re-do that programming track setup, to either move it off the layout, or make it so you can basically switch between two separate DCC systems depending on whether you want to run or program.
Keeping all that in mind, it sounds more like a replacement item than an expansion option.
But what if you wanted to use another throttle or two, the USB adapter, or a mini-panel, or both? Those take throttle addresses, too. So with the original PowerCab, you get to pick ONE. And even with the SB3A you only have four total. So a PowerCab or even an SB3A user trying to expand just a little can hit the wall very quickly.
[quote user=“maxman”]
Maybe the control of up to 28 functions is a good thing, but most people I know only use bell, horn, and light, plus maybe a couple more. Since some of the other function keys do different things from one manufacturer to the next, unless the operator walks around with a “noise list” in his pocket he’s not going to remember what does what anyway. But that’s my opini
I tried to respond to railtwister’s post. If you look carefully, I did not suggest that one system is better than the other. Nor can you tell what system I have. I expressed my opinions.
So far as non-sound HO locos go, yes, there are some people that haven’t yet grasped the idea that the sound equipped loco has more play-value than the silent variety. But to have or not have sound is a personal preference. Most of the folks around here like sound, so I’ll stand by my statement that 1.5 to 2.5 amps is not going to cut it. And then there is the matter of accessory decoders if you plan on using them.
And you mention the need for 5 or 6 operators. That number is a far cry from 10 to 20. And I have not seen any “room size” model railroad that will comfortably accommodate 5 to 6 average size operators, unless you mean a 30 by 80 room. And if you have that space, I don’t believe that anyone will be buying any entry level system.
Again, just my opinions.
maxman,
Just to prove that there’s an exception for everything, here’s my 25’ x 50’ HO layout:
And here’s my DCC system that runs the whole thing:
These pics are a few years old, but the DCC hasn’t changed at all. I still have a UR91, 3 DT400R’s, a UT1, a DT300, and a half dozen UP5’s (plus the DCS50). I have operated with 4 people at the same time and could have a couple more with no problem. I tend to run into the Slot=Max problem but that can be managed. I have yet to run out of power (mainly because I only have 3 sound engines). The entire layout is one block with a 14AWG pair under the mainline and yards w/ feeders every 9 feet.
I might consider selling my old Z and getting the new ZX… I’d have to think about it. Those 10 extra slots are interesting.
Paul A. Cutler III
It sure seemed that way, what with the comments in your post about how easy it is to “upgrade” the Powercab, and that anything more than what those “upgrades” give you must be a gimmick.
First, look again. There are lots of people who don’t like sound and won’t have it on their layout. Secondly, yes, I gave a “best possible” scenario. But let’s say you can run half as many sound locos. That’s still five, and for someone who runs trains with a single loco, that’s still more than the SB3A’s max even without considering the USB adapter or mini-panel.
And as for stationary decoders, DS54’s (if you can still find them), DS64’s, and Team Digital SRC*'s all connect to the LocoNet (without using cab addresses), as do many other accessories, and can use external power. In other words, no drain on the available CS amperage whatsoever.
[quote user="maxma
Amazing! [(-D] The thread is over four years old (Aug '06)…and you guys go at like it was posted yesterday. Some of you need a hobby. [(-D]
Tom
Of course it depends on your selection of locomotives, but probably more than most people think. I still see people recommend allowing .5 amps for non-sound HO locomotives and 1 amp for sound HO locomotives, which is rediculously high for most modern locomotives. Look at some of the reviews in Model Railroader - most modern non-sound HO locomotives draw less than .2 amps, some less than .1. Even many sound locomotives draw less than .25.
A couple of extreme examples:
Athearn HO scale FP7 diesel locomotive(with sound) - 0.1 amps slipping, you could run close to 30 of these with a 3 amp system.
Atlas HO scale GP39-2 diesel locomotive(without sound) - 0.08 amps slipping, you could theortically run 37 of these on a 3 amp system.
These calculations do not take into account surge currents from starting locomotives or from poorly desgned sound decoders that draw a lot when first powered, so the actuall numbers of what you could run would surely be less; however, I think it is pretty apparent that you could actually exceed 20 locomotives on a 3 amp system.