Is the Power cab worth it? I have a small HO layout at home.
Pete,
Yes! I use mine on my 4 x 8 and enjoy it VERY much. For me, the throttle is the most intuitve. Here’s a link to a thread that I posted about the Power Cab after I first got it. It includes my initial impressions, responses and questions from others, and issues:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=59491
Trust it will answer some of your questions.
Tom
Tom, your review on the previous thread, sure has saved some typing!
It just shows the value of putting the effort into this type of thread.
Best wishes as always
Thanks, Simon. [:)] That’s why I have it book marked on my home computer. Trust its been helpful (and will continue to be) to those who are considering buying a DCC system - whichever one they go with.
Tom
P.S. Whew! Glad I checked the link. [:0] I cut and pasted everything but the last number and it came up as an L&N caboose question. Sorry if it confused anybody.
Thanks for the replies!!!
The thread was great. Just wanted pos or neg feedback on the system. I’ve had too many problems with digitrax decoders and didnt want to spend money on a system that is hard to waranty like there decoders. We use lenz at the club but its too expensive for a small home layout.
Pete
If you call 2 out of 6 decoders that don’t work then we are in the same boat.
I have an NCE Powercab and love it. The only issue I have is that I can only recall two locos or consists. General it shouldn’t be a problem but I have been running three trains of late and it becomes a bit chalenging. I need more operators to help me run the RR.I realy like the ease of programing and especialy the momentun effect.
Give it a go. Otherwise you could try the Atlas (made by Lenz) and use the throttle at the club.
Pete,
What John is referring to is that with the Power Cab you can only keep 2 locomotive numbers in the recall stack. You can call up additional ones but you have to press SELECT LOCO, then punch in the locomotive number, then press ENTER. The locomotive that you had displayed prior to that is now no longer in the recall stack. In order to access that locomotive, you have to through the SELECT LOCO sequence again. As John stated, its a bit of an annoyance but one that I can live with.
Along with that, the other issue is that if you have two locomotives running simultaneously and you SELECT a 3rd, the 3rd locomotive will immediately take on the speed of the last train you had in the recall stack. This again is an annoyance but a small one - to me. Besides, on my small 4 x 8 layout, my brain can only safely handle running 2 locomotives simultaneously without mishap anyhow. [:)]
The one nice thing is, if your layout ever gets bigger and you want to upgrade to the NCE Power Pro, the Power Cab can be plugged right into it and it automatically becomes an extra throttle - as is. The recall stack also increases from two locomotives to six.
The quicker and less expensive fix to that is to purchase the Smart Booster (when it finally comes out this summer) and an extra throttle. The Smart Booster will increase the max. output of the Power Cab to a total of 3 amps and allow you up to 3 additional throttles to be used with it.
John, you could just purchase an extra throttle now and use it with the Power Cab. That might make it easier and more convenient for you to run the 3rd locomotive, rather than going through the SELECT LOCO sequence. Just a thought.
Pete, the best DCC system is the one that’s right for YOU and YOUR needs. Every one of them has their pros and cons, pluses and minuses. You just need to figure which of the “cons” you can live with, and the “pros” you can’t live without.
Hope that’s more help.
Tom, I was thinking the same thing about an additional throtle. I’m glad you mentioned the part about the stack volume going to six when used with the Powerpro. This upgradable feature is another great reason to go with the Powercab. Most people would not attempt to run more than two trains at once so I don’t feel the two stack limit is a real problem I just run them alone mostly. I have had four N-scale units running at the same time with no problem, so I probably won’t even get the booster unless I gain some operators.
John,
I bought the NCE CAB-04p throttle (the one with the large knob) and it works very well. (The “p” stands for potentiometer.) NCE also makes a -04e that uses an encoder to increase and decrease speed - just like the ones on the Power Cab.
I also read on the NCE-DCC Yahoo web site a while back that you can plug the wireless throttle into the Power Cab, too. I believe you’d also have to purchase a repeater in order to use it though. However, It’s another option to consider, if you are ever interested in going wireless.
Tom
I think the best thing about the Powercab is that it’s handheld and is fairly mobile. It comes with a 7 foot cord so you don’t have to stand in one spot to run your trains.
For those that build 4x8 sized railroads, you can mount the powerpanel on one end of the layout and then access both sides very easily. Try that with most other beginner systems without buying an extra handheld throttle.
BTW -when using the Powercab as a Procab on the bigger system, you can set the recall limit from 2-6 recall slots. I only have 5 dcc equipped engines so I set my recall stack at 5 slots.
Craig