Well, after nearly two months of waiting, I finally received my NCE PowerCab in the mail. Woohoo! [:D]
I know it’s going to take me some time to fully understand and utilize the capabilities of the PowerCab and play around with the settings. With that being the case, I thought it might be beneficial for me to break this review up into two parts: An initial “Quick” Look (with my initial thoughts and impressions), and a more thorough “Here’s what I’ve learned so far” Look (after I’ve had a chance to really play around with the PowerCab for a couple of weeks). My hope is that this will be helpful to some.
NCE PowerCab Quick Look – Initial Thoughts and impressions
Contents
First off, my PowerCab came very well packed and protected and comes with the following items:
Tom, thanks for sharing, I am pleased that you finally got your new toy! The Powercab is a very different approach to a starter set than the Zephyr. I think that it is great that there is a serious rival to Digitrax at this level. Competiton is good and this new product really goes after the Digitrax business model of capturing modellers with the Zephyr and let them grow, rather than having to jump for a high end system at the start. 2 years ago, with $150 burning a hole in my pocket there was really no choice for me other than Digitrax, now there is a choice and choice is good. Looking forward to the rest of the review.
Besides price, why the power pro instead of the powercab?
I plan to make a decision soon, but I think I may be on the edge of the capabilities of the powercab. I plan to have three throttles with one or two mainline double headed trains and two switchers running at the same time.Would the powercab plus booster be able to keep up with this N-scale situation?
The PowerCab does support OPS mode or Programming on the main. As long as you have either NCE or compatible decoders that will do this, you can program individual decoders on the main without effecting or programming other locomotives, too. I would be nice if NCE had separate feeds specifically for programming so that you wouldn’t have to use a toggle. Small nuisance, perhaps.
The Smart Booster will bump up the amperage of the PowerCab to a total of 3A max. output. With two double-headed locomotives (4 total) and two switchers, that would give you a total of 6 locomotives; that’s 1/2A for each locomotive - more than enough for an N-scale layout.
Thanks for the reply. I am one of those guys who does not assume much when it comes to spending $. So I must ask a seamingly obvious question, Do I need the booster to add one throttle to the PowerCab?
From the little I know I think the need of the booster is based more on the number of trains you’re running (and their current draw) than having an addional throttle.
No, you don’t need the Smart booster to add another throttle to the PowerCab. The Power panel has the extra RJ-12 connector to plug in an additional unpowered throttle. But you will have to set the throttle address to “3” in order to use it.
John, the only issue I can see is whether your 6 simultaneously running locomotives will draw more than a total of 1.7A of current - i.e. the max. output of the PowerCab.
That’s the link that I referred to in my earlier post. Glenn is correct. The PowerCab itself will only run one (1) additional throttle - and it has to run on address “3”. With the Smart Booster (pictured below),
you can add up to 3 additional throttles to your layout. However, the Smart Booster requires the purchase of an additional transformer - e.g. the NCE P515 or Tony’s equivalent.
Is not DCC fun. I have spent more time with my NCE unit that my wife lately.[:D]. SHe said she was some glad she bought that for me for Chrismast. I sensed a lot of sarcasim in her voice.LOL
I just got my PowerCab set up on my n-scale coffee table layout. Does anyone know if there is a way to set up the command station to periodically send the headlight signal to a locomotive? On my Atlas B23-7 I notices that at slow speeds as it goes over a turnout, it looses electrical connection just long enough to turn off the headlight. In order to get it to come back on I have to turn off the headlight and then turn it back on. I thought that NCE systems sent a persistent signal to the locomotive, and I was wondering how to set this up. I looked through the manual that came with the PowerCab but it did not say.
So far, so good. I do have one issue that I’m trying to figure out. I’m going to have to look at it some more before I post anything about it. It may turn out to be a “Randy” question.
Sorry for not writing much these past couple days. I took my wife on a surprise getaway to a cabin in Amish country Monday and Tuesday night and just got back into town. (A MUCH needed break for both of us. [tup]) Afraid I had to leave the PowerCab at home. Anyway, the way it’s looking, I won’t really get much of a chance to look at it again till the weekend.
I really love reviews like this. This is VERY useful info. I’m a little curious about the thumb wheel for increasing and decreasing speed. Please tell me more about how it feels. Is the wheel smooth or more like a click click click feeling? (sorry, I can’t explain this better in my crappy english)
Thanks for posting this. Looking forward to the rest.
I understand your Swedish fine. [:)] I’ll give it a try.
The action of the thumbwheel on the PowerCab is smooth, with a slightly stiff feel or resistance to it when you move it up or down. You can increase the speed steps either slowly or quickly.
The PowerCab comes with what’s called “ballistic tracking”: The faster you turn the knob; the faster it will increase or decrease the speed. (The rate is also adjustable.) This is great if you need to come to a stop quickly and your thumb is on the thumbwheel.
Electro, let me know if that answers your question.
Yes that was the answer I was looking for. The PowerCab looks great. I’m very interested in the Procab with radio at the moment. But it all depends on if NCE will do anything about their freq so I can use it in Sweden. I have emailed them so we will see. Thanks
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