NCE’s Power Cab – High end DCC at an
Entry level price of A$265
from The Model Railroad Craftsman at
Main
North HOME
NCE’s new entry level system, the Power Cab with a capacity of
1.7 amps, is enough to run 3 to 4 HO locos. It offers all but a few of the
features that its big brother, the Procab has, and at a price of A$265.00,
makes for an ideal starter (entry level) DCC system. When comparing the
features of all the entry level systems, you will find it difficult to
understand how you get so much with the Power Cab.
Features.
- Approximately
1.5 Amps capacity, enough for 3 or 4 HO locos.
- 4
digit addressing, enabling the use of the loco I.D. number.
- Programming
on the
- Power
Cab “doubles up” as a full function “Procab” on a Power Pro sys.
- Easy
advanced consisting using front or rear loco’s number to address the consist
– no need to remember any consist address numbers.
- Dedicated
function buttons for horn and bell. Full 12 sound functions.
- An
ammeter included in the display for monitoring layout current.
- Extra
optional walk around throttle capability.
- Supports
radio throttle system.
- Upgradeable
and easily expanded with optional 3 Amp Smart booster.
- All
components can be used in a 5 amp system.
- Included
“switch mode” power pack and Power Panel (special UTP) as shown.
The features missing from the Power Cab compared to
its big brother, the Power Pro, are:
- Obviously,
3.3 amps of current capacity. Still enough power for a single or two
operators.
- Only
two operators (throttles) compared to 63 with the Power Pro.
- Only
two recalls instead of 6 with the Power Pro.
- A
computer interface. The optional “USB Adaptor” is now available.
- A
separate Program Track output. By adding the optional “Auto Switch” you
can have a separate Program Track.
As with the Procab, there is no learning curve for
operating the Power Cab. All operations including programming are enhanced with
a 2 line display that prompts you along with menus and operating displays in
plain English. No need for continually referring to an instruction manual.
The Power
Cab display shown on the left is similar to the Procab’s display and shows all
the necessary operating parameters in an easy to read alpha numeric display –
no tiny symbols.
Top left: the loco address, in this case, CON
is shown with one of the loco numbers of the consisted locos.
Top right: The new “Ammeter” that is used for
monitoring the layout current.
Bottom left: Direction and
speed. In this case 20 out of 28.
Bottom right: The functions
selected.
The Ammeter is a new feature and only available on the
Power Cab as the power for the whole layout comes from the Power Cab handpiece,
not like in the Power Pro HP 5A, where it comes from the Command
Station/Booster box.
The Ammeter reading of .87 amps is showing total
layout current at the moment. I am operating two trains with four locos, set up
in two consists. Each train has a sound loco and a non sound loco. Also
included in this reading are the other 4 locos on the layout that are
stationary.
The Power Cab as advertised can handle 4 operating
locos with two operators as shown with a little in reserve, all with the power
pack that is supplied. The only restriction I can see is the number of
operators (throttles). For this entry level system, this is more than enough to
get you started in DCC. As the layout grows, The Power Cab can be expanded y
adding an SB3 or my recommended option, replacing the Power Cab system with a
Power Pro 5A system and the Power Cab becomes the second Procab throttle.
As layouts are mostly operated by only one person, the
Power Cab can run my medium sized layout with 25 locos, half are sound, without
exceeding the Power Cab specifications. Using an optional radio throttle will
give the freedom that is essential on a walk around layout like mine.
Hooking up the Power Cab – its so easy.
Plug in the supplied power pack to the Power Panel’s
power receptacle at the rear.
Plug in the Power Cab with the special 6 conductor
“flat” cable into the Power Panel’s L/H RJ12 socket with the LED on the bottom.
Connect the track to the supplied “screw terminal”
connector at the rear.
Now you are ready to operate the layout or to program
a decoder.
Operating with the Power Cab.
Selecting a loco and running is the same as with the Procab
– really simple and straight forward with the easy to read display and
dedicated appropriately named buttons.
I have operated 4 sound locos all consisted together
with a 3 meter long train and no problems. I have also, with an extra optional
radio throttle, followed my train around my walk around layout, while a visitor
was operating in a yard building up trains with the Power Cab.
The Power Cab allows for walk around operation as long
as you are within the 7 foot “flat cable” distance. As the Power Cab supplies
the DCC power to the track, it must be plugged in at all times. Using a second
throttle combined with a cab bus, there is “memory” with this throttle – trains
keep running with the throttle disconnected while in between UTPs. For example
I could operate my whole medium sized 20’ x 30’ double deck layout using the
Power Cab.
Programming using the Power Cab.
Having only the two wires to the layout, when using
the program track (Service mode programming), the track connections must be
removed from the layout and connected to a separate track for programming. See
the manual how to connect a DPDT (double pole double throw) switch, so you
don’t “adjust” (program) all the locos on the layout.
Using the “Programming on the
Many have said that using POM is a recipe for
programming all decoders. This is NOT true. POM is completely safe to use. Any
command that is sent to a decoder on the mainline has an address attached to
the “packet”. Only a decoder with the “matching address” will respond to this
packet and all other decoders will ignore it. It is for the same reason when
you address a loco eg 4512 and you operate the throttle, only 4512 moves and
all other locos remain stationary. The manufacturers would not have supplied this
feature if it was not able to do programming correctly.
You don’t have to read CVs to program a loco. The need
to visit a program track is only on the very occasional time you have to read a
CV for some reason or do a reset of a “mixed up” decoder. A mixed up decoder
may have lost it’s address and hence no way of talking to it, so it will have
to be reset on the program track where an instruction can be written without
the need of an address.
Most DCC systems cannot read CV values on the Program
Track of the Soundtraxx Tsunami and some other sound decoders, without the use
of a Program Track Booster or Power Pax. The Power Cab has increased program
track current to enable reading these decoder’s CVs. Another great reason to
purchase the Power Cab. Put the money that was going to be spent on either of
these items towards a full blown DCC system – the Power Cab.
Using the Power Cab on layouts using circuit breakers
or 1156s for short management and/or power division.
The Power Cab has a current capacity of approximately
1.5 Amps. I have connected it to my layout via NCE’s EB3 circuit breaker. I
simulated a short and the EB3 only trips occasionally, even with the trip
current set to the lowest value of 2.2 amps, before the Power Cab totally
removes power. With this result, I would suggest that dividing your layout with
circuit breakers is not advisable.
Using 1156s will give similar results due the when a
there is a short the current flowing would be 2.1 Amps. This exceeds the Power
Cab’s short protection, thus tripping the Power Cabs internal circuit breaker.
With a smaller wattage lamp, such as an 1141 or a Hella R1218 that is an 18
watt 1.6 Amp lamp, this would restrict the current to 1.6 Amps to the short.
That loco would stop but a loco in another zone would still operate.
Using the 1141 or similar would add a voltage drop
that may reduce the track voltage to less than 9.0 volts DCC. Sound locos start
“dropping out” with voltages less than 9.0 volts. Non sound will work, but
obviously would not go as fast.
“Dividing” the layout into Power Districts with the
Power Cab is not practical because of this 1.5 Amp output of the Power Cab. The
Power Cab is an entry level system with 3 or 4 loco capacity. Operating it, how
it was designed, a maximum of two operators (throttles) will mainly negate the
use of circuit breakers and lamps for power division. When expanding the system
with a Smart Booster that will increase the current to 3.0 amps and to a
maximum of 4 operators (throttles), these items most probably will be suitable.
The Power Cab is designed as an entry level system and
as such, will have some limitations. These limitations are not with the amount
of features or ease of operation, but in the amount of operators that are
supported by the system. As it is only capable of two operators (throttles) NCE
has designed it to operate 3 or 4 locos this will be more than enough, for
single/two operators, unless you are used to operating 2 trains with more than
2 locos (consisted) per train.
Purchasing a DCC system including for a club layout.
For me, the most important features of DCC are:
4 digit addressing.
“Programming on the
Ability to set up
consists anywhere on the layout, not just at one central point.
Walk around
capability.
Radio operation:
Once you have used radio, you will never operate “plugged in” again - such a
luxury.
Depending on what type of layout you have and how you
operate, will determine what your priorities are.
Before the Power Cab was released, the above could not
be done with any entry level system.
For a club deciding to go DCC, using an NCE PP 5 amp
system for the club layout at $685, each member then purchases a Power Cab at $265
that they can take to the club to operate as a Procab. At home the Power Cab is
a full feature stand alone DCC system that they can either operate their own
layout and/or program their locos at home.
Using another system would require the club to purchase
a system for a similar price and each member would have to buy a throttle. No
different than the above NCE option BUT their throttle cannot be used at home,
even to program a loco. The member must purchase a complete system or another
entry level system for home use.
At the club layout, when programming locos with the PP
5 amp system and all other DCC systems, the layout power is removed while
programming, thus programming is not very popular while the club layout is
operated. Normally to program locos without interrupting the layout would
require two DCC systems. Not now with the Power Cab. It allows for an operator
to use his Power Cab to program a loco without interrupting the main layout.
The Power Cab system with extra Cab04P throttle is $382,
a very competitive price. This with a few UTP panels, will give walk around
operation for the Cab04 throttle and the Power Cab operated with a cable at the
selected location of the Power Cab special UTP.
The Power Cab can be upgraded so that it can be
operated as a Radio “Procab”.
It cannot operate as a radio Power Cab because the DCC
power to the track is produced by the Power Cab – that’s what the extra two
wires are for in the 6 conductor “flat cable”. To have radio operation with the
Power Cab “system” the extra throttle that it supports, can be a radio base
station with the appropriate radio throttle – Procab or Cab04. The cost will
be:
Power Cab $265.00
Radio Cab04 $234.00
RB02 base station $220:00
Total $719.00
$337 to go radio, it is worth it. $300 for radio with
the PHP 5 amp system. This is a complete package.
Compare this with a Radio 5 Amp Power Pro system at
$985.00,
A saving of $266.00 with two throttles, one Power Cab
and one Cab04.
To have the same with the PHP 5 amp add a Cab04 at
$117 for a total of $1102.
This will have the Power Pro’s Procab throttle as the
radio one, where as in the Power Cab setup, the Cab04 will be the radio
throttle.
The similar two throttle setups, the savings with the
Power Cab version are even more - $383 but only 1.5 amp capacity and only two
throttle capability To have more throttles will require the 3 amp Smart
Booster, that will give you 4 throttles. Smart Booster price approx $250 (my
guess).
Another option is to start with the Power Cab that
will give you DCC at $265. When upgrading to a bigger and more throttles
system, purchase a PHP 5 amp system and the Power Cab will be the second Procab
in the new system with the special UTP being used as a UTP and the power pack
as a auxiliary cab bus power supply that is required when using a few plug in
throttles and a longer cab bus that will happen, when the layout is expanded.
The Power Cab is a great starter kit that can be
expanded as the layout grows.
Below prices are courtesy of the Model Railroad Craftsman as of
March 06.
|
Power Pro 5 amp DCC system |
$685.00 |
|
Radio Power Pro 5 amp DCC system |
$985.00 |
|
Power Cab 1.7 amp DCC system |
$265.00 |
|
Transformer 15 volts A.C. 8 amp purchased with
system |
$165.00 |
|
Procab |
$210.00 |
|
Radio Procab |
$325.00 |
|
Cab04P intermediate throttle with potentiometer and
knob |
$117.00 |
|
Radio Cab04P |
$234.00 |
|
Cab04E intermediate throttle with encoder with knob |
$156.00 |
|
Radio Cab04E |
$270.00 |
|
Radio Base Station - RB02 |
$220.00 |
|
Radio repeater – RPT-01 |
$180.00 |
|
Cab bus facia panels - UTP |
$19.00 |
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