NCE’s
Power Cab – High end DCC at an Entry level price of A$265 Main North HOME
from The Model
Railroad Craftsman at
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 entry level systems, you will find it
difficult to understand how you get so much with the Power Cab.
The Power Cab
features include:
- 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 only features missing from the Power Cab
compared to its big brother, the Power Pro, are:
- Obviously,
3.3 amps of current capacity is missing. 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 that is now available as an option for the Power Cab.
- A
separate Program Track output.
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 a consist 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, not
like in the PHP 5 amp where it comes from the booster.
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, you can expand the system that is
possible with the Power Cab.
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, would restrict the current to1.6 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.
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, the above could not be done
with an 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 PHP 5 amp radio 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 Procab throttle as the radio
one, where as 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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