I rescently bought a new SB3 smart booster for my Powercab and when it got here, it would trip and reset. It did that repeatedly. I called NCE and had the booster sent back. A week later, they sent me a NIB SB3 booster(new ones without the vent holes) and a decoder for my trouble. I can't say how pleased I am to deal with a company that still says "Made in the USA" and whom you can call to get someone to answer the phone...not even to mention customer service being top notch. So many times we bash the manufacturers with their products flaws and don't give them the accalades when it's their due.
Here's a thumbs up NCE!!!
Nice to hear that NCE still puts the customer first.
I also have to give Lenz high marks for their decoder support. I bought a Lenz Gold decoder (not cheap) and it acted really strange. I posted on the MR forum at the time that I was frustrated with the Lenz decoder and was thinking of not buying any more Lenz decoders.
I got an email from Debbie Ames (the head of Lenz U.S.) asking me to send her the decoder. I did and she determined the decoder was defective, and sent me a brand new replacement -- all within a few days.
How many firms are concerned enough about their products getting a good rap that the head of the firm contacts you and personally promises to get it solved?
I give Lenz high marks for their decoder service!
So yay NCE, and yay Lenz!
Joe Fugate Modeling the 1980s SP Siskiyou Line in southern Oregon
More often than not we here the negative side of things and once in a while, it is good to here the positive side. I received a free decoder out of it and a new SB3.
I did not realize that NCE designed new SB3 units(without vent holes) because several of the units with the vent holes had poor components and were defective.
Yes NCE,Lenz,and TCS have great customer support. Unlike another manufacture that I will not mention. I purchased 2 Plug in decoders that fried on the program track. I sent them in for warrenty and they wanted to charge $15 to fix. I said keep them and never will I have anything from that company on my layout ever. That was 4 years ago and 26 decoders, one system, and two throttles later I have kept my word.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
leejax01 wrote:I did not realize that NCE designed new SB3 units(without vent holes) because several of the units with the vent holes had poor components and were defective.
I didn't realize that NCE had redesigned the SB3 so that they are now w/o the vent holes. My SB3 has the vent holes. Thankfully, I had no problems with it since I purchased it in late 2006.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
leejax,
The Pro Cab throttles have a 6-loco recall when used with the Powerhouse Pro. They convert to a recall of two when used with the SB3.
It's not a big issue for me. It's challenging enough just to keep up with two locomotives running simultaneously. I don't mind having to enter the new numbers when changing to a locomotive that's not in the recall stack.
Thanks again for the update.
Steve,
Yes, you could add one additional throttle to the Power Cab to control more locomotives without adding the Smart Booster (SB3). With the SB3, you can add up to 3 additional throttles to the Power Cab.