I want to complete my NCE Power Cab with a second throttle (either a Cab-05 or Cab-06). As my layout has two hidden stagings I would like to add one PCP Panel in each one as located on the plan.
If I hook everything in parallel from the Power Panel one of the cable will be 28 feet long. Will this long cable affects the performance?
Which is best to use :PCP Panel or UTP Panel?
Guy
Modeling CNR in the 50's
Use a UTP panel, and use the extra cab as the actual walkaround. The PowerCab has to stay plugged in to the specific port on the PCP because that's the only one that actually has the extra pair of wires for the track power, the other jack and the expansion jack on the back only have the 4 wires for normal cabs.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Hey Guy,
For an extra throttle, you'll want a UTP panel rather than a PCP panel. The PCP panel is only necessary for the Power Cab.
As far as length, why not just daisy-chain a UTP panel from the left hidden staging area to a UTP panel on the far inside right or inside bottom fascia. That shortens the length of the run and should still give you plenty of access to the dog bone.
If your intention for putting the UTP panel on the end of the dog bone was to be able to see both the main layout and the hidden staging at the bottom, you could have a shorter run from the relocated UTP panel on the inside right or bottom fascia to a UTP panel on the fascia of the bottom hidden staging.
Does that make sense?
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Tstage,
Thank tou for the information about the UTP. It's exactly what I need.
As for your suggestion concerning the location off the UTP panel in the bottom hidden staging, you have to know that this staging is on a shelf of a bookshelf in the T.V. room and there is no fascia, just the shelf itself. It is not in the train room so I don't have the rights to modify this area.
We all have our limits.
Thanks
You can use up to a 25" coiled cord for the utility throtle.
Jay
C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1
Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums
Here is an additional possibility that you may be interested in for your PowerCab. This is what I found out when asking about adding another throttle to my PowerCab. The answer came from Mark Gurries, the moderator of the Yahoo NCE list.
"Long Answer: NCE does not officially support 2 extra cabs. It
only supports 1 extra cab at cab Address 3 as documented in themanual. However, NCE actual software supports 2 extra cabs withthe 2nd cab at address 4. There is no guarantee this 2nd extracab will be supported in the future. However all indication isit will become official in a future release."
My current setup consists of the following configuration:
1. My Powercab throttle is plugged in to its' normal left hand socket
2. My USB interface is plugged into the socket on the REAR of the PCP (for JMRI)
3. A Cab06 is plugged in to the right hand socket of the PCP and the cab address was set at 04.
This all came about because I wanted to attach another throttle but wanted to keep my USB hooked up. You could add another throttle instead of the USB on address 3. Thought this may be of use to you.