I have the NCE PH-Pro 5 amp starter system which is a command station/5 amp booster in one box. When I decided to add a second 5 amp booster to divide my large layout into a series of power districts and reversing sections, I purchased the DB5. That makes perfect sense since the integral booster on the PH-Pro is, in effect, a smart booster. So, there was no requirement to add an SB5, nor would an SB5 be appropriate instead of a DB5, since an SB5 would have to be configured as a slave only booster to my command station.
Since the CS02 is a command station, a DB5 is an appropriate booster. The DB5 is a "dumb" booster, and it takes its commands from the CS02. That's why an SB5 is not used with the CS02 unless it is configure as a "slave". At least that is my understanding.
As I understand it, NCE introduced the SB5, a 5 amp booster, as an upgrade to the Power Cab to provide more power. If you want to add a second booster to the upgraded Power Cab, then you would choose the DB5 since you already have a smart booster, the SB5.
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain I have the NCE PH-Pro 5 amp starter system which is a command station/5 amp booster in one box. When I decided to add a second 5 amp booster to divide my large layout into a series of power districts and reversing sections, I purchased the DB5. That makes perfect sense since the integral booster on the PH-Pro is, in effect, a smart booster. So, there was no requirement to add an SB5, nor would an SB5 be appropriate instead of a DB5, since an SB5 would have to be configured as a slave only booster to my command station. Since the CS02 is a command station, a DB5 is an appropriate booster. The DB5 is a "dumb" booster, and it takes its commands from the CS02. That's why an SB5 is not used with the CS02 unless it is configure as a "slave". At least that is my understanding. As I understand it, NCE introduced the SB5, a 5 amp booster, as an upgrade to the Power Cab to provide more power. If you want to add a second booster to the upgraded Power Cab, then you would choose the DB5 since you already have a smart booster, the SB5. Rich
All true, it's too bad NCE isn't clear about that in their documentation.
Hooked up the SB5 today, everything is up and running again!
Less than 5 minutes to hook it up!
Works both with my NCE Power cabs and my NCE Pro cabs.
All functions work!
I don't need the CS02 at all, returning it.
Ed
Yep. When hooked up to the SB5, your Power Cab essentially turns into a ProCab throttle because the command station/booster of the Power Cab is automatically overrided by the SB5. Now you can unplug and plug your Power Cab w/o the layout shutting down.
Anyhow, glad to hear it's working well for you. Did you end up calling NCE today?
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
One thing that I still wonder about is why NCE created the CS02. It does have a powered programming track, but no track power booster or power supply. What's the point?
It could be useful if you are switching from another brand and already have boosters, or if you have a Power Cab + Smartbooster and want the increased capabilities of the CS02 over the Smartbooster.
Other than the dedicated programming track output and RS232 port, I don't see any other "increased capabilities" over the Power Cab/SB5 combo. My NCE USB module works really well with Decoder Pro on my laptop. I also like the flexibility of being able to use my Power Cab at my workbench to program decoders.
tstage Other than the dedicated programming track output and RS232 port, I don't see any other "increased capabilities" over the Power Cab/SB5 combo. My NCE USB module works really well with Decoder Pro on my laptop. I also like the flexibility of being able to use my Power Cab at my workbench to program decoders. Tom
SB5 -
Maximum number of cabs: 6
Maximum number of simultaneous trains: 18
Maximum number of advanced consists: 16
CS02 -
Maximum number of cabs: 63
Maximum number of simultaneous trains: 250
Maximum number of advanced consists: 127
Thanks, Robert. Those would definitely be important pluses on a sizable layout. For a small-to-medium layout? Probably not as much - at least, IMO.