Since the price is right, I'm considering getting the PowerCab system to control my 2 dcc/sound locomotives. I'll be running only one of the locomotives at a time, or possibly both in a consist.
The problem is that the 2 switching districts on my layout are 35 feet apart, and the powercab's total operable distance appears to cover only 14 feet, since the tethered cable is only 7 feet long.
I see that NCE sells a 12 foot long cable, but that's still too short.
What are my options if I want to stay with the NCE system and not go wireless?
Thanks
- Douglas
The SB3 allows you to unplug the Power Cab and move it to another location without the train stopping. You'll just need another PCP panel on the layout edge into which to plug the controller.
Another and cheaper alternative is to fabricate a longer cord by purchasing wire and crimp-on plugs.
NCE may even be able to fabricate a longer cord for you if you contact them via email and tell them how long a cord you need. Check their web site for information.
Cheapest option would be the PowerCab plus one of the other throttles. As long as the Powercab stays plugged in, the other throttle can be unplugged and moved while the train keeps running. The Cab04 and Cab06 throttles are perfectly fine for running trains, you only need the Powercab to do programming.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Thanks.
I did some reading on the SB3 and PCP panel but it wasn't clear to me.
If a 20 foot long cord will not hurt the performance of the system I might try to find a way to do that. I guess the slack could drag along the floor harmlessly enough.
Chuck is correct about the Smart Booster (SB3a). It will allow you to unplug and plug your Power Cab without shutting down your layout. However, you'll need the UTP panel rather than another PCP panel.
Buying an additional throttle would be somewhat cheaper than buying the SB3a. You could place UTP panels all around your layout then unplug and plug your throttle into those. But...the cost of throttle and additional UTP panels could bring you up to the cost of the SB3a.
A longer 12' cable would give you a 24' working area - i.e. as long as you place your PCP panel at a good central location. The one downside is that the longer the cord; the greater the trip/tangle factor. If you can live with not being able to access ALL 35' of your layout, this would be the cheapest option.
I have the SB3a and two UTP panels on my 4 x 8. I love the freedom of moving around my layout when I want to.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Doughless I did some reading on the SB3 and PCP panel but it wasn't clear to me.
The PCP panel comes with your Power Cab and has two (2) connector ports. The LEFT port is what you connect your Power Cab to, as this is what supplies power to your track. The RIGHT port is for any extra throttle.
UTP panels also come with 2 connector ports but they have no track power capabilities to operate your layout. You can plug your Power Cab into one and use it but only if it's connected to a SB3a or PH Pro DCC system. When a Power Cab is connected to either one of those, it automatically becomes a ProCab throttle.
Doughless ...If a 20 foot long cord will not hurt the performance of the system I might try to find a way to do that...
...If a 20 foot long cord will not hurt the performance of the system I might try to find a way to do that...
I would caution against using that long of a cord on the Power Cab. Remember that the power Cab supplies the track power, and any length you add to the Power Cab cable effectively adds twice that length to the track buss(from the power supply to the Power Cab + from the Power Cab to the track). The smaller gauge wired used in the type of cable you would typically use plus the extra length could cause an unacceptable voltage drop. If you were to go this route, make sure that you do the "quarter test" on all of your track because the longer cable could prevent the circuit breaker from tripping with a short circuit.
CSX Robert Doughless ...If a 20 foot long cord will not hurt the performance of the system I might try to find a way to do that... I would caution against using that long of a cord on the Power Cab. Remember that the power Cab supplies the track power, and any length you add to the Power Cab cable effectively adds twice that length to the track buss(from the power supply to the Power Cab + from the Power Cab to the track). The smaller gauge wired used in the type of cable you would typically use plus the extra length could cause an unacceptable voltage drop. If you were to go this route, make sure that you do the "quarter test" on all of your track because the longer cable could prevent the circuit breaker from tripping with a short circuit.
Thanks Robert.
Yes, that was one of my concerns from the start. And the idea of having a 20 foot tether seems like an untidy solution anyway.
I'm a bit stymied by this problem since there doesn't seem to be a clear solution. By the time I add up the costs of the other components, I may just bite the bullet and spend 500 bucks on the wireless.
I'll see if the MRC Prodigy can use a 20 foot tether for the throttle, possibly just an ethernet cable, since the track power comes from the base. The Prodigy is not my first choice, but I don't need many features based upon how I'm going to use it and many others seem to be happy with it.
You should be able to disconnect the MRC PA and move it around your layout. However, I don't know right off hand if they use fascia panels or you have to connect it from your base station. If it's the latter, that's not particularly convenient either.
tstage You should be able to disconnect the MRC PA and move it around your layout. However, I don't know right off hand if they use fascia panels or you have to connect it from your base station. If it's the latter, that's not particularly convenient either. Tom
Oh yea, that's right. That was one of the advantages of the Prodigy when I was looking at it. But I think to do that requires more components than just the system package, albeit fewer and cheaper than NCE.
There are fascia panels for the Prodify. For whatever reason the seem to cost more than the ones for NCE and Digitrax, and yet another one of MRC's "simplifying' of the instructions, they don;t mention that at long distances and/or multiple cabs connected, you need a DIFFERENT plug panel, one that can take auxiliary power to run the throttle. NCE and Digitrax clearly indicate when this is necessary.
Once you start with DCC, you'll end up wanting to do more - long run you'll be happier with NCE.
rrinker There are fascia panels for the Prodify. For whatever reason the seem to cost more than the ones for NCE and Digitrax, and yet another one of MRC's "simplifying' of the instructions, they don;t mention that at long distances and/or multiple cabs connected, you need a DIFFERENT plug panel, one that can take auxiliary power to run the throttle. NCE and Digitrax clearly indicate when this is necessary. Once you start with DCC, you'll end up wanting to do more - long run you'll be happier with NCE. --Randy
I'm thinking that's true.
Which is why I'll probably have to bite the bullet and buy the wireless.
I'm not necessarily that cost conscious, but what I don't want to happen is to buy something, then get nickel and dimed thereafter to get to the point I thought I was going to be at when buying the product in the first place.
You've raised another concern with the "long distances" comment. My layout is 35 feet long, but shaped in a J and in a dogbone, so it has probably 100 feet of track. Will the basic systems deliver a clear enough signal throughout the layout, I solder all joints, or will I need a power booster somewhere.just to get proper performance? Would I need one for the wireless system? Maybe I should visit the product websites but I don't know if that information would be that clear.
If you solder all track joints, you should have no problem with either the Power Cab or wireless PH Pro.
DoughlessI'm a bit stymied by this problem since there doesn't seem to be a clear solution. By the time I add up the costs of the other components, I may just bite the bullet and spend 500 bucks on the wireless.
I'm not sure what prices you're comparing. But if you don't need to go wireless, all you need is an additional UTP panel ($19.95 list) and another handset (Cab06 is a nice one; $99.95 list), plus whatever it would cost you for the cable to connect from the back of your existing PCP panel to the back of the new UTP. Certainly less than $500.
maxman DoughlessI'm a bit stymied by this problem since there doesn't seem to be a clear solution. By the time I add up the costs of the other components, I may just bite the bullet and spend 500 bucks on the wireless. I'm not sure what prices you're comparing. But if you don't need to go wireless, all you need is an additional UTP panel ($19.95 list) and another handset (Cab06 is a nice one; $99.95 list), plus whatever it would cost you for the cable to connect from the back of your existing PCP panel to the back of the new UTP. Certainly less than $500.
What you've stated costs $120. And I thought I needed the Sb3 too. Maybe I've read things wrong. If I do, that's probably another $100 on top of the power cab system itself, which is about $150. Not that far away from $500.
Thanks everyone for your contributions thus far.
Unless you plan on running more trains thant the PowerCab can provide power for, you do NOT need the SB3.
No one's DCC system is EXACTLY what you need, out of the box, unless all you have is a simple 4x8 layout or something. ALL of them will require something else if you need multiple places to plug in, or more users, or going to wireless. The starter sets all give you the basic components, anything needed to fit your specific situation is going to be an extra. That's not nickle and diming. Nickle and diming is that 'secret' powered cab panel for MRC that they don't seem to mention until you have a problem and you call for support.
What's important is that what you get today is still usable tomorrow. It took a while for the others to catch on to this, they either didn;t offer a lower cost basic system, or made each new system incompatible with the older ones. This is one of the reasons I prefer Digitrax, they've ALWAYS done this. One of my throttles, in fact, is a product the discontinued and replaced long before I bought my first system, yet still works. The PowerCab system is like that, whatever you get now will still be useable if you end up with a big layout and multiple boosters and all that.
No, you don't need the SB3a for an extra throttle. You can plug it into the RIGHT connector port of the PCP panel...or daisy-chain a UTP panel(s) to the back of the PCP panel to add them to the fascia of your layout.
Prices from Tony's Train Exchange and Empire Train & Hobby:
Total min. cost: $102
Your Power Cab would still need to be connected to your layout because it is what supplies power to your track. However, you'd be able to unplug and plug your throttle into any available connector port you have around your layout.
tstage No, you don't need the SB3a for an extra throttle. You can plug it into the RIGHT connector port of the PCP panel...or daisy-chain a UTP panel(s) to the back of the PCP panel to add them to the fascia of your layout. Prices from Tony's Train Exchange and Empire Train & Hobby: (1) CAB-06 throttle: $80 (1) UTP panel: $16 (1) 10' RG12 Cable (for daisy-chaining): $6 Total cost: $102 Your Power Cab would still need to be connected to your layout because it was what supplies power to your track. However, you'd be able to unplug and plug your throttle into any available connector port you have around your layout. Tom
Total cost: $102
Your Power Cab would still need to be connected to your layout because it was what supplies power to your track. However, you'd be able to unplug and plug your throttle into any available connector port you have around your layout.
Thanks Tom, that's very helpful. And I would prefer to use the smaller throttle anyway for operation.
Thanks Randy. I'm pretty certain my layout will remain simple but you never know.
Amazing how something so simple can be made so complicated.
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
DoughlessThanks Randy. I'm pretty certain my layout will remain simple but you never know.
Modelling HO Scale with a focus on the West and Midwest USA
Just bought the Power Cab starter system for $148 including shipping. I will hook it up and learn it, then will get the additional panel, cable, and throttle later. Looks like they make a 40 foot cable too.
Thanks to everyone for your help.
$148 w/shipping is a good price, Doughless. Keep us posted when you have a chance to use your Power Cab some, or if you have any additional questions.
tstage No, you don't need the SB3a for an extra throttle. You can plug it into the RIGHT connector port of the PCP panel...or daisy-chain a UTP panel(s) to the back of the PCP panel to add them to the fascia of your layout. Prices from Tony's Train Exchange and Empire Train & Hobby: (1) CAB-06 throttle: $80 (1) UTP panel: $16 (1) 10' RG12 Cable (for daisy-chaining): $6 Total min. cost: $102 Your Power Cab would still need to be connected to your layout because it is what supplies power to your track. However, you'd be able to unplug and plug your throttle into any available connector port you have around your layout. Tom
This is what I did, and it worked out great. Much cheaper than going wireless.