I have the basic NCE Power Cab sytem. I know that there is a SB5 booster that I can buy which gives me more power and allows me to use my Power Cab controller as a tether controller that can be disconnected and moved to another PCP port that is tied in to the system. However, I have the opportunity to purchase a NCE SB3 (not SB3A) booster on the cheap. What will this do for me and what will I be not getting that I would get with the SB5? Any help will be truly appreciated.
Thanks
wdcrvr
You may be getting a booster that will not work with your Power Cab. The Power Cab and any SB model booster require the same firmware version to work.
Suggest you discuss with NCE.
RR Baron
RR Baron is correct. If you have a newer Power Cab with the latest firmware (V1.65) then an SB3 or SB3a (without the updated firmware EPROM) will not operate properly. However, if your Power Cab OS is V1.28 then you should be fine.
The major differences between the SB3 and the SB3a/SB5 is the total output (i.e 3A vs 5A) and the enclosures. The other differences are outlined on a review I wrote a few years back.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
The SB3 is a 3 amp booster. The SB3a is a discontinued 5 amp booster, replaced by the SB5, also a 5 amp booster. NCE recommends the SB5 as the add-on booster for the Power Cab, a 2 amp booster system. My recommendation is to follow NCE's advice and purchase the SB5.
Take a look at this article by Mark Gurries.
https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home/nce-info/nce-dcc-systems
Rich
Edit Note: I meant to mention that these boosters do not add amps, they provide the total amps. So, if you add an SB3, 3 amp booster to the Power Cab, a 2 amp booster, the result is a 3 amp system, not a 5 amp system. If, instead, you add an SB5 to the Power Cab, the result is a 5 amp system, not an 8 amp system.
Alton Junction
Guys,
I don't want to hijack the thread but the answers raised a question for me. Back when we were having the problem with the V1.65 not playing with the SB3 NCE sent me an upgraded EPROM that made my SB3 work alike an SB5, The question is now I am wondering if that upgrade made my system a 5 amp setup or is it still 3 amps. I am using the same power supply that came with the SB3 otiginally.
Thanks for any reply.
Marty C
Marty,
The SB3 (top) and SB3a (bottom) are a different design:
The SB3 is a 3A booster and the SB3a is a 5A booster. (That's 3A and 5A total output, as Rich pointed out earlier.) If you are using the same wall transformer that came with your SB3 then it's still operating as a 3A booster; you just have all the benefits of the SB5 firmware minus the additional 2A of output.
As far as I know, that software upgrade was only for the SB3a (5 amp) and the SB5 (5 amp) smart boosters. As Tom said, a 3 amp booster remains a 3 amp booster.
Here is a schedule of releases and upgrades for the Power Cab.
https://sites.google.com/site/markgurries/home/nce-info/nce-cmd-station-software/powercab-software
Thanks for the replies. I suspected it was still a 3 Amp booster but it is always helpful to get confirmation.
Thanks,
Marty C Thanks for the replies. I suspected it was still a 3 Amp booster but it is always helpful to get confirmation. Thanks, Marty C
I found this note from Jim Scorse at NCE where he talked about sending in your old SB3 and some money to exchange it for an SB3a.
http://www.amhobby.com/products/tech/nce/sb3-booster-upgraded.html
I wonder if NCE thought you had an SB3a when they sent the upgraded EPROM.
I had an original SB3 and traded it in for the 5A SB3a. I think the trade-in cost me $60? After the incompatibility issues between the SB3a and the updated firmware (V1.65) for the Power Cab, NCE sent me the upgrade EPROM for the SB3a FREE of charge. This essentially gave me a SB5 with all the same firmware updates.
Rich,
I might have mispoke. I have an SB3a and NCE sent me free of charge the upgraded eprom to make it compatible with the V1.65 power cab. So I guess I have a SB5 in an SB3a shell and can't answer your question about the older SB3. Sorry,
Marty C Rich, I might have mispoke. I have an SB3a and NCE sent me free of charge the upgraded eprom to make it compatible with the V1.65 power cab. So I guess I have a SB5 in an SB3a shell and can't answer your question about the older SB3. Sorry, Marty C