Excellent starter system as long as you are aware of the limitations and that they do not impact you.
At 1.7 Amps, there are limits to the number of locomotives/trains that you can run at one time. It does not sound from your description that this will be a big issue, but if you want to run lighted passenger cars and multi-unit consists of sound equipped locomotives you might hit the limits. You can of course add a Smartbooster to add additional amps, but of course there is cost involved in doing this.
There are limits to the number of additional throttles that you can add to the system, without adding the Smartbooster. When you add the Smartbooster you can use up to 4 cabs. When the Adding a PC interfaces cuts into that limit, so if you plan to have additional throttles and or options like a PC interface be aware of what your plan either now, or in the future and see if the system can handle what you want to do. For example, I have 2 sons, the 3 of us, plus a friend so 4 in all frequently run trains together, add a PC interface and wireless, and we would have hit the limits of the system even with the smartbooster upgrade.
Since the PowerCab has a hand held cabled throttle, do you want to walk around your layout and run trains? If so, make sure that the cable length fulfils your needs since the throttle can not be unplugged and moved to another location without the layout shutting down. You can address this with either purchasing additional throttle, or adding the Smartbooster upgrade.
Do you have wye's, reversing loops and or turntables that require auto-reverse devices? Do you plan on breaking your layout up into power districts now or in the future? If so, make sure that you select devices that are known to work with the PowerCab. This comes up quite often when folks discover that the more common auto-reverse devices and power management do not play well with the PowerCab.
So in conclusion, a great system that does have limits. You need to be aware of the limits so that you can determine if you are likely to fall foul of these limits at some point as you expand. You may discover that the PowerCab is not the ideal system for you personal situation?
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
what is the difference between the power and pro cabs?
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
I.ve got one,
Easy and logical to use, you'll be up and running in no time. Some minor limitations but for a small home layout running 2 or3 locos it will be fine. With 2 sound locos running it only uses 0.47amps of the 1.7 amps available.
Get one yourself, you won't regret it. Have a look at the yahoo group for NCE DCC and you'll find many happy customers. Beware that they also talk about the PowerHouse and it can get confusing.
cheers
Alan Jones in Sunny Queensland (Oz)
I love mine- I upgraded to the power house pro system and I use my Powercab as a pro cab.
Definitely a great investment!
Craig
Acela,
I've had my Power Cab since it first came out in early 2006 and enjoy it very much. The OS chip has been upgraded to V1.28C (what the current Power Cabs are being released with) and I use it with the NCE Smart Booster (SB3a), which gives me a total of 5A of power and allows me to unplug and plug the Power Cab into a UTP panel without shutting down the layout.
Acela, if you'd like to read an initial review of the Power Cab, click on my website link at the bottom of this post then click Reviews on the left side of the homepage. I've included pictures for clarification. There's also a review of the CAB-04p throttle and the Smart Booster.
Hope that helps..
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Talk to Tom Sage,
He can give you the 'expert' opinion on the 'in's & outs' of the Power Cab system. The NCE Power Cab and the Digitrax Zephyr are the two best 'starter systems' for the average home layout(at least in my opinon), Back in the late 90's all we had available were the Digitrax Chief and the NCE Power House systems.
First Digitrax offered the Zephyr, and later NCE offered the Power Cab systems. Home layout 'expandable' systems with 'full function' were available. Systems that offered 4 digit addressing/consisting & multiple throttles hit the home layout market.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
I like mine! learning to use it took literally minutes. I recently read (can't remember where) that it was rated as the best entry level system.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I have one and love it. I might expand it with another cab and add an more powerful booster. I've had mine for about 2 years now and have considered it a wise investment. They are worth the price.
Will
I want to upgrade to dcc before the year ends. I got several recommendations for NCE's Power Cab system. The power the system provides will be ample, I don't plan on more than 3 locos running at once. Any thoughts, opinions or experiences you would like to share?
Acela
The timbers beneath the rails are not the only ties that bind on the railroad. --Robert S. McGonigal