I am an HO MTH DCS user who is considering adding DCC capability. I have read a fair amount here and elsewhere about what equipment is available and well-regarded, and am fast approaching a purchase decision. I'd much appreciate some clarification on a few points, ideally from users of the products I'm considering (or those who know the products well enough to pass for a user--sort of like a Turing test, but for DCC equipment...). So here goes...
My layout is small and my operational needs are simple, so I'm looking at the NCE Powercab for DCC control. The manual for v 1.65 states that the Powercab recall function can store and recall up to six Loco addresses (default is two, but Cab Parameter "Number of Recalls" can be set as high as six). Additionally, the starter system has a 2-Amp power supply and is advertised to run "two to three" HO DCC locos at a time. My layout is small and so my trains are quite short; I have no steam/smoker locos at the moment (though I might want to have one at some point). I was hoping to run up to four locos at a time. So:
NCE Powercab Question 1: Any Powercab users using more than two recall slots (and, if so, how many)?
NCE Powercab Question 2: Any Powercab users running four simultaneous DCC HO locos with the supplied power adapter? (Meaning, do I really need to lay out a chunk of change for the bigger power module in order to run a fourth HO loco?)
_____
One of the reasons I'm looking at adding BLI Paragon2 locos (aside from having more engines to choose from than I currently do) is the Macro Recording capabilty (F27/F26). My aim is to have at least one loco run automated while I control one or more manually. So:
BLI Paragon2 Question 1: If I run Loco A under a recorded macro, can I then recall/select Loco B (or C, etc.) and run it manually while Loco A is doing its pre-recorded thing--or does recalling/selecting another loco 'kill' the macro reply for Loco A?
BLI Paragon2 Question 2: If the answer to 1 is that I can run a macro on Loco A and then pull up Loco B, then: Having got Loco A running on its own, and having selected Loco B, could I then record a macro for the second loco also--given that the macro is stored locally on the decoder--and then recall/select loco C to run it manually, etc.?
(At least until I can put together some other more sensible and capable train/turnout/signal control system of my dreams, after I win the MegaBallLotto.)
Thanks for reading this. Any and all well-intended guidance/knowledge/assistance is welcome. Thanks in advance!
- Rick
Turing test huh? You must be a computer programmer.
Power Cab Question 1: Six recall slots in the max. That's the number of engine addresses that can be recalled on the display. But the number of total engines you can run at once is considerably higher.Power Cab Question 2: Yes you can LIKELY run more than 2 at a time. 1 amp per loco is a maximum expected current rule of thumb. But to be honest, even large sound engines (steam and diesel) rarely exceed 0.3 amps each when running. (roughly 6 at a time). On my 3 Amp Zypher, I can run 12 sound engines (3 moving, 9 stationary). If you extrapolate it down to yours, you should be able to run around 8 engines at a time.
Paragon 2 macros: I think you'll find the macros limiting (sadly) But they are a function of the chip on the loco and not the cab. So switching the cab # will have no effect. In other words, if you are expecting your train to travel around the layout and stop perfectly at the same spot every time, you will be disappointed.Paragon 2 macros 2: Yes.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Excellent! Thank you for your answer(s).
So it sounds like I can run the multiple locos I'm planning for, and with the kind of simple automation that will suffice for now. (Luckily, at this stage I'm not looking for precise auto-operation--if I can get two of the trains to toot at crossings, toll the bell when passing the station, stop and go dark & silent within the length of a tunnel, then light up and start rolling again--so that they are looping their separate routes once every five or ten minutes or so, instead of once a minute--that'd pretty much do it. I understand Paragon2 macros are limited to something like 124 action entries, including speed step changes, so I'm planning to keep it simple.)
I'm not a programmer, but I've been in IT long enough to begin to doubt whether most of us humans could regularly pass the Turing test. ;-) You did, so congrats are in order if you're an AI!
Thanks very much,
-Rick