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NCE Power Cab Expansion

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Posted by tstage on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 7:41 PM

Ken,

As mentioned, your Power Cab must remain plugged into the PCP panel in order to supply power to your layout.  You can add a 2nd throttle using the RIGHT connector port of your PCP panel...or daisy-chain a UTP panel from the rear connector port of same - using either a 4- or 6-contact RJ12 cable - to add two additional connector ports.

Either one of the RJ12 cables will work with that set up because only 4 wires are needed for the connection.  The 6-contact flat cable is what is used to supply the power from your Power Cab to your track.

NCE sells a 7' RJ12 cable.  For a 4' cable you'll either need to make your own, or have someone crimp one that length for you.  You could also purchase additional coily-coils - like the one that came with your Power Cab - and use that to daisy-chain the PCP panel to the rear of the UTP panel.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by gregc on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 6:50 PM

kenben
I want to add a power cab connection in the middle.   ...

And then I may want to add a second cab controller.

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

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Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 5:38 PM

 The PowerCab must remain plugged in to the PowerCab Panel witht he 6 wire cord to run train. It is the complete 'brains' of the system including the source of track power. You can get a Cab-06 and use that plugged in to any of the other plug locations, the second one in the PCP, and eithe rof the two in the new panel.

                                        --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

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Posted by kenben on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 5:30 PM

gregc

 This is what I want to do. But if I only have the one Power Cab, will it function if I connect it to the UTP panel and run trains from there? Or does the Power Cab have to remain connceted to the PCP panel, meaning I would need a 2nd cab controller of some kind for the UTP panel.

 
kenben
I want to add a power cab connection in the middle.

 

 

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Posted by kenben on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 5:19 PM
The first option I want is to be able to unplug my Power Cab from the PCP and move into the center area and plug it into the UTP Panel and control from there. A daisy chain. I could also later add a 2nd cap and left that connected on the inside and leave the Power Cab connected to the main PCP panel. Does a Power Cap HAVE to be connected to the PCP for any daisy chained UTP panel added? What do I need for the 2nd cap? What cable do I need to daisy chain the PCP to the UTP? Only needs to be 4 feet.
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Posted by gregc on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 5:11 PM

kenben
I want to add a power cab connection in the middle.

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

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Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 4:12 PM

Sounds like he wants both, eventually

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by tstage on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 3:35 PM

Ken,

Just so that I'm clear: Are you wanting the option of powering your layout with your Power Cab from two different panels on your layout - e.g. one on the outer fascia or another on the interior fascia?  Or, are you just wanting to add a 2nd Power Cab as an extra throttle?

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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    January 2018
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NCE Power Cab Expansion
Posted by kenben on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 2:20 PM

I have an 8' x 6' DCC HO layout I'm building. 90% of the time 1 operator, 10% 2 operators. Running 1 to 3 trains at one time. The layout has a 2'x3' opening in the middle. I want to add a power cab connection in the middle. It appears I will need a UTP Panel. But what cable do I need to connect the Power Cabs PCP Panel to the UTP panel? The length of this cable would be 4'. And then I may want to add a second cab controller. What do I need for that?

Thanks for any feedback.

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