I'm leaning very heavily towards the NCE Power Cab. I am in N scale. I am looking for a system that can handle 2 consists of up to 3 locos each and 1 switcher working simultaneously. Can the Power Cab handle this or will I need boosters right out of the gate? I would say that my layout is medium sized. The mainline is 112' total run, 30' of yard tracks, and 24' total in industrial switching area. I can eventually envision the Power Cab with a booster running the yard and a second handling the industrial area or at least circuit breakers protecting the "3" main divisions. There are currently no reverse loops or wyes so that won't be an issue. Recommendations are greatly appreciated.
I don't want to waste $ by starting out too small and have to upgrade in a matter of months. I take it, you (GregK) are using the Pro Cab. Question for you, with the Pro Cab, you can unplug the Cab and move it around the layout (with the appropriate hardware) without "losing motion" of your trains?
I use the Power Cab on my home layout (small 2' x 4') and the Pro Cab-R on our club's ntrak layout. I will edit my previous response. If you already have a layout that size, then go for the Pro Cab. If you are just starting out in DCC and only have a couple locos with decoders, you could probably get away with the Power Cab. Then at some point upgrade to the Pro Cab. Keep in mind that the Power Cab can be upgraded with a booster instead of upgrading to the Pro Cab and also the Power Cab can be used as a regular wired cab on the Pro Cab (I've done this myself). And yes, you can unplug and walk to the next jack.
To clarify the good information that's being given above, I believe Greg is saying you should go with the NCE Powerhouse Pro command station / 5 amp booster. The NCE ProCab would be the master programming throttle that you would use with a Powerhouse Pro. With the size layout you have, the 5 amp Powerhouse Pro should be quite adequate to power all your needs. I agree, layout that size is going to outrun the PowerCab's capabilities pretty quickly. That does *not* mean that you necessarily would pass on the PowerCab completely. The PowerCab has an excellent role to play in any layout as a separate programming station - it has the power necessary to program today's sound decoders that would otherwise require a programming track booster. Also, by using the proper tethered cables, the PowerCab becomes a ProCab with the Powerhouse Pro.... and the PowerCab is not that much more expensive than a ProCab. In other words, you might start out with the PowerCab for an interim period of time, knowing that you will re-use it later as either a separate programming station and/or as a ProCab when you go to what is really needed for the layout that size, the Powerhouse Pro. The intermediate system between the PowerCab and the Powerhouse Pro is the NCE Smart Booster. This would only be indicated if you know that you will never want more than 4 cabs, and that the SmartBooster's 3 amps is all you'll ever need. In your situation I don't think the Smartbooster has any role to play. Hope this helps!
I started another thread with a scan of my layout concerning districting and it grew over a couple days to the point where I was able to make my decision and move on it. After intense study of the manuals, talking with the other members here and weighing the pro's, con's, and upgrade potentials of PowerCab and Pro Cab, I bought a PowerCab this morning. I found it very interesting while talking with the Dealer's DCC technicial, for lack of a better title, the Power Cab has a couple features that interest me and helped sway the decision. I was fully prepared to go ahead and order the Pro Cab but after a very informative discussion with the tech, I've got a firm grip on how the electronic part of the railroad is going to progress. The bottom line is I can end up with the power districts that I really feel I will need to prevent a complete shutdown when something pics a frog or fouls on a turnout, an amp meter built into the PowerCab, plus I can move into more sophistication incrementally. I'll let you all know if it works out. Oh yea, I got into DCC with 9 decoders for less the $400.00 VS $600.00. That extra $200.00 will go into more decoders.
Sorry I missed your post in my last reply John. You are absolutely right on the money. There so many things that I considered before jumping into DCC they really would be too long to list without looking like a know it all and I surely don't. All in all I studied MRC, Digitrax, and finally NCE. There may very well be other systems with more features and options available but being a beginner, I want to run trains and have fun.
