I will show pictures in the N Scale Recent Purchase area when I actually receive this unit from the Trainboard member I purchased it from today, thank you by the way. So I'll actually have a DCC Controller that I can change CV's in for a change, reset decoders, speed match, speed steps, and a bunch of other options I don't exactly understand yet. For those that have it can you cycle to a locomotive quickly? Or do you have to punch in the number of the locomotive to take control of it? I have a small 2' x 4' ( Two bases ) and at times I have to act very quickly to changing from one locomotive to another. Yes, Emergency STOP is used at times And is it my fault most of the times that I have to react quickly, well of course it is. But finally I am getting better at running them really slow, to be a bit more realistic I guess. I'm excited as changing something simple like my Mars light on my Intermountain FT's, at first. And what the heck is up with the math. No one told me there would be math with these units? Add this to that, and carry it over to another column, to get this effect As Barbie once said, or was it Ken, or both. Math is hard I know I'll have a ton of questions. Time to go watch some more YT videos about this unit. Any tips or tricks appreciated before I get it Monday Oh, I got an extra wall plug in thingy, technical word, and I think a few cables! I also know what a Wall Wart it to now.
If you want to preview some of the capabilities of the Powercab, you will find the user manual on-line here: https://www.dccconcepts.com/manual/nce-owners-manual-powercab-handset/ I have been using my Powercab for nearly five years now on a 3.5' x 9.5' N scale layout, and find the user interface easy to use and pretty intuitive. The Powercab controller does/can keep a stack of up to six locomotive numbers in its active memory, which can be scrolled thru using the "Recall" button on the controller. I happen to keep all five of my locos in the stack, and simply select which one (occasionally two) I am operating by scrolling thru til I reach their number. It's pretty simple to do, and if you were to keep just two locos in the stack, it would be quick and easy to toggle between them.
If you are not a techie guy the Powercab will serve you well and spoil you. What I mean by that is many functions are very easy on the Powercab as its mostly menu driven. Advanced Consisting is seamless and my prefered method, even with Digitrax. Throwing turnouts and accessories is so easy. Study the manuel, watch videos, ask questions, and be patient. The super simple momentum adjustments are quite pleasing to. All that said, I just purchased the Duplex Digitrax system. Mainly because most around me use it. I will miss the NCE system and will put it up for sale soon. I must say the NCE systems are hard to find in stock.
Of course not having one and not seeing it on a YT video yet, or missed it, the Recall sounds really cool? So you press Recall and then Enter to take over the locomotive. And what do you mean by, occasionally two, that mean operate two at once? What is Advanced consisting? Is there a regular consisting? Curious about the throwing turnouts, for maybe the future, cause as of right now mine are AC driven through an OLD DC controller. If I remember correctly when I bought the Intermountain FT A&B unit here on Trainboard he told me it was set for Slow Pull Power or something when I asked after I first got them. And he set the Mar's light to flashing too. Very curious to see how to change the simple type things. Or I thought it was gonna be simple, till I came across this chart for the decoder in it? What is this stuff? Add numbers on the left, carry over to the columns on the right? I have to do this just to change the headlight ( correct term please ) from Mar's to say Solid or Blinking? What's up with the Color chart on the right? Just trying to learn in advance!
Once you know how to read them, those charts are actually very simple, with no math involved. The chart on the right matches the CVs to the decoder function outputs (F0F is the front headlight and F0R is the rear headlight). The colors are just the wire colors for each function on hardwired decoders. You simply pick the feature you want, and whether or not you want it activated in forward, reverse, or both, and program the value from the chart on the left into the CV listed on the right. For example, CV 49, the front headlight, is normally 0, which means constant bright light in forward only, and CV 50, the rear headlight, is normally 16, meaning constant bright light in reverse only. If you wanted the front headlight to be on in both forward and reverse, you would program 32 in CV 49. Programming 2 into CV 49 makes the forward headlight a mars light when in forward only, and programming 34 into CV 49 makes the forward headlight a mars light in forward and reverse.
Just wait til you get the NCE USB interface, connect it to your computer, and run JMRI Decoder Pro (free software)!
Thanks for all the information, makes more sense now And obviously these instructions are for all kinds of locomotives, as my FT A&B does not have a Rear Light, almost sure, is that normal for an A&B or depends on the locomotive(s)? This is gonna be a lot of fun, as long as I don't Blow anything up Watched some YT videos last night and it looks really interesting for the most part. I am curious about the consisting of my 3 Atlas U25B's when I get a few back from being serviced. I like playing with new things, well even if they are used, it's new to me!
If you have multiple locos in the memory stack, you don't even press enter. Whichever loco number is showing on the controller is the one being actively controlled. Simply pushing the recall button will recall the next loco number in the stack, allowing you to controller that loco. If you only have two locos in the stack, pressing recall toggles between them... very simple. I have all five locos in my recall stack pretty much all the time: #618, #844, #1243, #1585, and #3985. Say I am controlling #618 pulling a train on the main line, and want to fuel/water #1243. I simply push recall twice to cycle to #1243 to make it active, and then give the appropriate commands to move it where I want. Pushing recall 3 more times will then take me back to #618. "Consisting" is using/controlling two or more locos as one, for example, double-heading a couple of steamers. Setting up advanced consisting is very easy on the Powercab. Yes, there is a "regular" consisting function... I have never used it. Controlling turnouts requires that the turnout motor (switch machine; or "point motor" in the UK) be connected to a stationary "accessory" decoder, or that the turnout motor have an integral DCC decoder. I do use that capability on my layout... mostly because I HATE wiring, and it was the quickest way to automate my turnouts. Others prefer using a track schematic with push buttons or toggle switches to control turnouts. The NCE USB interface costs about $50. Altho' I have considered going that route and using the free JMRI program, I still haven't done it. Programming loco decoders with the Powercab is fairly straightforward, and I don't have a computer to dedicate to my train layout... It would take me just as much time to hook up the computer to run the software as it does to change the CV settings using the Powercab. As I see it, the big advantage of using JMRI for programming is the ability to SAVE the CV settings, in the event that you need to reset the decoder and then reload your CV settings.
Thanks for all the info. Well we can forget the last two, USB Interface & Controlling Turn Outs. But being able to toggle back and forth in Recall without having to Press Enter is very good news to me, and I Will use it All the time, thanks. I was running a Consist with my Bachmann EZ Command Controller and really enjoyed it and also read some of the NCE PowerCab manual. Really looking forward to this option. Seen a few YT videos on it and like the NCE option a lot, just have to get used to it. I have no idea why it took me so long to form a consist, but I like it very much. Other Atlas U25B's off in the shop at the moment, but when I get them back, it's a 3 locomotive consist I will try Also, if anyone wants to explain 28 speed steps instead of 128, go right ahead Thanks!
Do you know the version of the firmware? When I bought mine, it was 1.3 But I know you can buy a chip to upgrade to Rev 1.65B..... I haven't upgraded mine since I've been playing more with DCC++EX & JMRI......
28 vs 128 speed steps is just the number of separate, selectable speeds between stopped and full speed. The choice between 28 and 128 can be made while you are programming the decoder. Which one is better is personal choice, but I like 128 (mostly on the theory that "more is better"), but it may depend a lot on what system and throttle you use. I use Engine Driver app on my phone (as a WiFi wireless throttle). Perhaps some NCE users will chime in on what may work best with the Power Cab / Pro Cab.
Yeah I have no idea which version? Or what the different versions mean? As long as I can program CV's and such and control locomotives I'll be fine on my small two 2' x 4' bases?
Don't forget 14 speed steps! As mentioned, it's just the number of steps between stop and full throttle, but the decoder is not programmed to select between 28 and 128. The decoder programming option actually selects between 14 and 28 speed steps (all modern decoders default to 28). The option is necessary because the 14 step and 28 step commands look the same to the decoder but have different meanings. The 128 step command is completely different from the other two so the decoder does not have to be programed to recognise it. It's somewhat confiusng because the bit that selects bewtween 14 and 28 speed steps is often labeld 28/128 speed steps (the reason for the labelling is it was intended to mean 28 or 128 speed steps for one setting as opposed to 14 speed steps for the other). I've probably gotten more into the details than you care about, but the short of it is to switch between 28 and 128 speed steps you do not need to reprogram the decoder, you just select one or the other on the throttle, and you can do this at any time and switch back and forth to your heart's content. NCE defaults to 28, you switch to 128 using the 28/128 buttion at the bottom of the throttle, and that only effects the engine/consist you are currently controlling. Some people prefer 128 because it gives you finer control, but it also means more throttle travel between stop and full throttle (or full throttle and stop!), it's entirely personal which one is "better" and can only be found by trying both. You can even mix it up if you want, for example, controlling mainline running with 28 speed steps, but controlling switching moves with 128 speed steps for finer control. Interesting tidbit (at least I find it interesting): 28 speed step mode actually has 28 speed steps, step 1 through step 28 (and the 14 speed step mode actually has 14 speed steps). There is also "stop" and "e-estop" (emergency stop - stop immediately with no momentum) not counted in thsoe speed steps. The 128 steps in the 128 speed step command; however, include the stop and e-stop, so there are actually only 126 speed steps. If the naming conventoion had been maintained it would be called 126 speed step mode.
Yeah, the ugly underside of things designed over time, by committee... Thanks, that's about the best description of them I recall seeing.
Thank you very much for that detailed information. It's cool that it is selectable from the 28/128 button and does not have to be programmed into each decoder as I thought it did. Can't wait to get my NEW/Used NCE PowerCab Monday and see all the cool stuff it can do. I have a lot to learn, but looking forward to it. So finer control is with the 128 cause it goes from 1 to 128 speed steps to get to full throttle? And of course 28 is 1 to 28? I also read about or heard about some type of Power adjustment too? Like when I got my Intermountain FT A&B he said he set it for Power NOT Speed? I probably asked him how come it wasn't going as fast as my say, Atlas U25B's, but it's been awhile now? And I know this sounds silly but looking forward to the options on the light's as he set a Mar's light ON and I have no idea the other options yet? Thanks everyone, appreciate all and any info about the NCE PowerCab! Hope I don't FRY something
You will not fry anything and I guarantee you will have TONS of fun playing around with your new "toy".....enjoy
Yeah I can't wait, for some reason to be able to change the lights for the decoders that allow it, which I also have to learn. Thanks, and according to the picture on the Manual in the photo the member I bought it from supplied, it is the 1.65 version which I think is the most recent? At least that's what version the NEW ones for sale state? I'll post pictures in the Recent Purchase area when I get it Still curious how easy it is going to be to cycle through locomotives on my tiny 2' x 4' layout? It also looks huge compared to my Bachmann EZ Command, but we will see. I'm excited though to have a NEW toy for the hobby. And what a great deal too I'll have many more questions about it I am sure.
Alright maybe just one more before I actually get the NCE PowerCab. This looks interesting IF I am reading it correctly? Meaning I guess that the FOF ( front headlight ) will DIM somehow when slowing to a Stop? What does EMF stand for? Does anyone use this feature that has the MCE system? And if so, why? And over on the bottom right part Consist Lighting Control, what? Hopefully the NCE PowerCab will be here today
EMF stands for Electro Motive Force. It is the voltage generated by the rotating motor when the latter is not powered (coasting between pulses), and is roughly proportional to motor RPM. In Pulse Width Modulation, pulses of varying width but near-constant voltage are applied to the motor. To make the motor go faster, the ratio of on-time to off-time between pulses is increased. During the off-time, the motor's Back EMF voltage it sensed to find out how fast it is spinning (and proportionally, how fast the loco is running.) Like (older) cruise controls on automobiles, the decoder does not know how fast the locomotive is going, but (when so enabled) it tries to keep the speed steady by keeping the BEMF constant, regardless of load (grade, friction, pulled weight, etc.).
