My NCE PowerCab arrived just a few minutes ago. It's up a running. I won't say record time but less than 10 mins. This is really going to be fun!!! By the way, I ordered from Litchfield Station on Friday afternoon and got the package today, Monday March 30. IMHO, thats some kind of service. I don't know if I will be able to stand not flippin' all those switches, NOT!!!! I can see this is going to grow very quickly with all the added control DCC provides. First thing after installing decoders and assigning loco numbers is going to be getting a DCC relay control board and hooking it up to my sound system to trigger the horn. Thanks everyone for the help and advice. I'm sure I'll have a trunk load more questions and requests for advice.
:thumbs_up: I don't think you will be disappointed. I really like my PowerCab and fun is a good description of all the possibilities that DCC holds.
Welcome! LOL I love my powercab too.. next thing you should buy is the NCE USB interface.. once you have decoderpro.. you'll never program via the powercab again LOL
Last night I was ready to scream! Had some problems with loosing communication with decoders at power down. I haven't pulled the plug yet today and everthing is running fine. I'm in the process of checking the system out now for power. Specifically just how many locos the PowerCab will handle in my normal mode of operation. I've got 3 Atlas C40-8's in consist and 1 GP-40 Atlas running as a local. I believe these 4 will be the power hogs. They run much slower than my 1 gen. Atlas SD-60 at a given throttle setting. I'm not even going to start speed matching for a few days. I am starting to wonder about using electro-frog style switches. It seems that they are succeptible (hope that's spelled right) to short circuits. I have pretty well figured out that in order to handle 3 trains at once is a real guggling act. It might be ok for an empire size layout but mine may be a little too small with a single track main. Unfortunately, I didn't incorporate a long enough yard lead on one end of the yard. The 1st switch in the yard comes right off the main and requires too much attention if your just working the yard making up a train. DCC makes it easier than throwing block signals though. Listern to me...whining about a switching problem! Shut up Clark and have fun! On a good note, I've got installing a drop in decoder down to 10 minutes including decoder setup.
My advice to you is to slow down and smell the roses. Rushing to finish something in DCC is a problem waiting to happen.
That "10 minute" statement turned around and bit me. It took over 2 hours to get an MP-15 installed and programmed. But Jerry at Litchfield and I got it. You are correct about getting in hurry. It only takes a millisecond to cook electronics. Been there, done that.
