Ben, Yes, it is. Out of the box it's 1.7 Amps, 2 recalls and two addresses. The first expansion is adding a second throttle. Next is adding the SB3 smart booster which gives 3 Amps (or 5 Amps with the SB3a according to some reports - it's soon to be released and the original SB3 is no longer available) and increases the addresses to 4. In this set-up, the PowerCab becomes a ProCab throttle (the SB3/3a is now the command station) and allows you three additional throttles and 2 recalls per ProCab throttle (allegedly with 6 recalls the SB3a). The next expansion is to the full 5A PowerHouse Pro system. Where it's a little muddy just now is with the upcoming SB3a. The original SB3 was dead-end expansion for the PowerCab in one respect - it couldn't be used later with the full system as it had no provision to be a booster only. It could have additional boosters added to it but the constraint of 4 addresses and 2 recalls remained. The upcoming SB3a is rumoured to be a 5A booster/command station with the same recalls as the full system (6) but still limited to 4 addresses as per the SB3. The difference here is it is said to be designed to be used with the full system as a booster when moving to the full system. All that would be needed is the PowerHouse Pro command station only - you already have the 5A booster. And with the change to this command station you get the full 63 addresses. In summary; Base - PowerCab alone Expansion 1 - PowerCab with second throttle, either Cab04P or ProCab Expansion 2 - PowerCab with SB3(A), and up to three additional throttles. PowerCab is now a ProCab when connected to this arrangement. Can still be used off layout as a PowerCab with it's PCP and power supply, though. Expansion 3 - full PowerHouse Pro system (command station and booster) using PowerCab as a ProCab throttle and allowing 62 additional throttles. SB3A (only) can be used as a second booster with the PHP command station and booster, or as the main booster with the PHP command station only, saving having to buy the PHP command station/booster combo.
I thing I really like about the power cab is the hand held unit, and the fact that I have to spend another $100 to get it with the zephyr isn't that appealling. The question I have for you is this, my layout will consist of a yard, turntable/service area, an industrial district with about 6 industries and an incoming/outgoing staging yard. How many trains can I run at once, and how many can I have ready to run with this system? I will have a full 6 stall roundhouse, some with twined engines for a possible 8 to 10 locos ready to go. With the incoming/outgoing tracks it should be a busy place. Now keep in mind that I will only run 1 maybe 2 at a time. Thanks again for the great info Ben
Lowrider_33, having 8 to 10 locos on the track is no problem. Non-moving locos draw practically no power at all (I say practically, because if the lights are off and not sound-equipped, the locos draw nothing when not moving). The only issue is, how many are going to be *moving* (and therefore drawing any significant amps) at the same time. With only two locos or even two consists of N scale locos moving at the same time, I think you will be well supplied with 2 amps power. If for some reason in the future you need more, then you can just add the SB3a, but I doubt that you will need that extra power on a switching layout. Read the following excellent presentations from Mark Gurries for more info, I know one of the topics he addresses is how to calculate how much power you will really need: Silicon Valley Lines: DCC Presentations Excellent, well presented info. The 'basics' presentation includes many proven tips on selecting a system. The 'wiring' presentation talks about how much power you really need, i.e. conservatively, 1/2 amp per moving N scale loco. Note that most modern new N scale locos (Atlas, etc). require far less than this, more like .25 amp per loco. Mark is one of the many worldwide well-known DCC folks who are active and very helpful in discussing DCC on the Yahoo Groups for NCE, Digitrax, and JMRI. I think you'll like those presentations.
So let me get this straight, as long as I am running 1 or 2 locos at a time there shouldn't be any problems. I will have enough addresses to use the other engines as long as only 1 or 2 trains are moving at a time? Ben
Yes. You need to add power and complexity as the number of people playing rise. A lone human is highly unlikely to successfully and reliably operate more than two trains at a time (assuming he has several locomotives consisted). Adding more is a recipe for trouble unless the third and subsequent are running independently on safe routes that don't need human supervision. All this to say that two amps should be fine for you as a lone operator operating sensibly. Even when consisted, as having three engines operating together on one train, they all behave as one address on the throttle. About the turntable: the bridge has its own control paddle. You programme the detent/indexing stop points and then the paddle's buttons will take the engine/bridge to them in succession, stopping at each one. But you wonder how the engine on the bridge retains power and a signal link to the DCC system...correct? There is another power lead wire pair provided for you that you would merely splice into your main bus where most convenient. There is a single cable bundle leading from the smallish controller paddle to the electonics housing under the pit. That cable carries wires to control optics and indexing, plus the motor drive. Also in that bundle are the two track wires. So, when you hook it all up once it is set in place, you have a power supply which you must purchase separately (don't forget!), and whose wires enter receptacles on the controller paddle. You must provide feeders from your bus that also enter the paddle. The rest of the architecture handles the locomotive and bridge for you via the bundle once you hook up the power supply and connect to the bus.
Crandell, Nicely explained, how many trains can I program onto the power cab unit. I will only ever run 1 or 2 at a time but I would like to have the option to pull different 1's out at any give time. I guess what I'm after is how many addresses can be programed? Thanks Ben
Ben, with the PowerCab, you can have two addresses in recall, one you are operating and the second available via the recall button. Both can be moving if you're game enough and controllable by switching back and forth via the recall button. To address a third loco you need to use the select loco button and key in the new address. The address that was on the screen is now lost. Some say it's an unnecessary limitation but how many locos can you operate on the point to point layout with one controller at one time? Probably by the time you scroll through the stored addresses you have already keyed it into the PowerCab. Though I haven't had the issue, yet, I can see it being an issue for some when operating an engine service area where more than two locos are needing movement in a short period of time. Then, you just don't hop into them, turn the key and drive off in real life! If you are using consists, set them up prior to using and they will be accessed by one of three ways with the PowerCab - the consist address (#127-112, numbered highest to lowest at set up), the lead loco # or the rear loco#. This is still counted as one address. Once the locos are consisted they will work together until you break (delete) the consist.
Ben, as you have probably figured out by now, each of of your DCC locos has a unique address, which by convention we usually set to be the number of the loco itself. You can have all of your locos sitting on your DCC layout, with their unique address. It's only the ones that are moving that draw amperage. You program that unique address of each loco, one by one. That's basically what you do to "program" all of your locos. While I am sure I am oversimplifying a little....... you could literally have all of your locos sitting on your DCC layout, available to be selected. As long as their lights are off and aren't idling with sound boards... then those locos aren't drawing any amperage to speak off. (of course this is a bit of oversimplification). Then, whenever you want to run a loco, you just select it. Selecting a loco is really easy and fast on any DCC system, so that's fundamentally what you do. Using 'recall' is just a slightly enhanced way to recall out of memory, a previously selected loco. Since most of us can't remember exactly what are the order of all locos in the recall stack that we've selected over the course of an operating session... we usually just go the easy route and select the loco we want to run. Hope this helps . Nice pictures in your Railimages album, by the way.
That's basically it, John. You should receive engines with decoders already set to address "03". A good practise is to do a factory default restore first thing anyway, and the decoder's manual tells you how to do this. Only by a full reset can you be sure the factory defaults, and no spurious or unwanted values are lingering from either factory testing or someone's preferences. So, each engine comes with the name "03", ostensibly, and that's how you call them up first time on the layout. From there, with more involvement per the manuals, you set a new address in CV1, and if it is a number higher than 127 (for all but a few decoders out there), it counts as an 'extended' or 'long' address, and you must configure CV29 for that. However, if you want Diesels 1, 2, and 3, to be nested in a consist (MU'd we call it), so that they head a train in tandem, you would assign each a new consist address, again covered in the manauls for the decoders and the DCC system. But each of those engines will want it's share of the available track voltage, and each counts as a full unit of "one" when calculating how much power you are likely to need at any one time. The more engines, the longer and heavier the trailing tonnage, the steeper the grades, the more and tighter the curves...now you get into a more serious amperage draw. Will what you purchased be able to supply it? How about sustaining it at that level withough tripping breakers?
Ok I think that I got it. You guys must think I'm nuts. I'm just starting out in dcc and want to make sure I get the right system. I quick question I hope, if I go with the power cab system should I buy nce decoders or something else? thanks again for the great info guys. Ben
Buy decoders based on what engines you have. I have a tendency to use TCS and Digitraxx because the Ye Old LHS stocks --- you guessed it, TCS and Digi's. I find it easy when it comes to DCC to have some one local to deal with. Sure I could buy it a little cheaper with wig wag or feather river, but when it comes to intricate electronics, I like to stay local, mainly due to the knowledge my LHS dealer has about DCC. Here is a question when it comes to choosing a system that I would like to shoot to you as well. What does your local store stock, If its mainly a Digi store, I would stay with Digi. If they sold something else, I would have gone with NCE or the other fine manufacturers out there. A good dealer will let you use or at least explain the benefits of each system. It just happens that most of the clubs in my area along with my NTrack club use Digitraxx. Plus that little UT4R is a great tool for kids at a show. They have still yet to tear apart my DPU'ed grain train (i keep the settings on that things pretty slow anyways, full throttle is about 40 scale mph anyways)
That's a good point about LHS's. The only problem is I tend to deal more with the web for products then anything around me. Not to much to choose from. thanks Ben
There's no need to "match" the decoders to the command station by brand. Choose the decoders based on what is best for your loco and budget (and, based on comments/reviews here and on other boards, which decoders work the best, and which ones to avoid).
After reading all the posts again and doing a little more research I have decided to go with the zephyr system. There is some great points about the power cab unit as well as the empire builder but for cost and what your getting the zephyr seems to be a good deal. One point about the power cab that I found to be a down fall was the fact that if you unplug the throttle you are basically unplugging the system. Anyways I will post some thoughts after I get it all set up and working. Thanks for all the replies Ben
As pointed out earlier, there are downfalls for both. To me it's the console arrangement of the zephyr. I'm sure you're going to enjoy the world of DCC!
Lowrider_33, I have a Digitrax Zephyr, and if I may make one suggestion that is to see about ordering a book called Mastering the Digitrax Zephyr. It's around $15-20 and I think it is money well spent for people new to DCC and to the Zephyr. It's also a much easier start up manual than the official manual that comes from Digitrax, with more step-by-step visuals. The NCE, as I understand it, is more intuitive off the bat, but the Zephyr is not terribly difficult either. Welcome to DCC! Adam
