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NCE Corporation PowerCab DCC System
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Reviews
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Date product posted
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0
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953
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Sun February 4, 2007
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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No recommendations
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None indicated
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None indicated
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Description:
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NCE has for years produced fine DCC systems, and now with the introduction of the new PowerCab System, NCE has entered the 'entry level' price range but without sacrificing advanced DCC features and quality.
I have owned a Prodigy system, and one thing I instantly notice with the PowerCab throttle is the much heavier plastics used in construction, also the buttons are much more robust. My Prodigy throttle after just 6 months of light useage showed signs of wear, but this PowerCab throttle seems to be made with much stronger materials. That may not seem too important to some, but to me, I prefer things that are built to take the occasional 'bump' that occurs with regular running.
The PowerCab features all the different modes for programming including program on main and program track. The throttle plugs into one of the phone-plug style ports on the included facia plate. The other port is for a second throttle.
The PowerCab cannot be unplugged while you are operating the layout at anytime-its the 'brains' of the entire system. The second throttle however can be unplugged and re-plugged if necessary during a session. You must have decoders in ALL engines for this system to operate.
The backlit-LCD display shows all the necessary items including speed, direction, and locomotive number. The unit has two-digit or four-digit addressing and 28/128 speed steps. There is a fast clock option and there is a RECALL button for convenience to switch between two different locomotives (trains) when operating two trains at once. The throttle has a full 9-digit keypad for activating most sound effects on sound locos.
Another feature of the throttle I enjoy very much is the two types of speed controls: a vertical roller knob (wheel) and speed buttons. There are two sets of increase/decrease keys, a pair for quick or slow increments respectively.
NCE literature includes a spiral-bound manual with an very easy quick-primer and full operating procedures and troubleshooting tips. There isn't much to the setup (see diagram), so setup is a breeze.
The system includes a 2.5 ampere power supply. You can upgrade the system to 4 amperes with another booster that NCE offers separately.
TESTING IT OUT:
NCE states that the system with the 2.5 amp supply will run up to four trains, but I have tested this system with two sound-equipped locomotives and when holding down the horn on one train while climbing up a grade, I popped the circuit breaker a couple times. I went around the layout the same way, but didn't use the sound effects, and the circuit breaker didn't pop. The Proto 2000 locomotives seem to require quite a bit of current if there is sound installed. However, I cannot guarantee how many trains in HO scale will run at once with this unit-it seems like it depends on your brand of loco. Upgrading to the 4 amp booster would seem like a good idea.
I am very pleased with this system from NCE; you get up and running within 20 minutes of opening the box and unlike E-Z command, have a handheld throttle with full digital operating capability of most of the features found on current locos.
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Keywords:
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NCE PowerCab DCC
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