I've been pricing NCE Power Cab systems and I've noticed a very wide price range. $128.20 http://www.ebay.com/itm/NCE-524-025...983450?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item5af21c159a $199.95 http://www.ncedcc.com/component/vir...lypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=3&category_id=1 If NCE's price is $199.95, is a price like $128.20 - new, factory sealed with 1 yr factory warrenty - too good to be true? Also, how many trains can Power Cab handle? - "2 or 3" - Why is the word "or" used? Why not just say "3?" How many locomotives can Power Cab handle - all running at the same time? I'm sure the answers will depend on how many amps each locomotive draws but give me "trypically..." answers.
I've had three locos running at the same time with mine. I paid about $149 on eBay. I forgot the vendor's name.
Can't tell you about the price. My layout is about 9 by 9, with an oval, wye and small yard. I can run at least 5 engines, thats about all I can watch at one time. If you plan a bigger pike, you may want a bigger system. The power cab, is just the basics, doesn't include: Program Track, Reversing section or alarms. It handles mine with power to spare. William Jackson
So, it sounds like NCE Power Cab would sufficiently power up to 5 or 6 locomotives on the 3 ovals on my 8 x 5 1/2 layout? The main concern was number of trains. I want to run three trains with locos in groups of up to 1-2-3 or 2-2-2. Thoughts anyone?
I paid 150 bucks for my NCE PowerCab set last year, when retail was 200. A price of 129 dollars is practically a steal- if you can, get it! You will not be disappointed.
As long as its guaranteed to be new its a great buy at that price. And yes the 2 OR 3 means how much they draw. Like others have said you can run up to 5 depending on how much they pull. The only thing I'm worried about is even with a bus system that's still a lot of track to power. Anyone have any input on whether or not this has the juice keep 3 ovals live? Ethan
The determining factor is the current draw of each locomotive. Old blue box locomotives and many of the 'toy' (Tyco, AHM, etc) locomotives may pull close to an amp each. Most of the newer, can motor locomotives will pull less than 3/4 amp under full load.
As nostalgic as I am, someone has made me an offer on a DCC system that is simply too good for even this DC modeler to pass up. I suppose that this is as good of a time as any to officially announce that I will be crossing over to the "dark side" (as Jim James puts it) when I build my next layout. With that being said, I want to ask if any of the automatic DCC reverse loop modules have the ability to also switch a Peco turnout automatically, but only after the entire train is in the loop. If not, I don't think I will have any use for reverse loops.
Brandon, the DCC Specialties PSX-AR will automatically reverse a turnout (stall motor or snap coil type) when the power in the reverse loop switches. http://www.dccspecialties.com/products/pdf/man_psxar.pdf
