What does everyone think of these tips videos so far? Got a few more to come (so don't forget to subscribe so you won't miss out!) But what other things would you want me to cover? Let me know!
Thank you for the tip I just got into using function keys on my locos and hitting the shift 0 twice sometimes I thought I did and was hitting a different function. this was very helpful and easy to setup on my Power Cabs.
I have just come across your channel and am really enjoying watching your videos. I have just subscribed. Like you, I have had a few "false starts" with DCC and indeed layout building! I am now starting again having just sold my Hornby Elite controller, which is about the fifth type I have tried!! I have been advised by a well known retailer up here in the North west to look at the NCE PowerCab and came across your channel whilst researching it. I am intending to build a modest layout on a modular basis so that I can expand over time, rather than jump in with both feet as in the past only to give up half way through. I do not intend running more than say three OO Gauge sound locos at any time, but I want to do some shunting and so there will be a few point motors to operate. I intend to use a DCC Concepts decoder for the points as it has a CDU included .My concern is that the PowerCab may be under powered for my locos, but I'm no expert on these things. What are your thoughts please? Also, does the absence of a programming track cause you any issues? I am not a techie, but I do like changing CVs to get the loco running as I want - startup speed, braking sped etc. My alternative choice is the Prodigy Advance 2 but that is a good deal more expensive than the power cab and I wonder whether I may be overdoing things with it. Your views would be much appreciated and thanks for the tips so far on the PowerCab...I'm very tempted! Cheers Keith
Hi Keith, welcome to the channel! Sounds like a great way to start off, too often in the past I had put off starting a layout because I really wanted something big, so I'm starting off small now, building up skills and enjoying playing trains, until I have the space and money for the ultimate layout I always wanted! With regards to your set-up, I would say the PowerCab should be able to easily run 3 sound locos - I often have 2 running, and thanks to setting the ammeter on the PowerCab, I can see it is drawing much less than 1A - although obviously I'm not running at high speed or with really long trains, which might increase the draw. I would think it would also manage 3 fairly easily - although some (older) locos can draw much more power than the modern (say post 2000) ones. If its a concern, then its easy to swap over the power plug to a more powerful one - DCC Concepts do a 2A 18v one which is beefier than the 1.4A 13.8V one that comes with the PowerCab - the higher output voltage will mean your locos will be able to run at faster speeds, though thats not a problem on my layout and might not be on yours. Theres also an option to upgrade the PowerCab to a 5A system as well (although thats pricier, of course) which effectively turns it into the ProCab, with your original PowerCab becoming a throttle. I've only seen this recommended on larger layouts though, but this expansion ability is one reason I went for the PowerCab, because it means I can still use when I get that bigger layout. The DCC Concepts accessory decoder includes a CDU, as you say, and that means it shouldnt drain your DCC power bus. On my current layout Loch Doune, my points are operated by analogue rather than digital, so I have a separate power supply - and you could have a 2nd power bus for your points, though I dont think that would be necessary except on the largest of layouts. With regards to the lack of a programming track, I've not felt the lack of it, partly because its been fairly easy to plug the set into my separate track, although I've also used the layout as a giant programming track - making sure theres no other locos on it at the same time, of course. If you're really into tweaking CVs, I'd recommend that you check out the SPROG. Its basically a DCC Command station, that works with the free JMRI software for control. JMRI gives a much better interface for changing CVs. I need to replace mine, which went kaput (after 15 years though!) - I just havnt got around to it yet. Hope thats all helped, and I look forward to seeing your project progress!
Messing about with Models Hi John. Thanks very much for your helpful and speedy reply. I think I should be able to do all I need to with the PowerCab. I did post a comment on another of your videos regarding using the PowerCab to programme accessory decoders. I appreciate you are using analogue for your points, but do you know if the PowerCab can programme such as the Hornby static accessory Decoder? Thanks again. Keith
@@theenigmaticgamer Sorry if I havnt replied to that one - I've noticed that UA-cam sometimes deletes (or rather doesnt publish them) comments. I dont see why the NCE PowerCab cant programme the Hornby accessory decoder - I think the Hornby decoder only works in programming mode, so you might have to programme them off the layout, otherwise your other accessory decoders will get re-programmed.
Hi. I have a NCE Powercab along with a Accurascale Manor which i need to increase the sound volume but nowhere in the manual does it show you how to do it in plain english. I have tried various suggestions from online but non work.
Hi. I have a NCE Powercab along with a Accurascale Manor which I need to increase the sound volume but nowhere in the manual does it state how to do this in plain english, I have seen various items online on how to do it but non work.
What does everyone think of these tips videos so far? Got a few more to come (so don't forget to subscribe so you won't miss out!) But what other things would you want me to cover? Let me know!
I'm enjoying these its much easier than reading a manual
Great stuff! Keep an eye out for more.
Thank you for the tip I just got into using function keys on my locos and hitting the shift 0 twice sometimes I thought I did and was hitting a different function. this was very helpful and easy to setup on my Power Cabs.
Thanks!
Excellent tip, thank you.
Thanks so much!
Handy tip, thanks.
Thanks Jock! Glad it's been helpful.
I have just come across your channel and am really enjoying watching your videos. I have just subscribed.
Like you, I have had a few "false starts" with DCC and indeed layout building! I am now starting again having just sold my Hornby Elite controller, which is about the fifth type I have tried!!
I have been advised by a well known retailer up here in the North west to look at the NCE PowerCab and came across your channel whilst researching it.
I am intending to build a modest layout on a modular basis so that I can expand over time, rather than jump in with both feet as in the past only to give up half way through. I do not intend running more than say three OO Gauge sound locos at any time, but I want to do some shunting and so there will be a few point motors to operate. I intend to use a DCC Concepts decoder for the points as it has a CDU included .My concern is that the PowerCab may be under powered for my locos, but I'm no expert on these things. What are your thoughts please?
Also, does the absence of a programming track cause you any issues? I am not a techie, but I do like changing CVs to get the loco running as I want - startup speed, braking sped etc.
My alternative choice is the Prodigy Advance 2 but that is a good deal more expensive than the power cab and I wonder whether I may be overdoing things with it.
Your views would be much appreciated and thanks for the tips so far on the PowerCab...I'm very tempted!
Cheers
Keith
Hi Keith, welcome to the channel!
Sounds like a great way to start off, too often in the past I had put off starting a layout because I really wanted something big, so I'm starting off small now, building up skills and enjoying playing trains, until I have the space and money for the ultimate layout I always wanted!
With regards to your set-up, I would say the PowerCab should be able to easily run 3 sound locos - I often have 2 running, and thanks to setting the ammeter on the PowerCab, I can see it is drawing much less than 1A - although obviously I'm not running at high speed or with really long trains, which might increase the draw. I would think it would also manage 3 fairly easily - although some (older) locos can draw much more power than the modern (say post 2000) ones.
If its a concern, then its easy to swap over the power plug to a more powerful one - DCC Concepts do a 2A 18v one which is beefier than the 1.4A 13.8V one that comes with the PowerCab - the higher output voltage will mean your locos will be able to run at faster speeds, though thats not a problem on my layout and might not be on yours.
Theres also an option to upgrade the PowerCab to a 5A system as well (although thats pricier, of course) which effectively turns it into the ProCab, with your original PowerCab becoming a throttle. I've only seen this recommended on larger layouts though, but this expansion ability is one reason I went for the PowerCab, because it means I can still use when I get that bigger layout.
The DCC Concepts accessory decoder includes a CDU, as you say, and that means it shouldnt drain your DCC power bus. On my current layout Loch Doune, my points are operated by analogue rather than digital, so I have a separate power supply - and you could have a 2nd power bus for your points, though I dont think that would be necessary except on the largest of layouts.
With regards to the lack of a programming track, I've not felt the lack of it, partly because its been fairly easy to plug the set into my separate track, although I've also used the layout as a giant programming track - making sure theres no other locos on it at the same time, of course.
If you're really into tweaking CVs, I'd recommend that you check out the SPROG. Its basically a DCC Command station, that works with the free JMRI software for control. JMRI gives a much better interface for changing CVs. I need to replace mine, which went kaput (after 15 years though!) - I just havnt got around to it yet.
Hope thats all helped, and I look forward to seeing your project progress!
Messing about with Models Hi John. Thanks very much for your helpful and speedy reply. I think I should be able to do all I need to with the PowerCab.
I did post a comment on another of your videos regarding using the PowerCab to programme accessory decoders. I appreciate you are using analogue for your points, but do you know if the PowerCab can programme such as the Hornby static accessory Decoder?
Thanks again.
Keith
@@theenigmaticgamer Sorry if I havnt replied to that one - I've noticed that UA-cam sometimes deletes (or rather doesnt publish them) comments.
I dont see why the NCE PowerCab cant programme the Hornby accessory decoder - I think the Hornby decoder only works in programming mode, so you might have to programme them off the layout, otherwise your other accessory decoders will get re-programmed.
Messing about with Models Thanks John.
Hi. I have a NCE Powercab along with a Accurascale Manor which i need to increase the sound volume but nowhere in the manual does it show you how to do it in plain english. I have tried various suggestions from online but non work.
Is there a method to 8ncrease the max speed on the powercab.
Hi. I have a NCE Powercab along with a Accurascale Manor which I need to increase the sound volume but nowhere in the manual does it state how to do this in plain english, I have seen various items online on how to do it but non work.
does it matter which rail on the track the red and black wire go too?
No, not at all.
That's not a tip - Surely it's common knowledge to anyone with an NCE Power Cab?
Actually not - plenty of people have found this useful. Not everyone reads the manual!