ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
You can also just push the key in the bottom right of the PowerCab, I think it's SHIFT, and press 6 while holding it in. It will take you straight to the amps setting option.
I've ran four engines (N scale) with lights but no sound and never gotten above half an amp, but that's on level track and at prototypical freight speeds. YMMV as soon as you add sound locos or if you're running HO.
It largely depends on the Decoder manufacturer. Soundtraxx, for example, the info is almost completely on-line only at their website. The one exception to that is that the horn chart is on the back flap of the decoder package label. For that Genesis/Soundtraxx GP15, check the Soundtraxx website. Click on the 'manufacturer with sound' tab. There is alot of good info there that is model specific.
Digitrax is largely on line, but also comes with some literature. NCE has a little instruction book, but they dont have sound decoders. QSI is about the only one that I can think of that has a large print manual.
Do any of the NCE units offer more than 12 function buttons. Ive been doing some reading on the MTH trains and its seems that the MRC system has 28 funtions so it "should" work with the autocoupler feature. I wonder why no other manufacturer is making this feature available on there locos.
Do any of the NCE units offer more than 12 function buttons. Ive been doing some reading on the MTH trains and its seems that the MRC system has 28 funtions so it "should" work with the autocoupler feature. I wonder why no other manufacturer is making this feature available on there locos.
Itll work on the MRC but I dont think you can use any of the addtional features of the MTH PS2/3 locos without a DCS controller aka the NCE Powercab is limited to 12 functions.
From what I understand, the couplers are either hit or miss in terms of both functionality and whether users like them. Also, most people cant use them, as youve found out. MTH attempted years ago to get people to come over to their DCS system versus embracing DCC outright. It seems theyve finally listened to the market and learned that DCC is the benchmark.
Ok, i been doing some reading in the documents folder on the NCE site. I have a version 1.1 power cab and i would need to upgrade to the SB3 to get the 13-28 funtions. On the bright side, my power cab works in yard mode. The way that it is stated in the manual is that yard mode is only available in procab mode, however it does work on my power cab. When i power up the handheld throttle it reads procab v1.3 then the display changes and it read powercab v1.1.
I bought this unit off of ebay and although it was never used it was over 6 years old. There was a copy of a shipping invoice were it was sent and a replacement for one that got lost in shipment. The year on that invoice was 2005.
I forgot that the early version of the Power Cab did not support up through 28. Contact NCE and you can get an upgrade for the Power Cab to the latest version to get all functions without going to the Smart Booster.
Please tell, how would i upgrade the programing? Do i need to buy a computer interface, or send it to them to reprogram with a newer version. Allso i would like to know if anyone else's powercab works in yard mode, i would assume they all do, but the manual clearly states that it only works in procab mode.
