Own a PowerCab or PH Pro DCC system? Need to know how to get it set up? Want to know what it can do? Presented by Tim s Trains and Hobbies
Show the operating function and capabilities of the NCE DCC PowerCab and Powerhouse Pro system, and how to access, and change them, to suit your preferences.
For the most part the two systems operate the same. Here are the notable differences The PowerPro system can use up to 63 throttles The PowerCab is limited to 2 throttles. They must be numbered as 2 and 3. The PowerPro ProCab AND the PowerCab throttle can hold recalls of up to six locomotives. Two is the default. The PowerCab throttle can be used as a Procab on a PowerPro system. (Using the four wire, twisty cord.) The ProCab can be used on a PowerCab system as the SECOND throttle.
The PowerPro system can deliver 5/10 amps of continuous track power. The PowerCab system was billed as a 2 amp system, but the transformer provided with the system is rated for 1.35 amps maximum. The PowerCab system can be upgraded to a five amp system by adding an SB5 command station/booster. This system addition is limited to six cabs (2-7) and a total of 18 slots for locomotives. And, radio!! By adding a CS02 command station and a PB105 booster. This will enable all the capabilities of the full NCE PowerPro system. A full 5 amp system with a 63 cab capacity, running up to 250 individual trains. And, radio!! (Per NCE..Radio cabs must be in this range, Procabs #2-17, all others #19-49)
Operation PowerCab and ProCab operation is the same. Notice the top section shows loco info 1. Selected Loco ID 2. Direction and Speed 3. Status of functions 1-6 4. And, the time. The next is for loco operation 1. Direction button 2. Add/Remove Momentum 3. Increase/Decrease speed buttons (fast and normal) 4. And, the speed wheel/encoder in the middle.
Operation PowerCab and ProCab operation is the same. The next section controls loco functions. 1. Horn/Whistle/Headlight 2. Emergency Stop! 3. Functions 0-9, (10-12 at very bottom) 4. The Option Button (F10-19 and F20-28) 5. The Recall button which recalls from memory, 2 to 6 previous loco IDs and status. 6. The Select Accessory button for stationary decoders 7. And, the Macro button to operate multiple stationary decoders at one time.
Operation PowerCab and ProCab operation is the same. The next section controls Consisting. 1. Setup is to build a consist. 2. Clear is to remove a consist (you must know the advanced consist address in CV19). 3. The Add button adds loco/s to an existing consist (you must know the advanced consist address in CV19). 4. The Delete button is to remove loco/s from an existing consist (you must know the advanced consist address in CV19).
Operation PowerCab and ProCab operation is the same. The bottom section controls Programming and Speed Steps mostly. 1. Prog/Esc starts up all the programming/ setup macros. I will show you the list and it s order in a later slide. 2. The EXPN button is to shut off the radio operation of the cab, when equipped. 3. The 28/128 button sets the number of speed steps that are sent to the loco. This must be manually selected for each loco. (28 is the default.) 4. The Shift button activates the Shift/Operation macros for all keys, but is mainly used to access F10, 11, 12.
Setting up the Power/ProCab To access this menu, unplug the cab, then plug it back in while holding the select loco button. 1. First, Cab Address, select, enter 2. Yard(1) or Normal(2), select, enter 3. Ballistic Tracking, 0-7, select, enter 4. Button Rate, 16-255, select, enter 5. Option Key value, select from chart, enter 6. Shifted Key Values, select from chart. Applies to ALL keys. Select, enter. The next few slides will be more than you wanted to know
Setting up the Power/ProCab This illustration shows the button assignments that are used when setting the Shifted Key values. I don t think you will find many folks add shifted key assignments to any of the keys. Except for buttons 30, 31, and 32. These are already shifted key functions to activate the decoder functions 10, 11, and 12. Default setting.
Setting up the Command Station Prog/Esc, 5.
Setting up the Cab Parameters Prog/Esc, 6. These are all the variables that can be adjusted in the NCE system to enhance operation. Select a loco and GO!
Using the Program Track Prog/Esc, 4
Using Programming On the Main Prog/Esc, Enter (or 1)
Consisting Locos There are three types of consisting.. 1. Universal Consist: ALL locos are programmed to the same number. All will respond to the same functions and travel in the same direction. 2. Standard Consist: (Command Station consisting) ALL locos maintain their own ID and function/direction settings. The Command Station remembers which locos are consisted and sends data packets to each loco in the consist for speed and direction. ONLY the lead loco responds to function commands. 3. Advance Consist: (Decoder consisting) ALL locos are programmed to a unique two digit ID (CV19). One packet is sent to all locos using the unique ID. None of the locos will respond to function commands.
Consisting Locos Most DCC systems use Standard Consisting OR Advanced Consisting by activating macros built into the system. NCE has uses a blend of these two for simplicity. The system uses advanced consists by default, so it selects, and writes a unique short address (127 to 1) into CV19 for all locos. But, you cannot activate functions when using CV19, so the system also writes a standard consist into the command station. This way it knows which locos are in the consist, and can send a second data packet to the lead loco s normal address to activate the functions. Be careful, and a hint!! When you create an advanced NCE consist, select an address that you will be able to remember. I use the last two digits of the lead loco.
Accessing Functions Available function buttons are 1-28, the NMRA standard. But, only 0-9, plus shift 10-12, are showing on the throttle, what gives? You must change the function of the option button to make them appear!! If you look at the procab key numbers at the beginning, the option key is button 10, the default value is 125 /reserved. Look at the values page and you will note that the value of 122 is the F10-F28 status. You must cycle through all the cab setup options until you can change button 10 s value from 125 to 122. Once this has been done a quick push of the option key takes you from the default of F0- F9, to F10-F19, and another press takes you to F21-F28!!
Customizing NCE NCE DCC Cab settings 1. Recalls 2. Ballistic tracking 3. Button speed 4. Normal vs. Yard Command Station settings 1. Loco in use verify 2. Momentum settings 3. System Reset (*#?%)! Consisting tools 1. Setup/Clear Consist 2. Add/Delete Loco 3. Assign Your Number Loco Tuning 1. Speed Steps 2. Momentum 3. Operating Range
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