079 - Shelfington - NCE Powercab Installation

[@exehavenharbour]

Hi Ian, really nice job, really enjoyed watching how you set it all up, cheers for now mate, John

[@iansngauge]

Morning John! Thanks very much mate! I'm really pleased to be using a throttle again! All the best, Ian.

[@thegrowler-blackwoodngauge]

Evening Ian - a nifty bit of work there. As always very neatly done. Cheers Euan

[@iansngauge]

Good evening Euan! Thanks very much! I'm really pleased with the result! Just need to find somewhere to put the throttle now, when not in use, instead of leaving it lying across the track! All the best, Ian.

[@Elvenhome]

Good to see you have a DCC solution in place until the new bit of kit arrives. I suspect the Powercab would be powerful enough to cope with Shelvington, (unless you are concerned about maybe having to install a booster) but as I have found the controllers can be tricky little things to use to switch quickly between locomotives - that's how my Royal Scot shot up the branch with eight coaches on when I had left the points set wrongly. Its a powerful beast of a loco and had reached the top of the gradient before I could stop it just before it would have launched - Mission Impossible like - over Sharky's End. Stephen

[@iansngauge]

Good evening Stephen! Thanks! The Powercab was supposed to be for controlling a small test layout I plan to have, but it has proved very useful for getting Shelfington up and running on DCC again! The Powercab only puts out 1.5A, which should be good for running half a dozen locos, but doesn't give much headroom for powering other DCC items such as servo motors, lights, loco sounds, etc. My DR5000 puts out 3A, and can go as high as 5A if you connect it to a more powerful power supply! Ah, yes, switching locos can be a bit tricky with a hand throttle, but they come with a big STOP button to press when you get into a panic! Lol! Shame you haven't got video of the Royal Scot! I'd have liked to have seen that! :) All the best, Ian.

[@lynganddistrict]

Well done Ian - a very neat and accomplished installation. Regards Steve

[@iansngauge]

Thanks very much Steve! I'm really pleased with how this has turned out! All the best, Ian.

[@endoorrailway]

Hi Ian, glad you're back up and running with a nicer-to-use controller than the PC, and it looks like a nice neat job :)

[@iansngauge]

Hi Jonathan! Thank you! Yes, the PC was driving me mad! It was even a pain with one throttle window open trying to control stuff using the trackpad of the laptop! I'm so glad to have a throttle again! All the best, Ian.

[@wimbletrain]

Hi Ian, The NCE Powercab is a nice little unit, it was the first system I used when I started my layout and now I use it just for my separate test/programming track (as you are probably aware I use the DR5000 for my layout now). I use baking paper to stop glue sticking to unwanted surfaces as it peels right off. Cheers for now.

[@iansngauge]

Hi John! That's exactly what I plan on using the Powercab for myself - I just need to build a test layout! Actually, maybe I should build Shelfington first!!! Lol! Thanks for the tip on using baking paper! I'll add it to my arsenal of tips! All the best, Ian.

[@Wickford_N_Gauge]

Nothing better than having a good throttle in your hand 😳 Don't know what I'm gonna do at 9pm on Thursdays though 😉 Very best wishes from the Emerald Isle ☘️

[@iansngauge]

Hi Paul! Definitely! A throttle is essential in this game as far as I'm concerned! Not sure what's happened here as I thought the video was scheduled for 9pm as usual! I must have selected 19:00 by mistake! Whoops! All the best, Ian.

[@Wickford_N_Gauge]

Always keep the audience guessing 😇

[@ngaugefouroaksstreetstatio6932]

excellent video

[@iansngauge]

Thanks very much Chris! Ian

[@ssearby]

Ian interested to hear you say that you didn't think

[@ssearby]

Sorry about that a cough caused me to send an incomplete message! Continued that the powercab would have insufficient power to run shelfington. I have a medium sized 10ft x10ft n gauge layout and my powercab allows me to run 4 trains at once....although the operator finds it difficult to cope!

[@iansngauge]

Haha! Dangerous things coughs! Lol! Yeah, the Powercab has a maximum output of 1.5A as far as I'm aware, which in theory, should be good for six or seven locos running! However, by the time you've taken into account other drains on the DCC bus, such as powering servo motors, lighting, loco sounds, etc., it doesn't leave a lot of headroom! My DR5000 can put out 3A, for instance, and with a different power supply, up to 5A! But yes, running four trains at once can certainly be demanding! :) All the best, Ian.

[@collinsngauge5493]

Hi Ian the power cab should be enough at 2 amp if you are going to have alot of sound loco it may not be enough, the other problem i didn't like was making the scound from 1 to 9 easy but after that it made it hard to the point of you don't use all the sounds but i would still recommend it as a good starter for dcc. Ok enough of me winning. interesting video and nicely put together. Colin

[@iansngauge]

Hi Colin! Thanks! The Powercab actually only puts out 1.5A, which is a bit low for my liking! By the time other DCC power requirements have been taken into account, like servo control, lighting, and as you point out, sound, it doesn't leave a lot of headroom left for adding additional locos! I've haven't used the controller enough to comment on how good it is, as I just want it to move trains back and forth for the time being! I'll more than likely end up putting it through its paces, and review it though - you know what I'm like by now! Lol! All the best, Ian.

[@collinsngauge5493]

@@iansngauge And you review great

[@iansngauge]

@@collinsngauge5493- Thanks Colin! That's very kind of you to say so!

[@fladder1]

Ian, just a question for clarification. The powercab doesn't happen to use Loconet? As those rj connectors it uses would suggest?

[@iansngauge]

Hi! No, I don't believe the Powercab supports LocoNet! The RJ connectors are just there to make it convenient to plug the cables in I guess! Cheers, Ian.

[@PaulSmith-pl7fo]

Hi Ian. Does the wife know you've stolen the placemats!?

[@iansngauge]

Haha! Luckily I'm single Paul, so I can have my pick of the tabletop accessories! :) All the best, Ian.