What NCE system to use?

[geepfan]

Hello everyone.

Stuck on a little hill here. I'm planning ahead for my 15x22 layout in Ohio. While I've been a "true to the name" DC fan for years. I think it s time to upgrade to DCC. At both clubs I have belonged to in the last 10 years they have had NCE on at least one part of the layout. I tryed the powercab pro about a year and a half ago and I loved it but since my engines where mostly DC (and the ones with DCC where all messed up in some way or another), I traded it for rolling stock.

Now I'm thinking about getting another powercab pro, a few digitrax throttle sockets (since there compatible) and maybe a knob NCE throttle or two (the ones that have stoppers and an arrow, I HATE the continuous spin ones as you have no idea how fast something is gonna go.). However is this enough for a 15x22 layout? I intend to have maybe 3 or 4 consists of 2 or 3 engines each running at max (mostly just one or 2 consists). and maybe about 15-16 other engines sitting idle on the layout. most are older athearns from the 80's but i do have alot of proto 2000's and atlas units. there no sound units.

Should I get a Powercab Pro set, and get some of the boosters. Or up the price tag and get one of the bigger NCE starter sets?

thanks for the help

geep_fan

[Ridgeline]

I use the PowerCab system on my little 5x9 setup. It will drive 6 locomotives (all w/ sound) at once and present no problems. I'm also a big fan of the thumbwheel NCE uses... My only regret with not getting the ProCab is the auto-reversing feature that I don't have...

[alcors1]

you could always use a lenz plug and play autoreverser www.lenz.com/products/modules/lk100.htm

I use a digitrax PM4, but this requires a digitrax system to program it, it is way to complex

but digitrax now as a $29 plug and play, that is DCC system indepentant
www.digitrax.com/prd_powerman_ar1.php

[diesel]

hey Geep Fan,

We just switched from CVP to NCE at our club. Even I wasn't so happy about it at first. For that size layout, I think the system for about $125 might not be enough. But with the 5 amp booster, you'd probably never have a problem. But, I'm answering this because:

Upon trying out the pro cab, the thing I liked about the speed control is the buttons. With a knob, I couldn't tell how much I was really advancing the speed. I thought I could, but with the Pro Cab, you can see what speed step you're on in the display. (from 1-126 speed steps) And the buttons can advance + or - 10 steps on the left and in single increments on the right side of the wheel. This was VERY helpful, because with a loco with sound, if I only wanted to advance 1 speed step, I knew what to do to make that happen. With the knob, I was always giving it too much. I only use the thumb wheel once in a while.