NCE power cab

There are three possibilities here:
1. Purchase or make a longer 6-wire cable to reach the distance you want, comfortably.
2. Purchase another cab from NCE to act as a slave, together with a UTP (an extra panel to plug things in to.
3. Purchase the wireless add-on.

Of those, I would go with 2 (in fact, I already have!).
The one thing you cannot do with the Power Cab as master unit is unplug it and walk around to another panel to plug in again. The Power Cab is also the command station, so unplugging it will stop everything.
On the other hand, using a second "slave" controller allows you to unplug, walk around and plug back in, and any trains under its control will keep doing whatever the last instruction was before unplugging (i.e. continue at a constant speed if moving, or stay still with lights and/or sound - if fitted - still continuing uninterrupted).
Secondary controllers in the NCE range include a second Power Cab (using the 4-wire coiled cable), a Pro Cab, Cab 04, Cab 05 or Cab 06 (a choice of encoder, push-button, or potentiometer versions of some of those).
Of course, the cheapest solution is 1. the longer cable, but that could get a little annoying with it trailing all over the place.

 

Looks like we all posted almost simultaneously - at least, we were all composing the answers at the same time!

 

For those living in Sydney, see the importer of NCE

They will demonstrate the lot for you

The Model Railroad Craftsmen
Shop 2/ 64-70 Main Street, Blacktown New South Wales 2148 ·02 9831 8217

 

I found the proprietor of that establishment (a man called Gary) to be extremely rude and abrupt. I will be avoiding contact with him in the future unless absolutely necessary.

 

My original Power Cab purchase was from DCC Concepts. I got a tirade of abuse from the aforementioned Gary because I had bought from DCC Concepts (which purchase was made way back in 2005). Gary was not happy because, according to him, Richard Johnson (DCC Concepts) had bypassed him as the Australian agent and bought from the USA.

As a customer, I don't ask what the local retailer's supply chain is and I don't see how Gary could expect that of anyone. I bought from Richard because he was a BRMA member and advertised in our association's magazine: he was the only one I knew of supplying the NCE system when I had decided that was what I wanted.

Anyway, sorry for diverting from the original topic. If you can deal with The Model Railroad Craftsman, as your local dealer, then try him and see what you think. Otherwise, DCC Concepts in WA, and Brunel Hobbies and Train World here in Victoria all sell NCE.

Bear in mind that as the Australian agent, The Model Railroad Craftsman are also the people who do local repairs and warranty if needed. Brunel and Train World get their stocks through MRC.

On the other hand, I have had very pleasant, helpful and courteous service directly from NCE in America. At one stage my Cab 04P developed a fault with the potentiometer. I asked about what part is required as such things can be bought from local electronics suppliers. What I got from NCE was two replacment potentiometers in the mail with no charge to me at all. That's what I call service.

So: USA manufacturer score 10 out of 10 (they have been eqally helpful with other supplies and upgrades), 0 out of 10 for the Australian agent, in my books.

 

I agree about Richard's service (or lack thereof), but back in 2005 I didn't know this and he was the only one I could find with NCE equipment. Even so, to cop abuse for that is just not on.

And what if someone buys second-hand equipment? Why should they be subject to rudeness for that?

 

Yes. The US power supply has always been suitable for both their 110V and our 240V systems. The downside of using the adapter is it becomes a little bulky.

Even so, double check this as the specifications may have been subject to change.

The US power supplies I have seen also have the overload protection not present in at least some of the Australian equivalents I have seen. Even with that, it is always a good idea to have some sort of overload protection on each track supply as well, regardless of whose system you use.

If you want the warranty protection in Australia, I would recommend buying from one of the suppliers mentioned already , keeping in mind Kimbo's comments too. Like Kimbo, I have had excellent service direct from NCE and others in the US, and even when I have offered payment NCE have, on several occasions, sent items for free (things like the previously mentioned potentiometers, and also some of the earlier upgrade EEPROMs for the Power Cabs). I did pay for the most recent upgrade chips for version 1.65 on the Power Cabs (I have three of them - insurance for the unlikely event of one failing at exhibitions), but that was a very reasonable cost and also my choice for a non-essential upgrade.

If all of that sounds worrying, the nearest rival to NCE for equivalent DCC specifications and prices is Digitrax, also very popular here in Australia and, as I understand it, none of their stuff is upgradable by the user; it all has to be sent in for things to be repaired. Upgrades for the NCE Power Cabs and Power Pro systems can usually be done by the user.

Edit: Sorry. Kimbo posted while I was typing! If the US can supply the Australian plug/power supply, that's even better.