FAQ:Difference between NCE Pro Cab and Power Cab
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While the Pro Cab and Power Cab are very similar in appearance, they are not the same. Often, they are mistakenly referred to by the wrong name.
Pro Cab vs Power Cab
Both are throttles. Only one, the Power Cab, has both the command station and booster built in.
Either throttle can be used on an NCE system, the Power Cab will operate as a throttle when used with a command station.
Pro Cab
The Pro Cab is a full feature Cab or Throttle only. It requires connection through NCE's Cab Bus to a command station to operate. It is part of the Power Pro starter set, or can be purchased separately.
The Pro Cab came as part of NCE's original product offering, the Power House Pro Starter Set. NCE originally offered the product to Wangrow to replace their SystemOne DCC system, which Wangrow turned down. This is why it is very similar in appearance to a SystemOne, and even shipped with SystemOne manuals until NCE branded manuals became available.
The Pro Cab can be used as an additional throttle in combination with a Power Cab.
Power Cab
The Power Cab is a complete starter set in one package. Everything needed is contained within the handheld throttle. It comes with two cables, a four wire cable if the Power Cab is to be used as a throttle connecting to the command station via the Cab Bus, the other (heavier) six wire cable enables it to function as DCC system.
In normal use the Power Cab functions as a cab, a command station and a booster, using the heavier six wire cable and the Power Cab Panel. The Power Cab automatically defaults to Cab Bus address 2, which is reserved for the Master Cab. Addresses 3 – 5 are available for additional cabs.
The Power Cab was introduced later, as a competitor to Digitrax's Zephyr starter set. Internally it uses a modified version of the Power House command station's firmware.
When a Power Cab is connected to the Cab Bus using the four wire cable, it functions as a Pro Cab throttle, using Cab Bus addresses 3 – 5.
Only one command station/booster can be connected to the layout.
