Anyone Use A NCE PowerCab With A Single O Scale Switcher ?

Works okay-as long as you don't use a smoke unit. I use one to test my freshly converted locos-if its to much then it will fall flat and reset the power cab.

I use an NCE Powercab, and in my Atlas SW1200RS Switcher is an 'HO' 1 Amp Tsunami decoder.

It ran just fine with the basic Powercab, but I will admit that these days I run my Powercab with an SB5a Booster, so with more than one or two locos running on what is still by US standards a pretty small layout (17ft x 8ft) there is no chance of overloading the controller.

 Here's a YouTube clip of it hauling a cut of cars down the siding on my (very unfinished) layout...

https://youtu.be/DwSLBjfbd2A

It is all about amps.    I just looked at the NCE website and the powercab is listed as a 2-amp system.

Therefore any loco drawing less than 2 amps can be run with that system regardless of scale or gauge.

You can check the loco power draw by running it on straight DC with an amp meter in line to measure the amps.   I usually do this on a set of rollers but you can do it upside down in cradle.    run it at 12 volts and that is the continuous draw.   Then run it at full speed and stop the wheels, that is stall.   I use a wood block against a wheel while holding the loco.    Watch what the meter peaks out at.   That is the maximum amps your loco will draw at stall before it stops and draws nothing.  

Now most new locos like the various Atlas and many others draw very low amperage.     I am running an older weaver RS11 with decoders rated at 1.5 amps and they are doing fine which means the loco is drawing less all the time.    The Atlas switchers draw less than 1.5 I think and some of the MTH locos draw less than 1.0 amps -- .7 or so on the few I have.

If your one loco is an old All Nation or a Weaver with the powerfull pittman motor (the single motor drives) they are going to draw over 2 amps under heavy load, so y ou might overload the powercab with one of those.

Thanks, everyone. I'm trying to set up my nephew with small, 2-rail switching layout.

Jim …. I don't have the engine yet. I'm buying a used Atlas SW switcher from a gentleman in a couple of weeks. I found THIS REVIEW of the similar MP15DC, which seems to confirm your thoughts. But, they list the draw when stalled  as 2.5A.

My nephew, just pushing 1 or 2 railcars around …. along with sound ….. I'm hoping would stay under 2A.

I'm willing to spend the money for a NCE PowerCab to set him up. Moving up to their 5A system is a lot more money. NCE does make a booster for the PowerCab, even that's another ~$200.

Now that is iffy I guess.    I'm thinking the 2 amp power cab has a breaker protection, so if there is a stall, the breaker will work if it goes over 2.5 amps.

I have a power cab but I don’t have a 2 rail switcher to try but I imagine the sound and the motor will be less than 2 amps. Smoke might be pushing it but my 3rd Rail cowl units draw about an amp with sound and motor under load. Those are 3 rail at a slightly higher voltage 

So let’s say a 3 rail loco at 18v draws 1.25 amps under load. That’s 22.5 watts. Drop that down to 16v and you’ll get 1.4 amps. Now that’s 3 rail but I imagine it’s gonna be pretty close to the same

I have a small switching layout and use the basic NCE old power cab. Most Atlas locos as well as Weaver 2 motor set ups run fine on it. I have an old single drive Weaver that will pull 3-4 amps which is too much for the system so it is a shelf relic.

Dick

On the basic Powercab there's an option to show an Amp meter so you can see what your loco is drawing. I used it with my Atlas switcher (see my previous post) & even at full speed it wasn't drawing more than about half an Amp. Recall I'm using a 1Amp Soundtraxx Tsunami decoder in it too, so that would 'give way' before the Powercab anyway!!

For what the OP is proposing I don't see any issues at all. I hope his nephew is appreciative of such a generous Uncle!

The Atlas single motor SW switchers use as much power, or more, than the standard two vertical can design.  Excellent design, runs well at low speed.  I would use caution powering with something less than 2 amps.  IMO, Mike CT. 

Atlas SW motor.  Note the large brass flywheels.