Comparing 5 Amp DCC Sets
These are the Mainstay of Model Railroading
- Five Amp sets have enough power for many layouts.
They can also be expanded with boosters. One club I belong to, in
its early days of DCC, was running 16 HO locos on the mainline during
an open house when the single 5 amp Super Chief shut down.
- They are safe for properly wired HO or smaller layouts
- They provide enough oomph for layouts up to O.
- Look for the Check Mark
,
that’s Mr. DCC’s way of showing which set has an advantage,
either in his opinion or demonstrably. The total number of check
marks is shown for each set.
| Manufacturer | Lenz | Digitrax | NCE | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Set 090 | Set 100 | Super Empire Builder | Super Chief | Power House Pro |
| Amps (1) | 5 amps | 5 amps | 5 amps | ||
| Amp Meter |
No | No | No | ||
| Photo |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Number of Checks
|
11 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 12 |
| Retail Price | $290.00 | $349.00 | $349.99 | $449.99 | $499.99 |
| Power Supply USA | MF615 | MF615 | MF615 | ||
| Loco Addresses | 1 to 9999 | 1 to 9000 + | 0 to 9999 |
||
| Run a Loco without a decoder | Yes |
Yes, except in Germany | No | ||
| Max. # of Throttles | 31 | 22 | 120 |
63 | |
| Throttles Supported | XpressNET | LocoNet |
CabBus | ||
| Computer Interface | LI101F or LIUSB | MS100 or LocoBufferUSB | Included |
||
| Loco Roster * | 128 2-digit + 128 4- digit | 22 | 120 | 250 |
|
| MU Capabilities Command Station | 2 locos | Limited by Loco
Roster |
Limited by Loco Roster |
||
| Number of Turnouts | 999 | 1024 |
999 | 999 | |
| Turnout Routes | 0 | 0 | 32 | 200 |
|
| Software Upgrades | User |
Factory | User |
||
| Warranty | 10 Years |
1 Year | 1 Year | ||
| Speed Steps | 14, 28, 128 | 14, 28, 128 | 14, 28, 128 | ||
| Internal Battery | No |
No |
Yes | Yes | |
| NMRA Compliance | NMRA Conformance Warrant |
Not Tested | NMRA Conformance Warrant Expired | ||
| Layout Feedback | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Track Volts | 11 to 22, 1/2 volt
steps |
N=12, HO=15, O/G=18 | 9.5 to 18 volts | ||
| Track Volt Adjust | Throttle |
Front Panel Switch | Internal knob | ||
| Volt Meter | No | No | No | ||
| Overload Protection | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Short Protection | Keystroke Reset | Beep with Auto
Reset |
Auto Reset | ||
| Fast Clock | No | Yes |
Yes |
||
| Bi-Directional Communications | NMRA Standard | Digitrax Transponding | Coming Soon | ||
| Common Rail Wiring | Yes |
Optional - Factory Order | Yes |
||
| Direct Home Wiring | Yes |
Optional - Factory Order | Yes |
||
| Programming | Read & Write
|
Write Only | Read & Write |
Read & Write | |
| Resister Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| One-Step to Set Address | Yes |
No | Yes |
||
| Bit Programming | No | Yes |
No | No | |
| Programming on Main | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Page Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Direct Mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Throttle Included | Single Knob LH090 | Push Button LH100 | Dual Knob & Push Button DT400 |
Knob & Push Button ProCab | |
| Functions Supported | LH090 F0 - F8 |
LH100 F0 - F12 |
DT400: F0 - F12 |
ProCab F0 - F28 |
|
| Functions Single Button Press |
LH090: F0 - F8 |
LH100: F0 - F8 |
DT400: F0 - F12 |
ProCab F0 - F9 |
|
| Momentary Functions | As set by LH100 | Set up Individual Locos for
Any or All |
Any or All Locos the Same | F2 "horn" + any or all - All locos the same | |
Wireless Options
| Manufacturer | Lenz | Digitrax | NCE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infrared Upgrade | Not Available | Add UR90 Receiver
|
Not Available | |
| Radio Upgrade - Minimum Radio Throttle Shown | XPA plus your cordless telephone. LA152 and XD make the connection easier |
UT4R throttle plus
UR91 receiver throttle upgrade available at factory |
Cab04pr Throttle Plus RB01 Receiver. Throttle Upgrade Available at Factory | |
| Radio Set & Amps (1) | Not Available as a Set, upgrade as above only. |
Radio Equipped Super Empire Builder - 5 amps | Radio Equipped
Super Chief - 5 amps |
Power House Pro Radio - 5 amps |
| Photo | NA |  |
|
Not Available |
| Retail Price | NA | $549.99 | $639.99 | $729.95 |
Compare Other DCC Set Options:
NOTE: (1) The number of locos which may be RUNNING at any given time is limited by the Track Current capability of the boosters supplying the power district where they are operating. The Loco roster is the maximum number of different loco addresses which the command station will remember at one time. When you DISPATCH a loco, you remove it from this memory. When you SELECT a loco, you add it to this memory.
NOTE: (2) This data is assembled from many sources and is as accurate as I can make it. Please report any inaccuracies. Much of this data is NOT published by the manufacturers and had to come from personal experience. Litchfield Station will not be liable for errors or omissions.