Electronics week

This week spare time was spent working on how I was going to power and activate the panel LEDs which indicate the points' throw direction. I came up with my idea for a point motor microswitch which involved a microswitch, screw block, styrene, some cable and super glue.

Now the interesting bit, how to power this so that it is mechanically latched so that when the power is off it 'remembers' the direction of the points. I spoke to my mate Craig who utilised a DCC to DC 12V circuit to power his staff machines. I improved on the design as I like things to be neat (sorry Craig). I will mount it on the rear of the control panel so that everything needed to run the system is readily at hand.

I also spent some time this arvo and evening sorting out the mounting boards for the DS64, Mini-panel and the MRC accessory decoder. These boards are made from perspex for rigidity and drillability. I considered MDF or ply but thought these might warp in the humidity we get in Brisbane, so decided on perspex. I could have used styrene but was saving this for other projects. All mounted now except for the MRC decoder as the mounting hole (only one which is a pain, two would have been better!) is only 2.5mm or 3/32" in diameter. Wouldn't you know it, I don't actually have a bolt and nut that small! I will have to check out the hardware stores this week.

So this week I hope to fix the panel LEDs into place (trying hot glue first else super glue), solder the resistors into place on the positive legs of the LEDs, daisy chain solder the negative legs of the LEDs together and connect to the power supply/DCC-DC converter. If time permits, I might solder the speaker wire I am using for the LED +ve activations ready for connection to the microswitches once these have been fixed/glued into place. Other things to do is install the DS64, mini-panel and MRC decoder to the underside of the layout and install the control panel. Then the fun begins of connecting up all the wires between the control panel and the various support electronics. Then testing all functions work as planned.

This afternoon for a little while I helped Lachlan with a couple of things on his layout. He painted in the lake and glued down some grass scatter. Once this is dry we will improve it with some static grass.

Sounds like a busy week. Hopefully I get to do some of it but that will depend on the evenings being free. At the moment the little fella (Matthew) is, we think, cutting another molar, so really fun times ahead this week or two!!!  

Installation of the DCC 'smarts' commenced

This week I started planning the DCC 'smarts' and the control panel installation. I didn't think I was going to get much done this weekend but the weather (read rain) prevented me from doing any yard and garden work on both days (Oh dear, what a shame!).

Saturday morning I went to Jaycar to get some bits and pieces for the electronics. Saturday arvo I was able to spend some time in the shed planning where to fit the NCE Mini Panel, Digitrax DS64 and MRC 4-output decoder, as well as the location of the control panel for the Kensington Hill side of the layout. Saturday night I spent wiring/soldering up the common wire across the control panel switches.

Sunday arvo I spent trying to affix the DS64 to the underside of the layout. I was having some problems with bolt lengths (long story so don't ask) so I might have to revisit how I am going to attach the device. I was also able to cut down some Perspex, drill out the mounting holes, and mount the mini-panel (with PCB spacers) onto it as I didn't want to directly mount the MP due to the circuit board not being flush on the rear side. The Perspex will also provide some protection.

This week I am hoping to continue wiring/soldering the switch specific wires ready for connection to the mini-panel inputs. A bit more research on the 'DCC sourced power supply' for the points' microswitches power (to be used as the control panel indicators) and how to wire them up to the microswitches to power the LEDs. I will borrow the design from my friend Mr Mackie and customise to suit whatever number of LEDs I intend to power from the one 'supply'. I might need a few! I might also get around to mounting the MRC decoder onto Perspex as well and install under the layout ready for connecting up the signals and lights at a later date. If I get time, I will also try to connect up the points to the DS64 and give them a test.

Nothing done on Lachlan's layout this weekend.

Tinkerings this week

I was able to get a spare 30 minutes on Tuesday night to prove if a styrene cone could be made for the grass machine. I cut out a paper template and then transferred it to 0.5mm thick styrene. I thought thinner might crimp to easily and any thicker might not have folded. The 0.5mm (.020") worked a treat. I held the two edges together with some strip and some magic tape while the glue set. I tested it on Wednesday night. The Woodland Scenics static grass worked OK but clumped. On Sunday I used the Noch grass and it worked a lot better through the smaller aperture.

Saturday was Club day. I showed off the grass machine to a few of the guys and all were impressed. I finally returned the Noch GrasMaster to PK. Thanks for the extended loan! I also received by latest order from MB Klein via PK, which consisted of mostly electronics to start on the layout.

Some time was spent on Lachlan's layout Saturday arvo after the Club as I also received some stuff for his layout. We put some station crew and passengers on the station and placed grit around the platforms. Sunday afternoon I replaced the dodgy point on Lachlan's layout with a Peco medium radius. This changed the alignment of the siding slightly.

I was able to get around to the control panel for the Kensington Hill signal box. Another How-To will follow about how I designed this, but today's effort basically involved cutting down some perspex sheeting and contact gluing the transparency onto the perspex. Once this sets I can start the drilling of the switch placement holes and the LED indicator holes. Once these are in place I can then progress to wiring up the panel to the NCE mini-panel, the Digitrax DS64, the MRC accessory decoder, signals, lighting and off course the point-motors. Busy times ahead!


Photo of the control panel



A cone is born!

I am still waiting for MRH to advise whether they have accepted my article for publication but they are more than likely busy with preparing March's edition. As such I still can't advise to much more on my grass machine. However I have been working on making a cone attachment to reduce the aperture size of the screen end. I was able to do this throught the week with a cardboard trial version. I was intending to make one out of thin styrene this weekend but couldn't get time alone to do it. So maybe this week.

I had a reply from Model Rectifier Corporation wrt their 4 output accessory decoder and I am suitably informed. Can't wait to get one to investigate (play?) further.

The only other thing done over the weekend was on Lachlan's layout. Some more grassing using my machine. We also glued down some of his buildings. Yet to take photos and update his blog.

MRH Mag dialogue

This week I spent most of my free time compiling the how-to article about the grass machine. I approached Model Railway Hobbyist Magazine (www.mrhmag.com) and they were interested in it. I am waiting on the outcome of the submission so until I know whether it has been accepted or not, I will refrain from publishing my article on this blog .

I also spent the remainder of my free time researching various DCC products around accessory control. I have made the decision to have Illavearf under 100% DCC control. Currently I could switch it between DC and DCC so that I could run older or non-DCCed locos, but the time has come to start the electrics around point, lighting and signal control. I was originally thinking of running a separate DC based "control" circuit so that whether I was running DC or DCC, the controls would still work. Further consideration and some long navel gazing brought me around to the decision to make DCC the preferred control medium. As most new layouts seem to be heading down the DCC only path I may as well jump onto the bandwagon. As I also have Lachlan's DC layout I can use this to run any older DC locos until converted to DCC if they are able to.

So my friend Mr Mackie has used the NCE mini-panel and Digitrax DS64 accessory decoder very successfully, so I will go down this path as well. However this doesn't solve the problem of how to control non-point accessories such as signals, lighting, etc. Not much is out there but I stumbled on the MRC 4 output accessory decoder which allows signals and lighting via a latching circuit, point motor control if required, and crossing flashing lights (or anything requiring a flashing circuit). The manual on this device is OK but I wanted more info, so I have placed a posting on the MRC Yahoo Forum page and I am awaiting an answer. In the meantime I have placed an order for one of these, a NCE mini-panel, a Digitrax DS64, and various types of switches to be installed on the mimic boards.

All a good learning curve that I will attempt to describe and provide my experiences with from within this blog.

Activity to date

I must firstly apologise for not having updated the blog of late. Busy doing other things and then had a problem accessing the blog!

Over the last couple of weeks my focus has been on the development, manufacture and testing of my own static grass application device. I had some issues with the electronic circuitry for the 'ON' indicator LED, but with the help of my mates PK and Mr Mackie I was able to sort it out and it tested all ok on the weekend (hooray!). I have decided to withhold a photo at this point in time as I am in the process of writing an article for publication and a photo might preempt someone else in doing something similar. My version is nothing like the German hand grenade design of similar Noch facsimilies! I will however put the How-To article up on this blog in the not to distant future.

I have also been spending some time on Lachlan's Beaver Springs layout so pop on over to it to see what has been happening on that layout.

As for Illavearf, it has been waiting for awhile for my return. That occurred over the weekend when I was able to do some more around the station. The car park, foot paths and additional grassed areas (using my new applicator!) were done. I can now put the footpath fencing in place then move onto something else.

Articles that I have written updated

I have updated this page with some more content. Feel free to click on over.