Extra Looonnngggg Weekend and still no trains!

Well this extra long weekend (thanks to Easter and Anzac Day converging) has been spent on a number of things but none of which includes trains. Thursday I received a phone call that my new garden shed had arrived at the hardware store. I would pick it up Saturday. So Friday was spent pulling the old one down and taking it to the tip. The reason for the new shed was that the base had rusted out in the old shed. Saturday was my youngest's second birthday so a family BBQ was the order of the day! Sunday was a day trip up around the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Monday was spent mowing and sorting out some house repairs. So that leaves Tuesday. Not sure what this will bring but definately not putting up a new shed as a lot of repair and preparation work needs to be done before that will occur.

However I did get some time earlier in the week to investigate the control panel LED problem. Might be the resistors are to high in value. I was fortunate enough late Saturday afternoon after the family BBQ to be able to duck into Jaycar and pick up some 300 ohm resistors to try out. Hopefully I will get time this week to test this theory out.

Coming up this weekend is the Brisbane Model Train Show so hopefully I will be able to get to it on Saturday.

I also read that Mr Mackie was able to sort out the spycam date/time issue we were having by applying a fix found by our mate PK. I will have to try this out sometime when I get a chance!

Electronics are fun, electronics are fun!

I must keep saying that to myself to keep me going!

This week I have spent trying to sort out the problem with the mini-panel not issuing its commands when being programmed with a Powercab. With the help from the NCE-DCC Yahoo Forum, in particular Mark Schutzer, I was able to 'force' the MP to start issuing commands. Very bizarre though. Basically I had to program it to issue Macro commands when an input was pressed. These macros were empty. However as I understand it from Mark's explanation, the Macro command forces the MP to issue the command over the CAB bus. I was then able to reprogram the inputs to what I wanted them to do and this worked. I finally had points being switched when I pressed a momentary 'push to make' switch on the control panel. Thanks Mark. However some bad news. Mark was not sure if my SPDT switches would work as the input would be continual and the MP doesn't work that way apparently (sorry Craig!). Further research also suggests this is the case. The MP manual needs to be updated with 'momentary toggle' rather than just 'toggle' in the doco!

Also along with the newly found out information that says I could only run ONE MP on my layout if I persist with using the Powercab only to run the layout (which is probably going to have to be the way at the moment due to the lack of moolah reasons) I am going to have to rethink my electronics setup. So I have unbolted the control panel on Saturday so that I can troubleshoot the switch feedback indicator LEDs problem (not lighting up!) and the Light and Signal SPDT switches. Somewhere in the mess of connections is the answer as to why nothing lights up.

Another minor problem (I hope) is that one of the connected point motors isn't throwing its switch. I can hear a faint tink but no movement. I will have to investigate whether its a wiring problem or try the circuit with a spare motor to determine if the problem is with the motor itself.

All this is holding up further modelling but unfortunately needs to be done. An educational experience for sure!

Unsure what the Easter Long weekend will bring modelling wise as it is already busy with second son's 2nd birthday, planned house maintenance (weather permiting) and catching up with some friends, but the following May Day Long Weekend is the AMRA Brisbane Model Train Show and the club (RMCQ) will be needing hands on deck to help. I will have to see if I can get a day pass from the missus!

Interesting times in deed!

Well this week I pretty much mucked around with the wiring and installation into the various decoders and mini-panel. I have wired up Points 1 and 2 to the DS64 and tested these with success via the Powercab's ACCY button. One Tick. As for the MRC functions, at this point in time I can only test if they power the control panel indicator LEDs for their relevant Light and Signal functions as I have yet to wire up the Lights and make the Signals! The MRC board looked as though it accepted its address and is accepting CV commands (the red LED on board blinks when this occurs) but the control panel LEDs are not getting power. Hmmmm more investigation.

As for the mini-panel, what a major pain in the butt as a result of insufficient information in the manual provided with the device. I was have been getting lockups when testing the functions which enter fine. Also the actual control panel input switches aren't responding and firing off the point motors. Further research on line indicated that if the MP is used with a Powercab only, that the CAB address must be '03'. I had changed this to a higher number to protect from incorrect CAB numbering. I also had the Powercab addressed as '03'. So possibly a conflict was occurring. So changed the Powercab to '04' and reset the MP to '03'. Also it would appear as though I can only have one additional CAB address on the layout as the Powercab only allows two CAB addresses, the Powercab inself and one other. In this case the mini panel. So I can only have one MP for the whole layout, unless I use a SB3a (?) to boost the CAB and power capacities. Unsure if I want to go down that path at the moment (due to moola reasons) so I might have to rethink my usage of the MP.

HOWEVER I still have a problem with testing the MP during setup. Only just this morning I was re-reading the draft Tech Manual available online and discovered a possible 'gotcha'. So I will see if the proposed fix will let the MP do what it is supposed to do at the 'test function' stage. At the moment I am getting a system lockup. Very infuriating!

I am also having a problem with the control panel LEDs for the switch motors microswitches. There appears to be power getting to the one microswitch I have installed so far for testing purposes, but no power coming from the microswitch to light up the relevant LED. I might have to test the circuit with one of the other uninstalled microswitches to see if it is a possible dodgy microswitch. The other thing that is a concern is that potentially the microswitch may be power incorrectly, namely the polarity direction might be wrong. I was referring to a wiring diagram for a microswitch and I think it might be opposite to the switch and LED wiring design that I had come up with. I had the wiring plan checked by someone but possible they were confused. I will have to check this and see whether a simple reversal of the input wiring will solve the problem or whether I will have to completely rewire the LEDs (hope not!).

The polarity reversal may also be the reason why the MRC decoder isn't powering the Light and Signal control panel indicator LEDs as I was led to believe that the MRC Common was positively oriented, but maybe not. A lot of this documentation is either loose on information or worded in a way that could be interpreted incorrectly.

So my time this week will be spent troubleshooting. Hopefully it isn't too onerous!

Anyway here are some pics of the electronics so far installed.

KH side of the layout electrics

Mini panel behind the spaghetti of wiring

DS64 and MRC 4 output decoder



Behind the KH control panel



Busy week with the schedule

This week I was able to knock over quite a bit on the electronics installation schedule. Most evenings this week were spent soldering up the various control panel switches and indicator LEDs to their respective lead wires. This was completed on Friday night. As I explained to the missus I have to do this at night when the boys are not around as I am working with very hot implements and chemicals (soldering iron, flux and solder). That explained away why I was not keeping her company in the evenings!

I had a problem with how to mount the MRC decoder board. It only comes with one mounting hole (one cross against it for lack of mounting options!) and this hole is pretty small in diameter (about 2-2.5mm, say about 3/32" in the alternate scale). I looked up Jaycar and they had some 2mm bolts. Great. So after Lachlan's swimming lesson on Saturday morning, we went down to Jaycar Aspley to get a pack. Looked everywhere, spoke to an assistant and got "Sorry we seam to be out of stock" Grrrrrrrrr. "Maybe try Bunnings, you would be surprised at what they have available". Yes I would be bloody surprised if Bunnings has M2 size bolts and nuts! So back we went to Bunnings, and yes no M2 bolts there either. Another grrrrrr. "C'mon Lachlan time to go home, I will have to think of another way to mount that board." So going back through Brendale I was approaching Brisbane Fasteners and they were open. Why not give them a go. "Do you have M2 x 20-25mm bolts, mate?", "Yep how many do you want?" Brilliant. "Ten bolts and nuts please". "We only have 20mm in zinc pan head, will they still do?", "Most certainly". "That will be $4.95". I know where I will be going in the future! That afternoon, I used one of the 2x20mm bolts to mount the board on a piece of perspex cut to size. I also used a PCB space to space the board away from the perspex to protect the underside connections. The rest of Saturday afternoon was spent mounting the DS64, MRC decoder and the Mini-Panel to the underside of the layout. Working underneath the layout is going to be a right royal pain in the @rse literally as I have buggered up my left hip by working sitting down on the hard concrete.

Lachlan and I also did some more work on his layout, namely putting down the static grass over the previously scattered grass.

Sunday afternoon was spent wiring in the DS64 and MRC decoder to the power/signal bus and bolting in the control panel. What a spaghetti mess the control panel wiring is. That will be this week's evening job, wiring in the control panel wiring into the mini-panel so that the mess of cables isn't a temptation for little hands to grab and pull away! One thing I discovered was that I am going to have to modify the points' microswitch boards to be a 'T' shape so that the smaller end where the microswitch is located will fit between the wiring of the point motors (I hadn't considered that bit when I first made these up). All part of the "fine tuning" of the electronics!

The only other thing done on Sunday afternoon was testing out the mini (spy) video camera on Lachlan's layout as a first go as my layout is a construction zone at the moment! It's resolution is pretty good. Go over to Beaver Springs to view the movie.

So as mentioned above the only thing I can see myself doing this week is a lot of wiring up and testing of the various circuits and functions. I will use a piece of thick polystyrene though as a cushion on the concrete as my hip is well and truely giving me gip. Interesting times ahead methinks!

Updated Articles that I have written - DCC converter added

Following on from last night's update I have placed a How-To about the DCC to DC converter under my "Articles that I have written" page.

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.