Then to get involved with Arduino's and the like - they're very addictive and I love it!
The first time I discovered those little devils was when I read a post written by Geoff Bunza here in MRH. It was his SMA12 blog post ( 17 Channel Configurable Multifunction $5 DCC Decoder For Servos) and soon after his other posts were found, very interesting stuff altogether.
This inspired me to build some things myself and ordering some Arduino's was done. They're not that expensive if you order them from China, you only have to wait a bit longer. After tinkering with those ready-built machines I decided it was time to create my own little beasts.
The first one was a '16 output switch machine' with FET's as outputs so one can connect the switches to the PCB w/o using relays and the like. The FET's are connected to the processor, an AtMega328P, via Opto Couplers and the PCB has also an OC for the DCC input. There's also a power part which can get the input power from DCC or from a separate power supply. The outputs have their own power input. This was isn't tested, yet.
After that one a '16 I/O LocoNet DCC' machine came, which has a LocoNet and a DCC connection (but only one at a time) and 16 'things' which can be set up as Input or Output, in groups of 4. Inputs are really only useful if one uses LocoNet which, at that time. I was checking out.
Then I read an article about power districts which got me thinking and came up with a DCC controller with 8 separate DCC outputs of about 1 to 1,5 Amp each, all on a single PCB. Boards are here, but testing hasn't been done yet.
A while later my son came along, asking about lighting for his coaches and vans. As we're both into N scale we needed something quite small. And small it became: 9.5 by 49.5 mm (0.36 x 1.94 inches) with 3 LED's, an AtMega and a simple DCC input on board. So we can program it as we like and control it via DCC. It also has 4 connections for extra lights (rear lighting). A bigger version (9,5 x 99,5 mm) is in the making. This one will have 6 LED's and some extra features. Still thinking about it.
My latest project involves a changed Geoff Bunza project: SMA20 Low Cost 17 Channel DCC Decoders. I changed the dimensions of the PCB a little (bit wider, bit shorter) and used SMD techniques. On the PCB one can solder SMD parts: the same parts as used by the Arduino Pro Mini and it has the same pinning as the Pro Mini. There's also a motor driver at the back and a DCC input and power circuitry is also available. Instead of using the SMD components one can put a Pro Mini on it. PCB's are expected to arrive next week.
I'll add some pictures (3D artists impressions) to this post to get an idea what everything looks like. Later some posts about each circuit (including schematics) will be done. It may take a while before I get to it as at the moment the track is being demolished due to the fact we have to move house sometime this year. We have a rented house and the whole neighborhood is being renovated. Our house is being demolished so we have to move.
This is it for now, as I'm going to walk the dog...
Willem from Rijen, the Netherlands.
Modelling the Wiesentalbahn, Zell im Wiesental, mid-century in N (that is, after we move to the new house).
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