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TCS UWT-50 and Thumb Switches Journals/Blogs
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Super User 115 posts John Socha-Leialoha johnsocha Super User 115 posts
John Socha-Leialoha johnsocha

I'll have an update this weekend about the TCS UWT-50 status (still having injection molding issues). But now I'd like to talk about the use of thumb switches. But, before we get into this, I'd like to note that I'm a volunteer on the project--although they do feed us when we visit TCS .

Switches.jpg 

We're currently implementing the behavior in the main "drive" window. Since seeing the Proto Throttle, my goal has been to incorporate a poor-man's version of braking using these thumb switches. These thumb switches have four positions: neutral, pushed "up", pushed "down" and pushed "in." Here are some different options we've come up with how that would work:

  1. Thumb down sends an apply brake function key. Thumb release (back to neutral) sends a brake release function.
  2. Each thumb down sends a brake increase function. Each thumb up sends break decrease function
  3. Each thumb down sends a brake increase function. Thumb up sends brake release function
  4. Holding thumb down will slowly increase the brakes (sending brake increase functions). Thumb up will send the brake release function.

I have two questions. First, any thoughts on these options?

Second, how do you have braking set up in your decoders, assuming you have high momentum? I know there are no standards on how braking is implemented, so looking to get input from others.

Thanks,
  -- John

John Socha-Leialoha
My MRH Blog Index
​blog: http://trains.socha.com/
​YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/JohnSL
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jeffshultz MRH Staff 7,995 posts
jeffshultz

Sounds like...

...they are designed for the TCS WOWSound decoder's stepped braking function. Which makes sense.

I hope they will be configurable for those of use who use ESU or SoundTraxx decoders - for instance, the on and off functions on the Tsunami2 are the same function, and that function can also be switched, by using a separate function, between independent and train brakes. And then there are the separate dynamics.

So I'd use it this way:

Up: Train/Ind brake on-off
Down: Dynamics on/off
In: switch between train/ind brake.

I wouldn't want neutral to do anything because I would want to be able to use dynamics and the train brake at the same time.

I'm still working on the perfect brake numbers, but generally train braking does more than independents, dynamics are, by SoundTraxx design, less - and don't work under a certain speed.

orange70.jpg
Jeff Shultz - MRH Technical Assistant
DCC Features Matrix/My blog index
Modeling a fictional GWI shortline combining three separate areas into one freelance-ish railroad.
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jeffshultz MRH Staff 7,995 posts
jeffshultz

Oh....

...and then I want to know how to set up the same behavior on my UWT-100.

orange70.jpg
Jeff Shultz - MRH Technical Assistant
DCC Features Matrix/My blog index
Modeling a fictional GWI shortline combining three separate areas into one freelance-ish railroad.
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John Socha-Leialoha johnsocha Super User 115 posts
John Socha-Leialoha johnsocha

RE: Sounds like...

Our goal is to allow this to work with as many types of decoders as possible. But that's where things become a challenge--understanding the different options out there. I can get all the answers I need from TCS, which I will. But I don't have the same easy access to experts for ESU and SoundTraxx. I guess I could try contacting those companies, but thought I'd ask here first.

Reading the ESU documentation, it looks like they support both dynamic and independent brakes, both of which decelerate the train when turned on.

Likewise, it look like Tsunami decoders support F4 for dynamic brakes and F11 for train brakes. I found a comment about how F11, when on, does apply the brakes. But I can't tell if F4 impacts the speed or just the sounds (I have D&RGW HOn3 locos, so no dynamic brakes).

So it seems we can support Thumb down to turn on breaks and Thumb up (or neutral) to release the brakes on ESU and SoundTraxx decoders. 

But I've also realized some people might want to map manual notching to one of the two thumb switches.

John Socha-Leialoha
My MRH Blog Index
​blog: http://trains.socha.com/
​YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/JohnSL
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Brent Ciccone Brentglen MRH Author 985 posts
Brent Ciccone Brentglen

Emergency Brake

I would like thumbs down to apply brakes, thumb up to release, and press in for emergency stop.

Brent Ciccone

Calgary
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