DCC-EX on the Mike Rowe layout

One of my aims when originally building the layout back in 2007, was to incorporate a high-level of automation, as the plan was to take the layout to train-shows where it could run whilst I concentrated on my On30 'Owen Firty Timber Co' layout.

When I came across DCC-EX (www.dcc-ex.com) in 2023 and read about it's automation facilities, it was a 'no brainer' to get out my stagnating tram micro-layout and set about rebuilding it. This involved stripping off all of the old wiring and assorted electronics, then re-wiring it for DCC.

I had acquired an Arduino Mega 2560 R3 processor board, Arduino motor-shield (which provides DCC drive power), and a MakerFabs wifi shield. Following the excellent instructions on the DCC-EX web-site, I soon had them hooked up and running in emulation mode (no layout connected). This convinced me that this was the right track (no pun intended).

When originally built, the rails were common negative, with the overhead wires positive. Power was supplied to one or the other of two trams via a PICAXE microprocessor, controlling two latching-relays. This was arranged so that only one of the two track loops was 'live' at any one time. Two IR sensors provided the PICAXE with a signal when the sensor 'saw' a passing tram and operated the relays appropriately. One disadvantage was that power was either 'ON' or 'OFF', resulting in trams running at either full-speed or stopped. This was one of the matters which DCC could resolve, with it's ability to simulate momentum.

One other feature which DCC-EX handles admirably is that of operating signals, either mechanical or colour-light. This convinced me that it could be fun adding colour-light signals to the Museum layout. So I acquired very-tiny pre-wired red and green LEDs from AliExpress and started building my own signal units. When I say 'very tiny', I mean that they are much smaller than a pin-head, but have excellent light output.

Another feature of DCC-EX is the ability to manage servos, which can be very-useful in an automation scenario - more of this when I get my plans organised!

DCC-EX provides an excellent automation language which beginners should find easy to manage. As a retired software-developer I had very-little difficulty building the requisite solution for my layout.

In a future post, I will discuss a few trials with my DCC-EX experiments.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

History of the layout

Image
Hannover Tram by Kato  I built this layout around 2007, as a change from my (then current) On30 obsession. It was built from the start to use live overhead wiring, thus both rails of the track are common electrically. Control was exercised by a PICAXE microprocessor which controlled two latching relays, each responsible for one tram on it's loop. All wiring and electronics was accommodated under the layout in a 40mm deep base. The layout also utilised a Dreamplayer sound board which provided the tram bells as required. The underside of the original layout as described above. I took this micro-layout to several train shows, where it sparked a lot of interest, being such a change from large train layouts. In 2023, having long-since sold all of my On30 gear, I decided to rebuild the museum layout, using the recently-discovered and impressive DCC-EX project (see www.dcc-ex.com). I had a long history with DCC, primarily with Digitrax and with a large number of 3rd-party add-on LocoNe...
Read more

Mike Rowe Tramway Museum introduction

Image
 The Mike Rowe Tramway Museum is a 500mm x 500mm 'micro' (hence the name) layout, featuring several assorted trams (or streetcars in American parlance). The HO scale layout features two interleaved loops, with one tram running on each loop. One tram remains at a designated stop whilst the other runs around it's loop. When the loop run is completed, it stops and the other tram leaves for a run around it's loop. All of this action, along with color-light signaling is managed by an Arduino Mega 2560 R3 processor, with an  Arduino Motor-Shield and a wi-fi shield. This setup runs DCC-EX software in Automation mode. The Arduino units may be seen inside the Museum building below, with the roof removed. DCC-EX is a free package, providing genuine DCC functionality at a very-affordable price. The above-described package can be put together for less than NZ$80.00, without the non-essential wi-fi shield.
Read more

Tram Fleet - 2 - Melbourne M-Class Tram

Image
 This was my first tram acquistion, being an Australian-sourced kitset which I built in 2007. It is beginning to show it's age, but I am reluctant to refurbish it as I do not wish to lose the neat decals. It was originally powered by straight DC, but has now been converted to DCC using a LaisDCC decoder. I have added interior lights, operated from the decoder's extra function. When I started converting the layout to DCC, I had abandoned this tram as it had stopped running some years ago. However, a few weeks ago I dismantled it and, after some cleaning, found the motor still worked as well as it ever had done. It now runs superbly. Melbourne M-Class Tram as restored & operated at Bendigo Tramways Bendigo M-Class
Read more