Loving this. I'm new, old, amd excited to watch more of your videos. Subbed.
@gsam6604Ай бұрын
Hi Julian, this is fantastic, this is exactly what I was looking for. Can you please let me know where I can get the DCC controller board that you have shown in the video (PIC/16F684). Also where can I get a reference to all of the commands for programming the board. Thanks in advance.
@juliancoles1825Ай бұрын
Hello gsam, glad you like it! I suggest you email me with more details of what you want to achieve and we can take it from there. [email protected]
@MrLosttheplot2 ай бұрын
amazing
@petr59714 ай бұрын
Perfect. Congratulations on the idea. I'm amazed. 👍
@user-rp5uu4td7y5 ай бұрын
Very cool video learned a lot. I have a question what size is your board?
@juliancoles18255 ай бұрын
Glad you liked it. The board is 180 x 65mm
@odalesaylor6 ай бұрын
Fascinating.
@adolforosado6 ай бұрын
Simple and elegant!
@wasylbakowsky51996 ай бұрын
NCC is SO COOL!
@FreizeitBiker7 ай бұрын
Hi. I wonder how you avoid a short circuit when using the tracks in the middle? On my Layout it doesnt work. Best regards.
@juliancoles18257 ай бұрын
I don't understand your question. I describe how to avoid the reverse loop short circuit at 10.40.
@FreizeitBiker7 ай бұрын
@@juliancoles1825 oh sorry. I missed it. Will have a Look at it again. Thank you.
@PChisholm9 ай бұрын
Good afternoon Julian I liked your set up when you showed on MERG a few months ago You are the only person I have encountered, so far, still running 3 rail, so I wondered if you might help me I found some 3 rail track with some meccano I bought I thought I'd better get some engines to run on it I got a bit carried away and now have about 5 train sets (3 with controllers), a transformer, two boxes of track (including points), one of accessories and an overdose of turntables I'm just going through what I have (lots of 1st radius, and very little 2nd, so far) and I've discovered that some are missing fishplates and wondered if peco ones would work, or do I need special ones? Some tabs that join the centre rail are also missing, do you have a solution for this? I 'm thinking to clean everything with IPA, but then I wondered if the metal coatings might suffer? I'm also in France, just to add a little complication. That will do for now, any help you can offer will be much appreciated Paul
Your reverse loop circuit or - to be precise - its short part of track has got a flaw: What if e.g. two illuminated coaches or a relatively long locomotive bridge it electically on both ends? As far as I know the Fleischmann point motors are specified with only 250 mA (publ. "Fleischmann Tips"), the Fleischmann power packs (and similar devices from other OEMs, they all originate(d) from the Bühler company in Germany) deliver 14 V AC for accessories, there exists a small one with offers 500 mA and a more powerful version with 1 A as maximum current. Even the small power pack must be able to move two point motors at the same time because many model railroaders do so if the two turnouts connect parallel tracks. The more serious flaw will occur when your layout gets older and fishplates connecting the tracks get widened and become more resistive for electricity. The concept of accessory decoders embedded under or in a turnout I have seen at several track systems even for the N gauge, typically the movement of the fishplates is limited by additional mechanical connectors between the balast parts and provide a mecanically more stable connection between the tracks. Märklin goes with its C-track range (gauge H0) even further and does not have any fishplates but electical contacts instead and mechanical connectors in the balast part of its C-track. Fleischmann Profi tracks just rely on its fishplates. Your Fleischmann trains run smoothly, but what if they derail and short the rails? Or when you leave accidentially a tool on the tracks shorting them while activating your central unit? Especially the small gauges are sensitive to large currents. Wheels and their power collection could catch serious damages if the central unit does not turn off its 3,5 A oder 5 A immediately. But if your tracks become more resistant over time this will not happen. I think it is more safe to use a separate pair of wires to feed the tracks and the accessory decoders. It avoids to pull the currents throwing one or two turnouts through the relatively restive tracks and ensures a reliable short circuit protection by your central unit or its boosters.
@juliancoles182510 ай бұрын
Yes, the reverse loop track has to be longer than all the train's pickups. But that is true for this layout. I have two layouts using the track as the DCC bus - the other one (00 gauge) has 35 points and has always worked correctly. I am a big fan of the simplicity of using the track as the DCC bus and it has always worked for me. Short circuits have always tripped the booster (Z21 or Roco Multimaus). My points always switch correctly, as do the uncouplers.
@LarsPW10 ай бұрын
@@juliancoles1825 I think that the reverse loop electronics should simply turn off the tracks it feeds in a case of being bridged on both ends. Illuminated coaches could get equipped with stay alive capacitors and a large locomotive can rely on its front wheels to proceed. Only a consist with more than two locos and one loco in the middle feeded by the reverse loop electronics alone will not work.
@barryjgalbraith263510 ай бұрын
I CAN say this is amazing even though I can’t understand a word of what you are talking about Julian😂
@barryjgalbraith263510 ай бұрын
Absolutely brilliant!
@TinShackVideos11 ай бұрын
Brilliant! This gives me an idea of chipping my engines with the digital chips from my old SCX slot cars and be able to run multiple trains with the pistol grip controllers.???????
@GeoffYoung-hx9on Жыл бұрын
Hi, couldn't help but notice a rail-joiner next to a point isn't sat right on the point-side?, the instance of which can be found on the outside track at mins & secs 09:30-09:40 😊
@juliancoles182510 ай бұрын
You are correct! Strangely the trains runs over the joint without derailing.
@KatoOnTheTrack1 Жыл бұрын
Beautiful. The complete room
@MarkWilkinson-ps9cn Жыл бұрын
Hi Julian. I’ve been thinking of starting an N gauge set for so long and now seems to be the right time for me. I stumbled across your wireless plan video this evening and I must say, you are a genius! I was so excited to see what you were doing, but then soon realised that for me and my lack of experience, I soon became lost and alas, think I’ll have to stick with the traditional DCC set up, with point motors and endless wiring! Thank you for sharing 👍
@Metal-Possum Жыл бұрын
I need to go one further and implement this stuff into my O Gauge clockwork trains :P
@bugler75 Жыл бұрын
Very inspiring Sir. I’ve literally just started my first layout (N Gauge) which isn’t DCC. This is my aim for the future though. Subscribed. Ian
@leeedsonetwo Жыл бұрын
Did not know that you could do this type of stuff, thanks for sharing
@garyminion9610 Жыл бұрын
Very cleverly done.
@darga7281 Жыл бұрын
Great video. What model number are those 220uf capacitors in your keep alive?
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
Kemet 220uF 16V T491D227K016AT
@silverfaux8545 Жыл бұрын
Genius! This makes tonnes of sense. Are you manufacturing the PCBs for sale to the public? The overall simplicty is fantastic!
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
Pleased you liked the layout. No I don't sell anything. I can provide the PCB designs to anyone who wants them, but with the waring that they are surface mount PCBs and quite difficult to build.
@ngaugefouroaksstreetstatio6932 Жыл бұрын
Very good Julian, runs beautifully.
@peterworland5713 Жыл бұрын
Hi Julian I have just come across your video of your three rail 00 Hornby system, congratulations on such an excellent job. My interest was kindled because I still have my old Hornby 00 system from the 50s and have been considering passing it over to my great grandson. I am still at the research stage on the possibility of converting it to DCC. But I seem to remember that one of the motor brushes is fed via the wheels and chassis which obviously would not be acceptable for a DCC system. I wonder if you could advise me as to how you solved this problem. Does anyone supply insulating brush holders. I have three locos and a good selection of track and rolling stock so it would be a great shame not to bring it all back into use again. There seem to be plnety of DCC decoders on the market and I think there should be space inside the locos to accommodate one of the smaller samples. I have a 4MT 2-6-4 Tank, a 06-2 Tank and a Duchess of Atholl. I hope you can offer some advice to an 84 year old retired engineer.
Hello, I love this layout design, would you be able to link a picture or the track setup so I can use it for inspiration? Starting work on my own n scale layout and this would help tremendously!
@peterheath9002 Жыл бұрын
very impressive, Julián. good to see you!
@NitroStarGT Жыл бұрын
Wow. Speechless. 👌 👏 👍💪💥😲
@richardlincoln886 Жыл бұрын
Perfect - at some point you'd think this simplicity/modularity was the original vision for DCC, to simplify the block based DC setups but somewhere - or perhaps due to scale - that vision was lost.
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
Richard: what surprises me is that nobody else has adopted this no-wiring approach.
@stuartjones2131 Жыл бұрын
As a recent return-er to the n guage scene after a long break I've just discovered the potential wondererous miracle that is dcc. Sorry to be so nieve but what are tbd MERG journals and where can I find then? Many thanks, love your layout BTW its brilliant. Thanks for all the great info
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
Stuart: Glad you like the layout. MERG is the Model Electronic Railway Group club which you can easily join, and then access all their Journals and loads of other good stuff. They also sell kits for electronic gadgets for model railway control - including of course things for DCC. Look them up on the web.
@stuartjones2131 Жыл бұрын
Thankyou I'll look that up and Look forward to seeing what you upload in the future. Take care 🙂
@jameswolf195 Жыл бұрын
Just found this great video. Thanks for posting.
@musoseven8218 Жыл бұрын
A really interesting project👍✌️😊 With such simplified wiring (no BUS) for DCC, is there ever voltage drop or runaways? Or is the layout too compact for such (plus it's tail chaser style)?🤔🤔
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
Glad you found the project interesting. Certainly no runaways. On may actual layout (seen in the background and see earlier video) there may be voltage drops but not enough to affect operations as all locos have decoders with back BEMF. When an uncoupler is operated the voltage drops by a volt - but this causes no noticeable effect elsewhere. My other layout - much larger and seen on an earlier video - has no problems with the track as DCC. I take care to ensure that all rail joints are sound.
@simonbaxter8001 Жыл бұрын
Would have been more user friendly if the PIC had USB and the 'script' wasn't hardcoded into the PIC source code. You could just then download the script from a nice PC train automation editor application and then downloaded into the PIC via USB. At which point the script would be 'interpreted' by the main code on the PIC and do the calls to each function as you do in this video. Very nice project though.
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
Simon: Thanks for you interesting comment. That's a bit too computer nerdy for me - I'm a simple soul. But if you would like to build such a system, I would be delighted. Anyway glad you liked the project.
@johnjeanb Жыл бұрын
Hi Julian. I fail to see how the Toti is involved in your program to report the train has reached its destination. Also the Toti seems to answer-back directly on the track signal (DCC?). Is this true?
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
John: In the example I give here no TOTIs are involved. That is to make it easier to understand the concept. In the next part - which will be published in a couple of weeks - I add TOTIs to the shuttle. And yes, the TOTI does indeed 'answer back directly on the track' to the controller. This what makes it a 'wireless system'. I explain how it is done in Part 2 and in the MERG Journal articles (Sept and Dec 2021). Basically it is like `Railcom' - a signal is sent during gap in between the DCC packets.
@johnjeanb Жыл бұрын
@@juliancoles1825 Thank you Julian. This is clear now. Jean
@Luke-20-OLT Жыл бұрын
more details please!
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
There will be an article in the MERG Journal this December. The software code will be available soon on the MERG Knowledgebase.
@Luke-20-OLT Жыл бұрын
more details please!
@musoseven8218 Жыл бұрын
Very impressive 👍😊 I'm just wondering how do you ensure good continuity across track joins/joints? Similarly for the points (is that what the stay alive capacitors are for?) Also I'm pondering how many amps your transformer is as your powering everything from the track? And, finally, how is the layout affected by voltage drop etc - is such the optimal size (and as it's a tail chaser) to avoid voltage drop etc? I guess MERG have the slim line stay alives as a kit of parts or similar, which might be beyond me Your ideas may help me with my disabilities etc - I was going to use copper SA tape on top of the boards and add droppers, plus hard wire the points and have switched crossing nose Vs🤔🤔👍😕
@djwarren5081 Жыл бұрын
Brings back memories of my first train set. About 1959, Trix Twin three rail. Magic!
@djwarren5081 Жыл бұрын
As Yogi Bear used to say, Because I'm smarter than the average bear. Hey hey hey.
@musoseven8218 Жыл бұрын
Very neat, impressive, what about voltage drop off etc? BTW are the points hardwired? 👍😊 I'm experimenting with RC, but that has issues and I'm not keen on using LiIon batteries. Some locos are not easy to convert to RC (semiconductors are in short supply and certain manufacturers are giving up the fight). I have a DCC set up, Digitrax, it was a present. Digitrax have a power bus and an accessory bus. It's been ages since it's been out of its box. I'm now ill and disabled and my layout has stalled as I'm not able to do a lot of wiring. Your methodology might just fit the bill🤞🤞🤞👍👍👍😊🤔😊 Any advice gratefully received 🤞👍😊
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
Glad you liked it! Voltage drop is not a problem. The voltage does drop by 1 volt when the uncouplers are raised, but that doesn't affect the locos - they have back EMF speed control. I have been careful to ensure all the rail joints are sound - I soldered the fishplates where necessary. BTW are the points hardwired? Hardwired in what sense? Each point decoder can be programmed with a specific address as I describe. I'm now ill and disabled and my layout has stalled as I'm not able to do a lot of wiring. So sorry to hear that - this method could be good for you but I have to admit that the decoders are quite difficult to build.
@ngauging Жыл бұрын
Julian great video sir! As you can see I run Fleischmann on my layout and even do my videos in both English and German. The Fleischmann track is one of the best on the market imo and can be utilised with the switch turned upside down to hide it's genius. The multi-mouse is brilliant and these days you can even use a tablet/phone. Thanks for sharing your expansive knowledge. Kind regards, Dave B
@raymondleggs5508 Жыл бұрын
Tomix Fine Track is also good, same thing with Kato, and the old Arnold self cleaning rail
@Conn653 Жыл бұрын
I love this idea. I'm in the U.S. and wondering do you offer these controllers for sale or are they DIY? Will this work for 2 main lines, allowing trains to change from line A to line B etc.?
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
This concept works for any layout. The decoders are my own prototypes. They are all surface mount assemblies - of course. The designs have been published in the MERG Journal. What scale do you work in?
@Conn653 Жыл бұрын
@@juliancoles1825 - My layout 'table' will be N-Scale. I have 1 Christmas HO portable layout and will start my Garden Railroad layout this coming spring. At 71, I've got to get something done 🙂
@mikeggg5671 Жыл бұрын
I missed something - how did you do it without wiring????
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
The accessory decoders are all connected directly to the track which is the DCC bus
@mikeggg5671 Жыл бұрын
@@juliancoles1825 so you just have the DCC box wired right to the track, and then you have no independent bus wires?
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
@@mikeggg5671 Mike: No wiring except the DCC power feeds to the track. At 0.53 on the left of the frame you can see the incoming DCC feed from the Multimaus.
@pwilliamssa Жыл бұрын
Excellent idea! Do you have a schematic posted anywhere? PCB board files?
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
Philip My designs are documented in the MERG Journals
@pwilliamssa Жыл бұрын
@@juliancoles1825 Thanks! I'm a recent MERG member and I'll take a look.
@PaulSmith-pl7fo Жыл бұрын
Hi Julian. A fascinating layout and control. Now, that's what I call a real man cave (although I preferred the original surface finish!).
@greatnorthernrailwaytother4711 Жыл бұрын
Very clever. Thanks. Peter.
@allanegleston4931 Жыл бұрын
nice trains and set up.:):):):):): like .
@batman1701able Жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing. I've only just started N gauge last week. I bought some track in order to create a single eight foot oval loop which at least gives me a sense of scale for my potential layout but I don't even have a base board, controller or any even trains at the moment.
@juliancoles1825 Жыл бұрын
The baseboard is really simple: 5mm ply strengthened with 18 X 40mm battens. Mounted on two decorators' trestles. The ply I had cut to size at the local DIY shop.
@Anbregour Жыл бұрын
What a tidy way of setting up a layout! I shall have to make a note of this for when I build my next layout.
@pauljarrett2849 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video Julian; a very elegant and functional solution 👍
Пікірлер
Loving this. I'm new, old, amd excited to watch more of your videos. Subbed.
Hi Julian, this is fantastic, this is exactly what I was looking for. Can you please let me know where I can get the DCC controller board that you have shown in the video (PIC/16F684). Also where can I get a reference to all of the commands for programming the board. Thanks in advance.
Hello gsam, glad you like it! I suggest you email me with more details of what you want to achieve and we can take it from there. [email protected]
amazing
Perfect. Congratulations on the idea. I'm amazed. 👍
Very cool video learned a lot. I have a question what size is your board?
Glad you liked it. The board is 180 x 65mm
Fascinating.
Simple and elegant!
NCC is SO COOL!
Hi. I wonder how you avoid a short circuit when using the tracks in the middle? On my Layout it doesnt work. Best regards.
I don't understand your question. I describe how to avoid the reverse loop short circuit at 10.40.
@@juliancoles1825 oh sorry. I missed it. Will have a Look at it again. Thank you.
Good afternoon Julian I liked your set up when you showed on MERG a few months ago You are the only person I have encountered, so far, still running 3 rail, so I wondered if you might help me I found some 3 rail track with some meccano I bought I thought I'd better get some engines to run on it I got a bit carried away and now have about 5 train sets (3 with controllers), a transformer, two boxes of track (including points), one of accessories and an overdose of turntables I'm just going through what I have (lots of 1st radius, and very little 2nd, so far) and I've discovered that some are missing fishplates and wondered if peco ones would work, or do I need special ones? Some tabs that join the centre rail are also missing, do you have a solution for this? I 'm thinking to clean everything with IPA, but then I wondered if the metal coatings might suffer? I'm also in France, just to add a little complication. That will do for now, any help you can offer will be much appreciated Paul
Paul Please email me: [email protected]
Your reverse loop circuit or - to be precise - its short part of track has got a flaw: What if e.g. two illuminated coaches or a relatively long locomotive bridge it electically on both ends? As far as I know the Fleischmann point motors are specified with only 250 mA (publ. "Fleischmann Tips"), the Fleischmann power packs (and similar devices from other OEMs, they all originate(d) from the Bühler company in Germany) deliver 14 V AC for accessories, there exists a small one with offers 500 mA and a more powerful version with 1 A as maximum current. Even the small power pack must be able to move two point motors at the same time because many model railroaders do so if the two turnouts connect parallel tracks. The more serious flaw will occur when your layout gets older and fishplates connecting the tracks get widened and become more resistive for electricity. The concept of accessory decoders embedded under or in a turnout I have seen at several track systems even for the N gauge, typically the movement of the fishplates is limited by additional mechanical connectors between the balast parts and provide a mecanically more stable connection between the tracks. Märklin goes with its C-track range (gauge H0) even further and does not have any fishplates but electical contacts instead and mechanical connectors in the balast part of its C-track. Fleischmann Profi tracks just rely on its fishplates. Your Fleischmann trains run smoothly, but what if they derail and short the rails? Or when you leave accidentially a tool on the tracks shorting them while activating your central unit? Especially the small gauges are sensitive to large currents. Wheels and their power collection could catch serious damages if the central unit does not turn off its 3,5 A oder 5 A immediately. But if your tracks become more resistant over time this will not happen. I think it is more safe to use a separate pair of wires to feed the tracks and the accessory decoders. It avoids to pull the currents throwing one or two turnouts through the relatively restive tracks and ensures a reliable short circuit protection by your central unit or its boosters.
Yes, the reverse loop track has to be longer than all the train's pickups. But that is true for this layout. I have two layouts using the track as the DCC bus - the other one (00 gauge) has 35 points and has always worked correctly. I am a big fan of the simplicity of using the track as the DCC bus and it has always worked for me. Short circuits have always tripped the booster (Z21 or Roco Multimaus). My points always switch correctly, as do the uncouplers.
@@juliancoles1825 I think that the reverse loop electronics should simply turn off the tracks it feeds in a case of being bridged on both ends. Illuminated coaches could get equipped with stay alive capacitors and a large locomotive can rely on its front wheels to proceed. Only a consist with more than two locos and one loco in the middle feeded by the reverse loop electronics alone will not work.
I CAN say this is amazing even though I can’t understand a word of what you are talking about Julian😂
Absolutely brilliant!
Brilliant! This gives me an idea of chipping my engines with the digital chips from my old SCX slot cars and be able to run multiple trains with the pistol grip controllers.???????
Hi, couldn't help but notice a rail-joiner next to a point isn't sat right on the point-side?, the instance of which can be found on the outside track at mins & secs 09:30-09:40 😊
You are correct! Strangely the trains runs over the joint without derailing.
Beautiful. The complete room
Hi Julian. I’ve been thinking of starting an N gauge set for so long and now seems to be the right time for me. I stumbled across your wireless plan video this evening and I must say, you are a genius! I was so excited to see what you were doing, but then soon realised that for me and my lack of experience, I soon became lost and alas, think I’ll have to stick with the traditional DCC set up, with point motors and endless wiring! Thank you for sharing 👍
I need to go one further and implement this stuff into my O Gauge clockwork trains :P
Very inspiring Sir. I’ve literally just started my first layout (N Gauge) which isn’t DCC. This is my aim for the future though. Subscribed. Ian
Did not know that you could do this type of stuff, thanks for sharing
Very cleverly done.
Great video. What model number are those 220uf capacitors in your keep alive?
Kemet 220uF 16V T491D227K016AT
Genius! This makes tonnes of sense. Are you manufacturing the PCBs for sale to the public? The overall simplicty is fantastic!
Pleased you liked the layout. No I don't sell anything. I can provide the PCB designs to anyone who wants them, but with the waring that they are surface mount PCBs and quite difficult to build.
Very good Julian, runs beautifully.
Hi Julian I have just come across your video of your three rail 00 Hornby system, congratulations on such an excellent job. My interest was kindled because I still have my old Hornby 00 system from the 50s and have been considering passing it over to my great grandson. I am still at the research stage on the possibility of converting it to DCC. But I seem to remember that one of the motor brushes is fed via the wheels and chassis which obviously would not be acceptable for a DCC system. I wonder if you could advise me as to how you solved this problem. Does anyone supply insulating brush holders. I have three locos and a good selection of track and rolling stock so it would be a great shame not to bring it all back into use again. There seem to be plnety of DCC decoders on the market and I think there should be space inside the locos to accommodate one of the smaller samples. I have a 4MT 2-6-4 Tank, a 06-2 Tank and a Duchess of Atholl. I hope you can offer some advice to an 84 year old retired engineer.
Peter please email me: [email protected]
Hello, I love this layout design, would you be able to link a picture or the track setup so I can use it for inspiration? Starting work on my own n scale layout and this would help tremendously!
very impressive, Julián. good to see you!
Wow. Speechless. 👌 👏 👍💪💥😲
Perfect - at some point you'd think this simplicity/modularity was the original vision for DCC, to simplify the block based DC setups but somewhere - or perhaps due to scale - that vision was lost.
Richard: what surprises me is that nobody else has adopted this no-wiring approach.
As a recent return-er to the n guage scene after a long break I've just discovered the potential wondererous miracle that is dcc. Sorry to be so nieve but what are tbd MERG journals and where can I find then? Many thanks, love your layout BTW its brilliant. Thanks for all the great info
Stuart: Glad you like the layout. MERG is the Model Electronic Railway Group club which you can easily join, and then access all their Journals and loads of other good stuff. They also sell kits for electronic gadgets for model railway control - including of course things for DCC. Look them up on the web.
Thankyou I'll look that up and Look forward to seeing what you upload in the future. Take care 🙂
Just found this great video. Thanks for posting.
A really interesting project👍✌️😊 With such simplified wiring (no BUS) for DCC, is there ever voltage drop or runaways? Or is the layout too compact for such (plus it's tail chaser style)?🤔🤔
Glad you found the project interesting. Certainly no runaways. On may actual layout (seen in the background and see earlier video) there may be voltage drops but not enough to affect operations as all locos have decoders with back BEMF. When an uncoupler is operated the voltage drops by a volt - but this causes no noticeable effect elsewhere. My other layout - much larger and seen on an earlier video - has no problems with the track as DCC. I take care to ensure that all rail joints are sound.
Would have been more user friendly if the PIC had USB and the 'script' wasn't hardcoded into the PIC source code. You could just then download the script from a nice PC train automation editor application and then downloaded into the PIC via USB. At which point the script would be 'interpreted' by the main code on the PIC and do the calls to each function as you do in this video. Very nice project though.
Simon: Thanks for you interesting comment. That's a bit too computer nerdy for me - I'm a simple soul. But if you would like to build such a system, I would be delighted. Anyway glad you liked the project.
Hi Julian. I fail to see how the Toti is involved in your program to report the train has reached its destination. Also the Toti seems to answer-back directly on the track signal (DCC?). Is this true?
John: In the example I give here no TOTIs are involved. That is to make it easier to understand the concept. In the next part - which will be published in a couple of weeks - I add TOTIs to the shuttle. And yes, the TOTI does indeed 'answer back directly on the track' to the controller. This what makes it a 'wireless system'. I explain how it is done in Part 2 and in the MERG Journal articles (Sept and Dec 2021). Basically it is like `Railcom' - a signal is sent during gap in between the DCC packets.
@@juliancoles1825 Thank you Julian. This is clear now. Jean
more details please!
There will be an article in the MERG Journal this December. The software code will be available soon on the MERG Knowledgebase.
more details please!
Very impressive 👍😊 I'm just wondering how do you ensure good continuity across track joins/joints? Similarly for the points (is that what the stay alive capacitors are for?) Also I'm pondering how many amps your transformer is as your powering everything from the track? And, finally, how is the layout affected by voltage drop etc - is such the optimal size (and as it's a tail chaser) to avoid voltage drop etc? I guess MERG have the slim line stay alives as a kit of parts or similar, which might be beyond me Your ideas may help me with my disabilities etc - I was going to use copper SA tape on top of the boards and add droppers, plus hard wire the points and have switched crossing nose Vs🤔🤔👍😕
Brings back memories of my first train set. About 1959, Trix Twin three rail. Magic!
As Yogi Bear used to say, Because I'm smarter than the average bear. Hey hey hey.
Very neat, impressive, what about voltage drop off etc? BTW are the points hardwired? 👍😊 I'm experimenting with RC, but that has issues and I'm not keen on using LiIon batteries. Some locos are not easy to convert to RC (semiconductors are in short supply and certain manufacturers are giving up the fight). I have a DCC set up, Digitrax, it was a present. Digitrax have a power bus and an accessory bus. It's been ages since it's been out of its box. I'm now ill and disabled and my layout has stalled as I'm not able to do a lot of wiring. Your methodology might just fit the bill🤞🤞🤞👍👍👍😊🤔😊 Any advice gratefully received 🤞👍😊
Glad you liked it! Voltage drop is not a problem. The voltage does drop by 1 volt when the uncouplers are raised, but that doesn't affect the locos - they have back EMF speed control. I have been careful to ensure all the rail joints are sound - I soldered the fishplates where necessary. BTW are the points hardwired? Hardwired in what sense? Each point decoder can be programmed with a specific address as I describe. I'm now ill and disabled and my layout has stalled as I'm not able to do a lot of wiring. So sorry to hear that - this method could be good for you but I have to admit that the decoders are quite difficult to build.
Julian great video sir! As you can see I run Fleischmann on my layout and even do my videos in both English and German. The Fleischmann track is one of the best on the market imo and can be utilised with the switch turned upside down to hide it's genius. The multi-mouse is brilliant and these days you can even use a tablet/phone. Thanks for sharing your expansive knowledge. Kind regards, Dave B
Tomix Fine Track is also good, same thing with Kato, and the old Arnold self cleaning rail
I love this idea. I'm in the U.S. and wondering do you offer these controllers for sale or are they DIY? Will this work for 2 main lines, allowing trains to change from line A to line B etc.?
This concept works for any layout. The decoders are my own prototypes. They are all surface mount assemblies - of course. The designs have been published in the MERG Journal. What scale do you work in?
@@juliancoles1825 - My layout 'table' will be N-Scale. I have 1 Christmas HO portable layout and will start my Garden Railroad layout this coming spring. At 71, I've got to get something done 🙂
I missed something - how did you do it without wiring????
The accessory decoders are all connected directly to the track which is the DCC bus
@@juliancoles1825 so you just have the DCC box wired right to the track, and then you have no independent bus wires?
@@mikeggg5671 Mike: No wiring except the DCC power feeds to the track. At 0.53 on the left of the frame you can see the incoming DCC feed from the Multimaus.
Excellent idea! Do you have a schematic posted anywhere? PCB board files?
Philip My designs are documented in the MERG Journals
@@juliancoles1825 Thanks! I'm a recent MERG member and I'll take a look.
Hi Julian. A fascinating layout and control. Now, that's what I call a real man cave (although I preferred the original surface finish!).
Very clever. Thanks. Peter.
nice trains and set up.:):):):):): like .
Thank you for sharing. I've only just started N gauge last week. I bought some track in order to create a single eight foot oval loop which at least gives me a sense of scale for my potential layout but I don't even have a base board, controller or any even trains at the moment.
The baseboard is really simple: 5mm ply strengthened with 18 X 40mm battens. Mounted on two decorators' trestles. The ply I had cut to size at the local DIY shop.
What a tidy way of setting up a layout! I shall have to make a note of this for when I build my next layout.
Thanks for the video Julian; a very elegant and functional solution 👍