Again this week I have failed to get down to the shed, until just a few hours ago. My time this week has mostly been taken up sitting in front of the idiot box watching the cricket. When not doing that, I have been sitting on the computer churning out code on my Arduino to continue the signalling logic I am writing for my future exhibition Layout. So the Signalman’s control panel for this layout is progressing. I have the point control switches logic that are on the control panel and talking to the Arduino, working correctly when the switches are changed on the panel. As I have this input being successfully read by the Arduino, I also included code that if someone tries to change a set of points on the mainline, and the various signals around that set of points are not set to stop first, then the points will not change, thus preventing a catastrophe on the layout.
I have wired up all the common returns from the control panel track detector indicator LEDs. I have then written the code that when an infra-red (IR) detector senses a train over it, it reports this to the Arduino. It also then illuminates the LEDs on the track control panel, showing where the trains currently are. As the trains move past the IR detectors, the indicator LEDs extinguish. These LEDs are white. I currently have 5 temporary IR detectors connected back to the Arduino and this allows me to simulate a train running on the UP track though the monitored area and this is currently working well.
I have started wiring the signals on the control panel, which will replicate the signals on the layout. I started with the Up Line, to bring these back to the Arduino output boards that provide me with another 16 output addresses on each board. I have configured five track signalling boards (of course not all out addresses are being used on these boards. The boards are - one for the Up line, another for the Down Line, one for the Branch line, and two for the Dual gauge, (one for the DG UP and one DG DOWN). I have another two boards configured for the White track LEDs for tracking the trains.
So everything looked like it was working. I then moved the test Arduino off my workbench and installed it in the Control panel. The amount of wires that I have set up in there is enormous. Hopefully I will be able to trace issues back to the source if required in the future.
Early next week, I will fire up the Arduino in the control panel from a new power supply, and also have it connected back to my serial output (monitor) to enable me to trace how everything seems to be working in a full simulation of the UP logic for the layout. The last item to complete is to install the various control panel switches and their outputs back to the Arduino. These switches on the control panel allow the signalman to set and hold signals at stop so points in advance of the signal can be changed, and various shunt moves across the mainlines can be undertaken by train crews.
This rabbit hole adventure has also taken another turn. I think I will soon be installing a small 20 character per line by 4 lines LCD display on the control panel to give some form of feedback to the Signalman if he tries to do something when it does not fit with my logic. I will enhance the Arduino code to display a message and these messages will probably scroll off the 4 line LCD display as more future messages occur. I should get my LCD display from evilbay delivered just after Christmas.
So once I have the Up logic all tested, I will move to the Down track logic, followed by the Branchline track logic. That will leave the two directions of Dual Gauge logic on the single line to be completed.
However, over the next few days I need to turn my attention to my upcoming Ops Session next weekend. I will complete my layout notices, timetable notices, and then clean the track, remove various cobwebs in the shed, and clean some junk I have layout around following various building activities. I will also test all the layout lighting strings, ensure the wifi is working inside the shed to keep Marty happy, and ensure that the fridge is well stocked. I also need to wash the outdoor furniture again and clean out the pergola and the BBQ for next Saturday’s BBQ lunch. The most important task is to remind the boss to buy some snags and afternoon tea goodies.
Today I had an antenna man come out and check out my various rooftop antennas. It used to annoy me immensely that when a bird perched on my house antenna, I would get a really bad picture on the TVs inside the house. So that has now been fixed. My TV in the shed stopped working completely, and it became obvious to me why when the antenna man mentioned that the antenna was not facing the correct way. So over time, various birds, and high velocity winds (and maybe the cyclone from earlier in the year) must have caused various trees to move the antenna away from pointing towards the TV stations on Mt Cootha. However, when channel 7 moved from normal definition to HD a few months back, that channel stopped working altogether. So I either need a new antenna in my shed, or a TV that handles HD. More expense! At least all the channels that are not HD are now working in the shed.
Late this afternoon, I started work on drilling holes in the baseboard at Sunnybank to allow me to install wire jumpers around all my points for the DCC track signal.
Hopefully next week I will have some photos of the Operations Session activities. I might even have some photos of my working future exhibition layout control panel.
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