This may be way off topic for this board but... In my efforts to trouble shoot my Arduino Mega 2560 Chinese version ( see thread DCC++DCCpp_Uno 1.2.1 compiler errors) I loaded DCCpp_Controller into Processing 3 with and without my mega connected to my Mac with OS El Capitan and running the Base Station with no Motor Shield. In the window for the Controller I see the default screen as in the videos but at the top line it reads "Serial Port busy: /dev/tty.usbmodem1431." In the video, that top line indicates what is connected to the Controller window for an Arduino. I don't have anything else plugged into my computer other than the Arduino. This is happening on two separate computers, both Macs running El Capitan Arduino IDE 1.6.7 and 1.6.8. I have removed my Back up hard drives, no difference. The error even shows in the Controller when I unplug the Arduino. I cannot operate the power button. I can select the different locos in the list but the throttle refuses to move and when place the cursor over the throttle button, the hand icon disappears. All the switches, routes etc function. I found a TxRx thread that indicates a permissions error with a terminal fix. Did the fix but still no Serial port. When selecting the port for my Arduino under Tools menu in the Arduino IDE, I see Serial Port greyed out in the list. Are there any suggestions? John C H
Further to this, My Baud rate in the serial port is 115200 so that is not the issue. Found a serial program that reads three comma separated numbers from the serial input, analogWrites the values to a led for brightness and returns to the serial monitor what was input. So the serial port is working properly. I even set up the Mega using pins 2 and 12, which would feed to the motor shield. John C H
Hi John, Try post #343 here http://www.trainboard.com/highball/...ource-dcc-station-and-interface.84800/page-18
Thanks UK Steve, that helped a lot. I have the Chinese Mega now working with the Controller and no motor shield attached. So my first assumption that the Mega was porked is incorrect. Now my work will be to figure out the remapping I have to do to make my Chinese motor shield, which looks a lot like the official motor shield, work on the Mega. Thanks John C H
OK I think I have solved my issues. Chinese Mega 2560 working with DCC++Controller. Plugged in my Chinese Deek-Robot Motor Shield with one jumper 2-12 as normal. Powered with 12VDC which is all I have right now, everything seems normal, A and B power lights work with power on off. I think my solution is that with my iMac computers and Time Machine HDD's there seems to be a conflict on the USB as Arduino IDE and Processing can not find the Arduino Mega port. I have to unplug my time machine and voila, there is my Mega in the port list. I wonder if this is a Mac OS problem or I have some how affected my USB connections. I guess I will never know. John C H
Well, Good News. Decided to see if my N Scale Atlas GP9 with DigiTrax DZ125 would work on 12VDC from my converted Computer power supply. Shock, surprise it runs. I would have thought the decoder would need a minimum of 14VDC to operate. John C H
Glad to hear things are working. I found that 12v is sufficient for n-scale but only at low speeds. If you try to pull a lot of stock, especially up a grade, you may find there is insufficient power. A lot will depend on the efficiency of the motor itself.
