Hello I've finally finished to wire my DCC bus, and yesterday played with DCC++EX and JMRI My basestation is an Arduino Uno and the motorshield is the Deek Robot Everything seems to work just fine, but I was wondering if there is anything to "tweak" in DecoderPro since I feel the throttles are not very linear........kind of slow up to 50%, then more progressive from 50% to 100% I think it was more linear with my NCE PowerCab I originally tried with a 12V / 1,7A wall wart I had laying around, but I found the max speed was not enough Then I tried with a DC-DC buck converter adjusted at 14V, and this is what I get (i hope the link will work) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1io22_8lZnCOQPnMWmkyHLxRSwGe3SVWR/view?usp=sharing On this video, the 2 engines are set at 100%....Does this look like a "normal" max speed? The buck converter was showing 270mA with the 2 engines......
Might mention what the engines are and looks plenty fast to me. Have you figured out their scale speed? I'll be putting my betting money on the red one and congrats on getting the DCC up and running. It is a good system. Looks like you are making real progress on the layout, Sumner
The green one is a LifeLike FA1 with a DZ123....engine was bought used 15 years ago and the guy who sold it did the decoder install and programmation. It runs super smooth, and can go very very slow (I will post a video when I can) The red one is an Atlas GP38-2 "Detroit, Toledo & Ironton" with a factory installed NCE decoder......not as smooth, but I may have to review some CVs I will try with 13.5V or even 13V I'm using right now an old laptop on which I've installed Linux Mint.....but I also have a Raspberry I want to try I also want to try to use an old smartphone as a throttle (with EngineDriver) I also have a basestation made of a Mega + 2 x LM18200 (as detailled in the French wesbsite Locoduino....but I haven't tested it yet, and it's with DCC++ standard and not EX) Well, looks like I will be busy in the next days/weeks !!! But anyway, speed adjustments need to be done for each engines, and not on the throttles, right? Is there a link where I can easily find all the important CV to look at, and reprogram if necessary?
I just built a similar DCC++ EX configuration. I am using a 12V 3A DC "wall wart" and find that is more than enough to run several sound equipped locomotives. I think your "max-speed" is more than enough and the general consensus is more than 12V can damage N Scale motors. I tend to focus more on low-end and acceleration/deceleration than high-end. If you want to adjust - yes it is done on the locomotive decoder - I think the CV configuration can be different depending on the manufacturer so I tend to look at the documentation for the specific decoder type being used. My DCC++ EX is Arduino OEM MEGA and Motor Shield. I am waiting for the makerfabs WiFi shield to arrive so am running off the USB serial connection for the time being. I have also been experimenting with building accessory decoders on Arduino to drive Unitrack turnouts and the turntable. Please continue to post on your progress with JMRI and EngineDriver. Very interested to learn from others. I thought your track layout was well done as well. I like how you have achieved a "flowing" layout with UniTrack and the reverse loop. What are you using to reverse the track main?
Well, I will try to run again with 12V and see how it impacts the speed....and I agree, I don't think it would look realistic to run train "that fast" anyway I've not done anything yet on the reverse loop, it's not wired. But I was planing to try the auto reverser module described by Ravindra on this forum, using an arduino, DPDT relay and a current sensor...I have everything to try it, just need to find some time ! https://www.trainboard.com/highball...ed-auto-reverse-loop-circuit-like-ar1.135484/
I suggest not using a relay-based auto-reverser. There are reports of them causing damage especially with the smaller scales. There are some designs for solid-state auto-reversers on the Internet or you can purchase them pre-built. I use a DCC Specialties OG-AR and really like it. They are getting hard to find though and I need one more so was wondering if you had built a solid-state one.
I didn't know about a potential issue using relays....can you elaborate more? I know the PSX-AR (DCC Specialties) is highly rated...so if the relay option is really a bad idea, I think I would go with the PSX-AR then
It has to do with the speed of solid state vs. a mechanical relay and more potential for arcing with a mechanical relay. I think with DCC response speed is critical given the relatively higher voltage/amps involved. https://tonystrains.com/news/dcc-auto-reversers/ https://www.dccconcepts.com/product...acting products designed for DCC are suitable.
At 15V 3A the OG-AR is working well with a LENZ command station. With 12V and the lower amperage of the DCC++ the OG-AR isn't tripping as well. It does say in the OG manual that it isn't designed to work with lower power systems (Digitrax Zephyr or Atlas Commander) and the DCC++ configuration I am running would be in the same category. I may need to look at the PSX-AR or the NCE AR-10. The AR-10 allows you to adjust the trip current.
You might also consider Tam Valley. That is what I bought but haven't tried them yet but feel they are going to work with DCC++ from comments I've read. Not that expensive either, Sumner
The TAM Valley looks really interesting - thanks for sharing. The HEX Frogger juicer will cover three reversing sections for the same price as one of the other manufacturer's systems. It says you can configure for either 2A or 4A trip current. I think that should work for DCC++. The Ardunio Motor Shield has current limiter of 2A I believe. I am running a 12V 3A input. Arduino Motor Shield Rev3 | Arduino Official Store
I also bought one of their 5 amp boosters and two of the circuit breakers in addition to the Hex Juicer. My DCC++EX will send to the booster and from the booster to the two circuit breakers (2 districts). Hopefully all of the above will be connected to a larger layout than my test track at some point Sumner
You adjust each loco speed in settings for each decoder, assuming the decoders you have support that.......some inexpensive decoders don't have all the functions needed.
