How to tell DCC Base Station that there are turnouts?

NeOdx2 · Sep 26, 2019

Hello!

Is there a single command in DCC Controller to send turnout configuration to Base Station?

Or how can I get demo layout working easily? I will just test an arduino based accessory decoder, so I have to send a turnout command.

Thank you and sorry for my bad english

Robert

sidney · Sep 28, 2019

well first ya got to get its attention then start yelling at it real loud. hahahahahahahahahahahaha just messing with ya im bored . somebody will be along with the right answers ,, but untill then google it

Trusty · Sep 29, 2019

Hello.

You have to send text commands to Base Station. I reproduce here the explanations found in Accessories.cpp from the sources

DCC++ BASE STATION can keep track of the direction of any turnout that is controlled
by a DCC stationary accessory decoder. All turnouts, as well as any other DCC accessories
connected in this fashion, can always be operated using the DCC BASE STATION Accessory command:

<a ADDRESS SUBADDRESS ACTIVATE>

However, this general command simply sends the appropriate DCC instruction packet to the main tracks
to operate connected accessories. It does not store or retain any information regarding the current
status of that accessory.

To have this sketch store and retain the direction of DCC-connected turnouts, as well as automatically
invoke the required <a> command as needed, first define/edit/delete such turnouts using the following
variations of the "T" command:

<T ID ADDRESS SUBADDRESS>: creates a new turnout ID, with specified ADDRESS and SUBADDRESS
if turnout ID already exists, it is updated with specificed ADDRESS and SUBADDRESS
returns: <O> if successful and <X> if unsuccessful (e.g. out of memory)

<T ID>: deletes definition of turnout ID
returns: <O> if successful and <X> if unsuccessful (e.g. ID does not exist)

<T>: lists all defined turnouts
returns: <H ID ADDRESS SUBADDRESS THROW> for each defined turnout or <X> if no turnouts defined

where

ID: the numeric ID (0-32767) of the turnout to control
ADDRESS: the primary address of the decoder controlling this turnout (0-511)
SUBADDRESS: the subaddress of the decoder controlling this turnout (0-3)

Once all turnouts have been properly defined, use the <E> command to store their definitions to EEPROM.
If you later make edits/additions/deletions to the turnout definitions, you must invoke the <E> command if you want those
new definitions updated in the EEPROM. You can also clear everything stored in the EEPROM by invoking the <e> command.

To "throw" turnouts that have been defined use:

<T ID THROW>: sets turnout ID to either the "thrown" or "unthrown" position
returns: <H ID THROW>, or <X> if turnout ID does not exist

where

ID: the numeric ID (0-32767) of the turnout to control
THROW: 0 (unthrown) or 1 (thrown)

When controlled as such, the Arduino updates and stores the direction of each Turnout in EEPROM so
that it is retained even without power. A list of the current directions of each Turnout in the form <H ID THROW> is generated
by this sketch whenever the <s> status command is invoked. This provides an efficient way of initializing
the directions of any Turnouts being monitored or controlled by a separate interface or GUI program.
Click to expand...

For an easier way to use DCC++ and accessories, see the library version of this great piece of code : https://github.com/Locoduino/DCCpp

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How to tell DCC Base Station that there are turnouts?

NeOdx2 New Member

sidney TrainBoard Member

Trusty TrainBoard Member

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