Just my first experience

rva1945 Jun 26, 2016

  1. rva1945

    rva1945 TrainBoard Member

    114
    39
    9
    Hi all:

    If someone is passing through the same fear of trying something new and out of the standard (i.e. building an Arduino based base station instead of buying a commercial one) that I passed through, let me tell you that DCC++ works like a charm at the first try!

    I'm using an Arduino Mega 2560 and a motor shield. I just had to connect pin 2 to pin 13 on the shield, powered it by a regulated 12V source, the decoder rail pickups connected to channel A (still no loco, just testing everything), and a motor connected to the decoder motor output wires.

    The decoder is a Bachmann E-Z Command no. 44915. As expected, it came with address no. 03.

    Then, with the Mega connected to the USB port, typed this in the Serial monitor:

    <1> (to power the "rails" up)
    <t1 03 10 1> (run decoder no. 03 at speed 10, forward direction)
    <t1 03 0 1> (stop)

    Then I played with starting voltage, acceleration/deceleration rates, etc.:

    <w 03 2 5> (write in decoder 03, CV2, which is the starting voltaje, value 5 volts)

    <w 03 3 30>(write in decoder 03, CV3, the acceleration rate, value 30)

    <t1 03 20 1> (run again with new parameters)

    Just a few examples. Now to mount everything, LCD display included.

    Enjoy!
     
    Scott Eric Catalano likes this.

Share This Page