Add 24 hour lighting - May MRR

Model Railroader Electronics and DCC
1

Hi

This post was originally on ‘Layouts’ forum, but we need electronic help so…

The May edition of MRR on page 50 has an articlle entitled ‘Add 24-hour llayout ighting’. Unfortunately, it skims over the control method of achieving this and concentrates on how to put up lights. The article quotes ‘Time-Lynx’ by Rail-Lynx (www.rail-lynx.com) but gives no details whatsoever as to how the light system is controlled or achieved. (Yep, I’ve sent an enquiry e-mail to Rail-Lynx and waiting.)

I am in the process of building my new HO PRR / NYC 1954 layout and I have wanted to include sunrise / sunset / night and day linked to a fast clock. This would mean devices that would allow dimmer switches to be attached to bring banks of lights up and down; devices that would turn on and off lights in buildings, signs and street lamps, etc. Dimmers to bring red and orange lights in and out according to sunrise and sunset.

As an electronics question … any ideas how any part of this could be achieved?

Thanks in advance

Barry [8D]

2

Barry,

I just saw that article, too. I had a hard time even finding it on their web site. There is a brief description of it here if you missed it:

http://www.rail-lynx.com/accessory_modules.htm

Too bad they didn’t put a pdf of the manual on their site. It might be what you’re looking for.

I have a home grown system based on a programmable chip called a Basic Stamp and X-10 dimmer technology that does something similar, but that’s probably beyond where you want to go. There is free software and descriptions of how to build programming boards for the Stamp online, but unless you’re into computer programming (in Basic) it can be a bit daunting.

Mike Tennent

3

Mike that Basic Stamp looks very interesting. I for one would like to hear more about how you are using the stamp to control effects on your layout.[tup]

I’ve dabbled with basic and have written code in VBA so I think I might be able to grasp the programming end of things.

I’m not interested in using a fast clock but being able to control multiple effects to orchestrate a sunrise for example, could add something to the overall effect of a layout.

4

Kevin,

The concept is pretty straightforward. The Basic Stamp’s output pins can be turned on and off through program commands. The language is quite similar to Basic, with a number of added commands for doing electronic stuff. The program has to be linear, it’s not capable of multi-tasking.

The Stamps output is only about 3V, enough to drive an LED, but not really sufficient for big layout lighting. I route each pin through a ULN2803, a neat and cheap little chip that is powered by a separate 12V source. When a Stamp pin is turned off, the ULN2803 pin it’s matched to puts out 12V. (It’s negative logic but it works.) The ULN2803 can power as many lights as its power source’s can supply.

So what you do is turn lights on and off in the desired sequence useing timing loops. Even though I have to use some of the Stamp’s pins for the dimming (more on that in a minute) I still have 14 separate pins to play with. I created a sequence where, as sunset approaches, some lights start to turn on (inside houses, stores) and then as it gets darker, street lights, security lights etc. Then stores start to close, and finally houses darken as the night grows long. As dawn approaches, house lights start to turn on, security lights off, etc. Then house lights off. All in all, it’s pretty cool. I had it operating in our previous house, but don’t have it installed yet in our new house (and train room.)

Now, for the dimming. The Stamp has commands for controling lights using the X-10 technology. There is a plug-in module, PL-513, that accepts a CAT cable and sends the X-10 signals through the house. The layout room lights all have an X-10 control module.

The program steps through a few dim signals, which lower the lights a bit, pauses, turns on a few lights, then steps down more, etc. It’s an experiemental thing, depending on how fast you want the sequence to go. Dimming isn’t absolutely

5

Mike,

Thanks very much for the details and photo. Do you have a website showcasing your products? I’m always interested in new effects. Thanks again!

6

Kevin:

www.ironpeng.com/ipe

Mike T.

7

Thanks Mike!