This set of circuits basically is 4 Hares with some of the extras still waiting for the next version, like occupency detection. As designed it’s for a Digitrax Loconet system only. I’m still reading over all the info, the only thing expensive about it is the circuit boards. ExpressPCB is easy to use (assuming you have a board layout already - or know how to do that. The designer provides the required board layouts), but they are on the expensive side for small quantities. If you order a lot it gets cheaper fast. Of course - how amny do most people need? The price per board for a production run isn’t too bad at $18 per - that’s a lot of board for $18, but that’s a quantity of 20 - enough to run 80 Tortoises! Group buy, maybe? The price per turnout seems high, but remember it’s doing more than just controlling the Tortoise, it also has block occupency. Add the cost of occupency detection to a stationary decoder to see what the real difference is. There are also several optional components that aren’t strictly necessary as detailed in the text, couple of chips, bunches of LEDs, I’d probably eliminate the RJ12 jack used only for ICSP programming of the PIC (the PIC can be programmed in the Locobuffer interface - well, the Hans Deloof type anyway). It adds up.
Had to go to Tony’s and see what a Hare costs…forgot how much they were. This DIY circuit, even in small quantities (smallest PCB order you can get is 2 boards - at that size order the setup charges are a huge part of the cost) beats the Hare hands down. Of course you have to order electronic components and solder them together… Ordering just 2 boards and parts puts the price exactly the same per turnout as the Hare II. However - the DIY board has the feedback AND block occupency. The Hare II only has the outputs for position feedback and you need an additional device to convert it into the DCC system - a DS64 or equivalent for Loconet, which is going to really add up the costs. With as little as 8 boards - control for 32 Tortoises - the costs are under $25 per turnout.
this is a pretty neat idea and i hope you’ll continue to keep us informed about it . not sure i’ll use it myself as i’m not planning to have dcc controlled turnouts .
have you built any yourself or are you at the research stage atm ?
Still researching. My current idea is to have panel buttons connected to eg a LocoIO, and the Tortoises (I use nothing but) controlled by some sort of stationary decoder. In between sits a computer running JMRI PanelPro. On the vrtual CTC panel is the Local Power button. Unless the dispatcher enables this, the buttons on the control panel will be ignored, at least for nominally dispatcher controller turnouts. The DS enables local control, the button on the panel now works. Here I would be using single buttons in an alternating action, with indicator LEDs. The reason being, if I use toggles, and somene flips one while locla power is disabled - the turnout will not move, but the toggle handle will point ht ewrong way. As soon as locla power is enabled - the turnout moves. Could be bad if a train is sitting on top of it, or no one notices and runs a train into stopped cars on a siding.
Turnouts that would never be dispatcher controlled will get a simpler and cheaper circuit, just a flip-flop with said singple pushbutton controlling it.
The neat thing is that while this all SOUNDS complicated - it really isn’t. The circuits are black boxes that connect via Loconet (simple 6p6c phone cords), the Turte driver I linked connects to the main board via 8 wire phone cords, and the local piece of that clips right to the botom of the Tortoise with no wires. The configuration program for the LocoIO board allows saving the config to a file - so it’s easy to program a dozen identical units in a common fashion, just changing the address each time. The only wires under my layout should be the #12 DCC power bus and a run of flat phone wire. Maybe a +12v DC and ground to run the Turtle boards and LocoIOs from my converted computer power supply.
ahh thanks randy , i always wondered how people worked around the problem of having both local and dispatcher control of turnouts and the toggle switch pointing the wrong direction . simple … don’t use a toggle [:)]
Yup, just one button that toggles the direction. The Turtle boards even have a terminal on them to attach the LEDs in series with the motor for panel indicators.