railBuilderDhd
Active Member
So I'm starting on the mission of controlling my turnouts with a servo motor controlled by an Arduino. I want to be able to use my DCC (Digitrax) network along with buttons on the layout near the turnouts to control from there as well. I will be doing my best to not have this based on one DCC system but please understand I only have the one to work with so at times it will have to be based on my limited resources. I'm not about to buy other DCC systems to wok with, but we all know that.
Here is what I figure I'll need to start. An Arduino board, a servo for each turnout and my DCC layout. Along with that I will need the power supply and a switch on the layout to control the turnout as well. There will be wires and whatever else I learn as I go. From here we start this mission to document the process from this early concept and low level of knowledge to completion.
I figure there are multiple phases of this project from programming to installation. There are many questions I have and I hope to get input from here as this project moves.
I now have Arduino boards, servos DCC controller and of coarse I have the train turnouts.
First step, can this be done?
I know I can get the Arduino to control the servo and that in turn can control the turnout. I'm sure this can be done from a button but my first lack of knowledge is how can I get the signal from my DCC network to the Arduino? Will the signal be sent from the LocoNet or will this be sent on the rails? I figure it's the LocoNet. How do I make the connection from the LocoNet (DCC Network) to the Arduino?
I guess that's a good question to start this discussion off with. Please get involved and lets see if we can't all learn a little.
Dave
Here is what I figure I'll need to start. An Arduino board, a servo for each turnout and my DCC layout. Along with that I will need the power supply and a switch on the layout to control the turnout as well. There will be wires and whatever else I learn as I go. From here we start this mission to document the process from this early concept and low level of knowledge to completion.
I figure there are multiple phases of this project from programming to installation. There are many questions I have and I hope to get input from here as this project moves.
I now have Arduino boards, servos DCC controller and of coarse I have the train turnouts.
First step, can this be done?
I know I can get the Arduino to control the servo and that in turn can control the turnout. I'm sure this can be done from a button but my first lack of knowledge is how can I get the signal from my DCC network to the Arduino? Will the signal be sent from the LocoNet or will this be sent on the rails? I figure it's the LocoNet. How do I make the connection from the LocoNet (DCC Network) to the Arduino?
I guess that's a good question to start this discussion off with. Please get involved and lets see if we can't all learn a little.
Dave