Hi Tim, I found on saturday the full collection of multiplexer IC's in a local shop. So I can now really test and hopefully have a full functional version at end of the week. Greetings from a "smokefree" home Armand
Armand!!! Any Luck with the Driver Circuit? Armand Have you had any luck playing/testing the circuit you deviZed? Awaiting patiently!!!! Hobo Tim
Hi Tim, dont worry :teeth:, the tests are finished smokefree and all engines running. I must just put everything to paper. There will be 2 schemas, more later in the day.
The lady is a little bit tricky, if you dont respect the application design. All the Mux chips of this serie 4051-4053 consum a lot of redundant current, if you try to run one of it's analog switch with the load on the wrong side. But after I found out, this is now going up to 25 mA per LED, I tried even up to 40 mA and still no pain. In general the need of the SMD LED's is much lower. Finally I retained the MC14053B, but the real benefit of this chips are only visible in the second schema.
The real benefit of this chips is that you can use the analog switches in both directions. Unlike gate IC's, you can use the same schema and just with the close of some jumpers use signals from different manufactures in the same block design, even when the common wire is for one signal on anodes, for the other on cathodes. With a few simple modifications this schema will also allow 3 LED targets and/or other future signals. Concerning the part price, you can stay about 1$ per block. This is very cheap and give you the benefit for using different signals available. The diodes are common, 1N4148, 1N914 and what else you have as general purpose diodes in stock.
If you want this circuit with no approach light signal, as example shown on the first block - you take away R3,D1 and D2 - you connect Chip input A (pin 11) to mass. Next step will be to make PCB-Board, I will put file so everybody can let make it by his beloved etcher.
Thank You I appreciate your work on this project. I just ordered 10,000 MC14053B IC's for production ramp-up! Hah! Just kidding!! Good idea though!!!! :shade: Will order some IC's within the next few days!!! I have all of the other components already in a semi abundant form. Thanks for creating this circuit!!!! Hobo Tim
Today I preferred to stay behind the oven, and made finally the two PCB boards for the above schematics. The first is less dense, this is for Bernd Bauer or Ztrack Search Signals. The second is for mixing signals with common anode or common cathode. Just to put one drop of solder between the right jumper, like it is shown in the circuits design. Approach Lighting function is included. This are just pictures, but I have the Gerber files for automatic edging. 8 circuits have place on a 100x160mm board, you can cut in the middle. The strange zigzag lines came from screen copying routine, to put it to Jpg's, in the files everything is strait. Common anode. Common anode or cathode with jumpers.
I wanted to give also small explication how this circuits are functioning. You are right, this is bull¤¤¤¤ :thumbs_down: but perhaps other Junkie here :we2-goofy: Everything turn around the multiplexer 4053. This chip act like switch, means depending of entries : A = 0 OR 1 ----> X0 or X1 is switched to X B = 0 OR 1 ----> Y0 or Y1 is switched to Y C = 0 OR 1 ----> Z0 or Z1 is switched to Z Here is the truth table : 0 = mass (-) 1=12Volt Entries not connected on the chip are high (12Volt) in the first schema. Just forget please MC14051B and MC14052B. If you look now on the first (more basic) schema, you see that C is connected to block detect, means if a train is in the block, switch is closed and the entry C connected to mass 0. If you look into the table upper, you see that in all case where C=0, Z0 is connected to Z in the chip. Z0 is open at 12Volt so Z is also at 12Volt. Z go to the entry X0, putting it also to 1 (12Volt). X1 is always at 1 (12Volt), because not connected. The result is that X is always on 1 (12Volt) when C = 0, so Green always switched off. When a train is in the block, the signal from (before the track) this block can just be Red independent from all other signals around. We inhibited Green, but must yet switch on Red. This is the connection going over D4 to B. You see again in the truth table, if B = 0, Y0 will be connected to Y in the chip and like Y0 is on mass 0, the Red Led will be lighted. In the same moment yellow out = 0 will make the signal before to turn to Yellow, and green out = 0 will make the signal after to turn to Green. But if one of them is already Red, it will stay Red. Our train is now leaving the block. Absolute RED is terminated, the signal can now take 3 different states. C goes to 1 (12Volt) 1. If green in from before and yellow in from after are high (12Volt) A, B and C are 1, and like you see on the truth table, the signal is off, there is no train in the corner. That is approach lighting. If you want Green always on, just connect green in to mass 0, instead of the signal before. 2. If there is a train in the block from the signal before that show now Red, the green out going to the green in from our signal will be on mass 0. Over D1 A will be put to 0, and like it is shown in the truth table, Z1= connected to Z X0= connected to X Z1 is hanging on the mass 0, put 0 to Z, Z put 0 to X0, X0 put 0 to X, Green is on. 3. If there is a train in the block from the signal after, that show now Red, the yellow out going to the yellow in from our signal will be on mass 0. Over D2 and D3 A and B will be put both to 0, and like it is shown in the truth table, Z1= connected to Z X0= connected to X Y0= connected to Y Z1 is hanging on the mass 0, put 0 to Z, Z put 0 to X0, X0 put 0 to X, Green is on. Y0 is also hanging on the mass 0, put 0 on Y, Red is also on, the signal shows Yellow.
armand, I think this is the next step for the BAZ BoyZ modules. Since we are modular DCC, there are power blocks. Also, we have a LOT of turnouts so there is power routing. We can take advantage of the signals to mark power districs and same for some turnouts. Great work there, master baker !! '
Here is a preview of the Z-Scale Mast Signals for Type D targets. There are 4 signals per kit and enough targets to build almost any prototype. Sun shields are included. Each mast signal can be built as either a single platform or dual platforms. LED Modules prewired and only .030 thick are forthcoming.
Bob How do we gat a hold of these in December when you release them??? Direct from you??? What about the LED's for them, will they be included with the signals??? What a great product, and with winter aproching, i have lots of time to assemble and get my signal system working on the modules!!!!! I have a freind in Salt Lake that does custom wiring and control systems for DCC signal systems, and we looked over my modules at the last show..... I'm ready baby!!!! Tony B... Wasatch Z Club
You can Order Here. Advise you select USPS as shipping method instead of default FedEx Ground to save money. They will ship as soon as they get them from me next week. .
Just for the connection, and all that the people that will make some signals from kit or homebuild. Lets try to be logical and use if possible common + and not common - mass for LED's, even if it seems to be logical to connect everything to the - together. The biggest LED signal manufacturer Viessmann also use this common + standard from the beginning. Please dont forget, 99 % of electronic switching devices are open collector, including decoders. They all use the transistor as switch to turn on by connecting to the ground (-). This simple circuit eliminate most heat generated in the device, other way it would never be possible to hang big HO motor on a half stamp size decoder. But independent from this, if you make accurate layout under your track, one blank big copper wire will switch you all your installation (to the ground -) There may be a tentation to think in the way of battery torch, but in electronic most common is +. I made also small redesign of the first common + board with PCB screw terminals. This will make use more easy for people with no soldering skills.
