FireBox: A Tiny DCC Train Controller

David Cutting Jun 17, 2020

  1. David Cutting

    David Cutting TrainBoard Member

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    Hey everyone! I've put a lot of work into improving and re-branding my SAM Command Station, and I would now like to preset FireBox. I have created a Kickstarter, where you can back the project. You'll notice that I've managed to reduce the price of the finished controller drastically due to economies of scale. See the Kickstarter page for more details:

    https://www.kickstarter.com/project...irebox-a-tiny-dcc-train-controller?ref=7gqf2a

    [​IMG]

    David
     
  2. FlightRisk

    FlightRisk TrainBoard Member

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    That just looks sweet! And orange for the fire :)
     
    David Cutting likes this.
  3. Keith Ledbetter

    Keith Ledbetter TrainBoard Member

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    Ya looks really nice and at a great price point. Is the frimwre flashed through the USB port I assume? Sorry just fully read the site and says through USB. Again think it's great. I will get one. I'd like to test the programming on som of my flaky/older decoders.
     
    Last edited: Jun 17, 2020
  4. David Cutting

    David Cutting TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, the board will come pre-loaded with the DCC++ EX firmware, installed on top of a bootloader which will allow for upgrades over USB. There's also a JTAG port if you prefer to do things that way, but that's for more advanced users.
     
  5. Atani

    Atani TrainBoard Member

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    Sent in my backing of this, I'm not planning on using it on the layout but will have it around for testing etc.
     
    David Cutting likes this.
  6. Keith Ledbetter

    Keith Ledbetter TrainBoard Member

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    Well let me be the first to say congratulations. Fully funded in 2 days. Think this is a great thing and gives even more legs to DCC++ EX!

    David is the plan to load whatever the latest version of the production branch on github at time of ship or pick a version before for all shipments or ?
     
    FlightRisk, Atani and Mr. Trainiac like this.
  7. David Cutting

    David Cutting TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Keith!! And everyone - THANK YOU for your support. This has been such a success so far, and there's still 30 days left in the campaign. I'm now starting to work on expansion boards that will be available after the campaign is over - including a booster station board and LCC/loconet expansions. I'm so excited to get these boards out to y'all!

    All the boards will ship with the most recent stable version of the firmware.
     
    Atani likes this.
  8. Atani

    Atani TrainBoard Member

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    Your welcome! I'm glad that you were able to get fully funded so quickly.

    Please send the schematics/PCB image for the LCC boards before you have them manufactured so we (myself and OpenLCB dev/compliance) can review so there are no surprises or major design changes required when you have them made up. The review would also be available for the CS if you like (and yes we can keep it confidential if desired).
     
  9. David Cutting

    David Cutting TrainBoard Member

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    I sent out an update to backers over the weekend, there is a link to it here: https://www.kickstarter.com/project...box-a-tiny-dcc-train-controller/posts/2869528

    In summary, I've made some major changes to the board:
    • Change the processor to the SAMC21 to make life easier for the LCC fans out there
    • Use a higher pin-count version of the processor so that there's more pins available for user expansion.
    • Fully isolate the USB interface to protect your computer. The isolator chip can withstand 2500V.
    • Switch the h-bridge from the DRV8874 to the DRV8873 so that there is better short circuit protection and the board runs cooler

    I'm hard at work making a couple of expansion boards, and details will be available on those in the next few days. Expansion boards will be available as add-on items after the campaign is over, and before rewards ship.

    Thanks everyone for the continued support!

    David
     
    KC Smith, Sumner and Atani like this.
  10. mrtinvan

    mrtinvan TrainBoard Member

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    Is this capable of running a Withrottle server directly onboard?
     
  11. David Cutting

    David Cutting TrainBoard Member

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    We are currently developing this capability, should be ready in the next week.

    Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
     
  12. FlightRisk

    FlightRisk TrainBoard Member

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    Just to be clear, and I guess the cat is out of the bag now, this and a lot more is built into the DCC++ EX software, so it will work on the FireBox, which gives you a lot less hassle with everything in one box, but also works with an Uno or a Mega by adding an ESP8266 WiFi board. We think a lot of people will like having a complete Command Station, but for those who already have an old DCC++ setup and don't want to upgrade to a FireBox right now, they will be able to add a $2 board and a couple of jumpers and have WiFi and WiThrottle and can use Engine Driver for example to run trains without any other hardware or software. We have more testing to do on the Uno since memory is a constant issue with that board.
     
  13. David Cutting

    David Cutting TrainBoard Member

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    Today is the last day of the campaign! I just posted another update to the project, which can be found here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wasatchscalemodels/firebox-a-tiny-dcc-train-controller/posts

    Most exciting part of the update is that the WiFi module has been upgraded from an ESP8266 module to an ESP32 module. That means that there's now onboard Bluetooth and BLE available!

    Anyways, as the campaign comes to a close I look forward to getting boards out to everyone. Thanks again for making this possible!
     
    Sumner likes this.
  14. zcoast

    zcoast TrainBoard Member

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    Manged to back this project 35mins before it expired. Very excited, and definitely looking forward to the LocoNet expansion board. (y)
     
  15. warnerj01

    warnerj01 TrainBoard Supporter

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    So jealous. I just found out about it and I missed out on supporting it by an hour
     
  16. esfeld

    esfeld TrainBoard Member

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    David, sorry to say that I too missed the deadline (busy with Covid care taking) but am behind it one hundred percent and look forward to purchasing a production unit.
     
  17. mrtinvan

    mrtinvan TrainBoard Member

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    Is there any throttle code within the DCC++ EX core?

    I see tons of people building command stations with the DCC++ and EX code, as well as projects that Dave Bodnar has developed, but not a ton of DIY projects for throttles, especially ones that could be WiThrottle/Engine Driver replacements. I for one, love tactile feedback from a device. My ESU CabControl is great, and the TCS throttle looks cool as well. I'd love to be able to bash hardware together, but my code skills are lacking. If at some point this becomes a project within the DCC++ EX family, count me in.
     
    Sumner likes this.
  18. FlightRisk

    FlightRisk TrainBoard Member

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    We have a lot of projects going. The first is direct support of WiThrottle commands, which means you can connect Engine Driver directly to the command station. We will have an option for a hardware throttle which we actually have a design and graphics for. But that is a ways away. We are also talking about the existing throttles and what it would take to connect one to the CS. So as of today, DCC++ EX understands <DCC++> commands and WiThrottle commands. The throttle command is < t REGISTER CAB SPEED DIRECTION>. So any device that sent this string to DCC++ or DCC++ EX would drive a train. If the device can connect to a WiThrottle server, that would be a possibility with DCC++ EX
     
  19. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Likewise on the tactile feel. I have the parts to build two of Dave Bodnar's wireless throttles and have an Uno running DCC++ that I want to connect to. I think I'm clear on how to do all of that.

    I also signed up for one of David's FireBboxes to support that project and to hopefully run it in the future. I'm a little unclear on how or if I'll be able to connect one of the wireless throttles to it if I build them. Out of date on electronics but assume that I'd connect the HC-12 to a RX input on the Firebox but would need someone to hold my hand on that and let me know if that is all that would have to be done????

    Nothing urgent and I'll be interested in following what you guys are doing in respect to this. I would like to use the parts I have at this point though. I now use an Android but don't like it for the lack of feel. I've considered making a snap on case for one that would give me a couple controls by contacting the screen itself but that would have real limitations and only be practical once the loco had been chosen.

    Sumner
     
  20. Keith Ledbetter

    Keith Ledbetter TrainBoard Member

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    Well I'm pretty bummed David wasn't able to bring this to fruition but such is the risk dependant on one college student in his spare time. Thanks for all the work so far and hoping other hardware gurus can potentially pick up the project where he left off.
     

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