Here some pictures of the layout. Still working on some of the wiring for signals. The yard will be tested this week. Also included a night shot for fun. The gray panel over the control panel is my programming track. It doubles as the emergency stop with the selector switch at the right.
Thanks. Eventually I will automate the town with MagnoRail stuff. The traffic signals already operate, and are synchronized to each other. The building interiors did not quite work like I wanted, so I may have to do this over...
Yesterday I finished all of the signal lights on the layout. The signals are controlled for train direction by Azatrax IR sensors and boards. I use a bunch of opto-isolated relays (really cheap) to control the 5V for the relays but only draw a few milliamps from the controllers. I use Arduino UNO microcomputers for the control. John at Azatrax designed the control boards so they can stack on each other so one computer can control a lot of signals. Now to tackle the yard...
Today I finished the power connections to the yard, and tested everything- lots of scrambling around under the layout. Then, I went a goofed a solder jumper and locked up a switch. Sad. So replacement on the way. Except for the switch, all of the yard works correctly. Woo Hoo! Oh yeah, it is 114 outside...
My wife will be down there next week to see her mom and take a little side trip to San Diego to visit a friend. I'll wait until the trip she will probably take in Sept.....hopefully a little cooler then. It is a 6 hour/400 mile trip for us from SE Utah. Sumner
