The final name change

Well after some thinking and consideration, I have decided the final name for my layout will be Hellier Train Care.

It will be a small train care facility that can act as a service point for locomotives of all types (bar electric, as currently there are no electrified lines in the south west)

It will remain based between Taunton and Yeovil and will be able to, for now only fuel up diesels, but its shop will be able to handle steam locos to do minor service between specials, I may also have it as stabling point for a heritage loco (that may or may not have been preserved in real life).

I would also like it to have a turntable, but I believe that at the moment with size constraints it's unlikely, however when it (I) gets a larger home and the layout is expanded.

At that point I will most likely be able to add more onto it and hopefully the train care facility will make up only a small fraction.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Building a DCC Decoder

Image
For some time I've been considering various ways of controlling points, the one thing that keeps coming back to me is to operate them through DCC, but perhaps also link it to a control panel that will allow me to combine it with the toggle Switch method. For some time I've been looking at Arduinos  and they may do what I need them to do. So far I've got a basic circuit and code set up, all thats needed is a servo to Test, which is on order, I shall perhaps upload a video once its all working. Though I'm sure some people may like to see whats been done so far. The Circut for the monitor which allows the Arduino to see whats going on Myna Bay DCC Monitor An Arduino Uno, any Arduino can be used for this, though its easier if you can attach shields to it The Prototype shield set up with the DCC Monitor Circuit  Now although Myna bay Provides a DCC monitor code to load onto the Arduino, it doesn't help us much as it only provides binary feedback
Read more

DCC Decoder v3 Firmware

Well I have been working on my arduino based DCC Decoded and am proud to announce that I have been able to create a firmware update Link Removed . This enable a couple of features on my pcb's which have had slight rewiring due to my silly errors. I still need to correct a few errors (such as a recently occurring servo chatter) but most seems to work fine. New Features include push button programming (in a similar fashion to train tech signal where you press a button and it takes the next address thats pressed) LED to show when in programming mode EEprom utilization to remember address when powered off Changes to come Push button adjustment of servo movement limit (may require new PCB version or control board) PCB Changes Added Reference ground Changed pushbutton resistor connection Removed 3 unusable pin headers Corrected resistors outlays for 1/4w resistors Added GND and 5v layers If anyone would like a copy of my new pcb and the updated list of components requi
Read more

The Price of decoder parts

Well, the decoder is almost complete (trying to find the right headers to connect the servo to the board), and so far I have found out how much all this would cost me, knowing what I know now, and this is just for parts. Below is a list of parts plus the prices Product Code Quantity Product Description Unit Price Discounts Line Total 22-0822 11 3 Way 2.54mm Kk Molex Housing £0.13 £0.00 £1.40 58-0598 1 6n137 Highspeed Logic Gate Optocoupler £0.79 £0.00 £0.79 64-0098 1 10k Cr12 0.125w Cf Resistor - Pack of 100 £0.69 £0.00 £0.69 47-3416 5 1n4148 Signal Diode 75v 150ma (tru) £0.01 £0.00 £0.05 85-3077 1 12vdc 2.5 AMP International Plug Top Psu £15.92 £0.00 £15.92 20-0960 1 Switchcraff DC Power Socket PCB Mount 2.1mm £0.65 £0.00 £0.65 08-0919 2 1uf 2.5mm Y5v Dielect Ceramic Capacitor £0.11 £0.00
Read more