Automating your layout.

[Anonymous]

I have done a lot of work in this direction during the last few weeks. if anyone is interested in this subject please let me know. send me an email and i will send you a copy of the article i have just written about the subject.

This has really got me in and i am thinking about it a lot.


Rgds ian

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

I have done a lot of work in this direction during the last few weeks. if anyone is interested in this subject please let me know. send me an email and i will send you a copy of the article i have just written about the subject.

This has really got me in and i am thinking about it a lot.


Rgds ian

Make sure you get it (article) published in "LGB Depesche" [}:)][}:)][}:)]!!! [:D][:D]

BTW on automation; yes, I'm interested in how you get to have realistic pin point stopping accuracy with LGB MTS or Massoth!
I'm familiar on how to do that with at least one other DCC system in different scales.

[ttrigg]

Ian;
Are we talking "mechanical" automation, or "computerized" automation. A few years back had one where train A would park, start train B, B would park starting train C, C would park and cause D to start. Then D would stop startin C, and so on. Thi particular set up ran the TEE (Trans Europa Express) from O to HO to N to Z scales

[Anonymous]

No this is to do with automatically operating points (switches) to deliver an apparent random pattern of operation through a complex set of points and physical environment. This is to do with the complexity of my alyout.

It starts off with completely automating two LGB MTS reversing loops, ie when the loco goes around either loop, irrespective of its appearance, direction, size or shape the points will always be set so that the loco will hit the points with them in the correct alignment.

This will be taken much further when i get my next extension done connecting my area 3 up to the middle of a reversing loop in area 1 with an "el" running right across area 2, which includes an 8 metre salt water swimming pool and many tropical ferns and palms to wend its way through.

The logic behind the siting and polarity of the track actuated switches is very involved and head causing to do.

Our local importer has read my article and he is going to offer it to Depetsch to publish. Some have already asked for a copy and it is available form me just send me an email.

Rgds ian

[RhB_HJ]

One question: Is it designed/built according to the KISS principle i.e. as few parts as possible, all of them industrial grade, to keep maintenance to an absolute minimum??

[Anonymous]

The more of my layout i am including the the automation side of things, the more complex it is becoming; to the extent thast hardly anyone on ths forum would have the patience and brainpower to follow the step by step logic. But at the moment I have only got 2 switch drives 4 track contacts and 1 supplementary switch involved; but tjhe next step will include another 2 switch drives, 2 supplemnetary switches and 4 track contacts. this will be in and going in abpout 3 weeks. These two actions willbe cumulative in complexity.

Then when i do my next extension, which wont be untill after i come back from Europe in August, these figures will be increased by at least twofold and more in some areas and then it will be anything but KISS as all these sections causes the complexity to become to also be cumulative.

However all parts will be LGB, except the connection wires; I will have somehting like nearly 100 possibilities in what happens as the loco proceeds through the various sets of points, track contacts and over riding supplementary switches. Every part of my complex layout will be traversed in an apparent random fashion in both directois of travel for 1 and half circuits before going on, except the anticlockwise reversing loop then the only firection of traverse which will be clockwise.


Rgds ian

[RhB_HJ]

[:)][}:)][:)]

Just as I expected. [:p][:p]

Looking forward to the "what could be the problem" posts!

PS when you('ll) have a problem with "that stuff", please provide an accurate schematic. Reading and decyphering an accurate schematic will be a lot easier than a description. [;)][:)][;)][;)]

[Anonymous]

Hmm

Ian