Brixington Town 2.0

[dale159]

Quick update,

 

I'm still here! Nothing to report on the layout since the last update although things should start moving again soon.

 

We've currently got some builders working in the house who have decided to take up the space in the middle of the garage with all their equipment so I haven't always been able to access the layout.

 

As the next stage is wiring the probably won't be a huge amount of interesting things to look at until trains start running!

 

In preparation of the builders finishing and leaving us this weekend I have been on eBay and bought.......

...... For use across board joints, 16 (8 pairs) of 20 pin ATX motherboard extension cables and 6 (3 pairs) of 4 pin molex extension cables, these will be used as a sort of bus cable for the twin controllers between the two control panels to increase operational flexibility.

 

One other problem I have to resolve is how all the wires will get into the control panel, there will be about 150 wires, I had hoped to have a row of chocolate blocks from one end of the panel to the other but it isn't long enough give me all the terminals I require, so more rethinking is required.

 

Dale

[dale159]

I know I said there wouldn't be many updates but I thought this was worth posting.

 

The first pair of the 20 pin ATX cables with the outer ends cut off and fitted into chocolate blocks.

 

And then fitted on the layout between the front corner and the lifting section, sorry its a bit blurred, I was having to stop the whole lot tipping over onto the track with my right foot just out of shot!

 

Today I have ordered the 6 24 pin ATX cables I require and some 10 pin computer ribbon type cables to go between the two halves of the lifting section and two back boards including enough parts for the two expanding boards if exhibiting.

 

Dale

[dale159]

A couple of items from the weekend

 

While wiring up the lifting section I figured I mights as well lay track and wire up one of the exhibition expansion pieces

 

And from underneath, the cables I've used are 10 pin computer ribbon cables, I ordered 3 40cm cables simply cut them in half. Of course to complete the second expansion piece I will need a 4th cable, not quite sure what I was thinking when I only ordered 3!

 

No fancy electronics here, just a pair of track feeds spliced into the 10 wires that pass through it and the outer ends joined together to protect the pins

 

Dale

[dale159]

A quick update.

 

As before I've been busy underneath the layout connecting up all the wires that were dangling down. I am pleased to report that everything has now been wired back to the centre board adjacent to the control panel, next I need to work out the best of getting all these wires across to the panel.

 

A couple from today

 

Having wired up the two boards across the back wall I figured I had to sort out the other expansion board, of course the three together are wider than the garage so I had to improvise somewhat! Using the exhibition legs for the corner boards I then G-clamped them to the sides of the other boards.

 

The 4 way molex cables from a few posts ago have been fitted and will form part of a bus between the two control panel's, these are connected using household twin and earth cable stripped out with the live and neutral cables utilised.

 

The first trains moving are approaching rapidly!

 

Dale

[dale159]

No photos today, however -

 

My control panel is starting to resemble a piece of Swiss cheese having drilled another 104 holes in addition to the 60 odd it already had, 8 6mm holes for more section and point switches relating to the scissor crossings and the other 96 3mm holes to house LEDs.

 

I have also been over the panel with the black paint pen again patching up a few places where the lines had been damaged by all the drilling and I've also been over it with a pot of white paint patching up a few places where I'd changed the design slightly and a bit at the back which was damaged by the masking tape I used when I cut the piece from some 4x2 hardboard.

 

The next job on the panel once I've completed making paint repairs will be to remove the top surface and cover it in some sticky back plastic (Blue Peter style!) then once all back together I will be able to start installing switches.

 

Dale

[dale159]

And so after last nights post.......

 

......Here's one I made earlier, as can be seen by the reflection of the lights the panel is now laminated in the frame with a piece of sticky back plastic from Smiths, unfortunately there are one or two air bubbles that need persuading out around the drill holes, hopefully the switches themselves might disguise them a bit.

 

Worth mentioning that I nearly caught myself out went reassembling it, got 2 1/2 screws back in only then decided I to check I'd put the mimic back in the right way around - yeah I should've done that first I thought as I started undoing said screws!

 

Dale

[dale159]

A couple of things from this week

 

The Control Panel has now been populated with all the switches, thanks to a delivery from the post man this morning

 

Using a couple of spare point motors in stock I fabricated these boards, these will reside under the control panel and will be a form of interlocking for each pair of scissors to ensure that only one crossing on each set can be thrown at a time.

 

And here's the circuit diagram I have worked out for this, note that both wires to reverse the crossings are pink on the layout but for clarity of the diagram I have changed one to green.

 

Next job is to start making things work! Once I've worked out the best type of connector to use between the panel and the layout.

 

Dale

[dale159]

Quick one from last night,

 

Wired up the two interlock boards and tested them, all worked as planned (apologies for my dodgy soldering!)

Each motor will have one more pink wire coming from the switch but this will be added once I've sorted out how long they have to be depending on where these boards get mounted underneath the control panel.

 

Colour coding is - purple for normal, pink for reverse and yellow for the common feed.

 

Dale

[dale159]

I've been looking on the internet this afternoon for the best method of connecting the control panel to the layout.

 

My initial count up told suggested there should be 146 wires to be connected between the control panel and the layout, I will be going out to the garage to double check that number before I order anything.

 

From my internet research I have been intrigued by a variation of D plug into which a computer ribbon cable can be crimped.

 

http://www.rapidonline.com/cables-connectors/25-way-d-idc-plug-19-0400

 

Although not available from Rapid I have seen this type of connector available in 37, 50 and 68 pins, I suspect I will opt for either 4 37 way connectors or 3 50 way connectors, also the use of ribbon cable within the panel should keep the wiring much neater. I have learned from previous layouts of mine and other people that ordinary D plugs with soldered connections are very fragile and susceptible to internal melting so I was keen to avoid using them at all costs, the reason for this can be seen by the cruel close-up my dodgy soldering exhibited in the photo in the previous post!

 

Dale

 

 

[dale159]

I've been looking on the internet this afternoon for the best method of connecting the control panel to the layout.

 

My initial count up told suggested there should be 146 wires to be connected between the control panel and the layout, I will be going out to the garage to double check that number before I order anything.

 

From my internet research I have been intrigued by a variation of D plug into which a computer ribbon cable can be crimped.

 

http://www.rapidonline.com/cables-connectors/25-way-d-idc-plug-19-0400

 

Although not available from Rapid I have seen this type of connector available in 37, 50 and 68 pins, I suspect I will opt for either 4 37 way connectors or 3 50 way connectors, also the use of ribbon cable within the panel should keep the wiring much neater. I have learned from previous layouts of mine and other people that ordinary D plugs with soldered connections are very fragile and susceptible to internal melting so I was keen to avoid using them at all costs, the reason for this can be seen by the cruel close-up my dodgy soldering exhibited in the photo in the previous post!

 

Dale

 

Well after a bit more internet searching it seems that the 37 way plugs are few and far between and priced to match. Instead I have ordered 6 pairs of 25 way plugs from Rapid exactly as per the link and 6 metres suitable ribbon cable, so once all that turns up their will be some progress - Watch this space

 

Dale

[dale159]

Time for some action

 

despite being on annual leave again this week I haven't been able to do much due to awaiting for the postman to bring essential items, however I have now taken delivery of all the things I require to do some wiring.

 

6 metres of 25 way ribbon cable.

 

6 Pairs of 25 way ribbon cable D plugs.

 

I order to prepare for the mass wiring session I dismantled the fiddle yard side of the layout and then put it back up on its back, minus the middle board, resting on the two chest of drawers that usually reside underneath, this is so I can reference where each wire comes from.

 

The middle board was then clamped into the workmate and the control panel fitted on top.

 

Having done all that I discovered a slight oversight I'd made was that I'd effectively imprisoned myself in the garage! So the whole lot was then pushed along to clear the door but his left rather an overhang at the other end which I feared could tip up.

 

Never mind, the situation was quickly resolved with what I'd describe as 'Clarksonian engineering' (a hammer was used!)

 

Tomorrow the soldering iron will be in operation quite a lot, good that I also ordered some old fashioned solder with Lead in from Rapid at the same time as the D plugs. Also I notice theirs a failed rail solder joint on the back corner board which will need repairing

 

Dale

[dale159]

So then, now that we are into the new year its time for some more modelling.

 

I haven't made as much progress as I'd hoped on the electrics side as I wasn't certain of what I wanted to do but things should pick up shortly after a bit of a Eureka moment.

 

I have now made a start on the underside of the control panel, which in hindsight I could have done months ago but I never gave it a thought, also I have now added 2 support braces underneath.

 

Unfortunately while the fiddle yard has been its dismantled state over the Christmas period 2 of the tracks ends have become damaged, these have now been removed for replacement when the layout goes back together, but nothing that will hinder the electrical work.

 

My previous plan for connecting the control panel to the layout was via 25 way ribbon cables, but I wasn't happy with the thin wires supporting the weight of the d plugs an nor was I happy with the thin wires running to the chocolate blocks on the main board as they would have the potential to get pulled out, and from my experience gained from the other uses of ribbon cable they are quite fiddly to work with. And so for my Eureka moment, I discovered what is called a breakout board, basically a 25 way d plug on a board with a screw terminal for each pin

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171581436606?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181610140135?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

On that basis 6 males and 6 females were duly ordered about half an hour ago, so whenever they turn up I will be able to make some progress.

 

Dale

[Memphis32]

The brass screws those rails were soldered to - they should have been tinned first to give a stronger joint.

[dale159]

The brass screws those rails were soldered to - they should have been tinned first to give a stronger joint.

Thanks Mike,

 

I will do that when I make the repair and on subsequent joints around the layout.

 

Dale

[class"66"]

Some very nice work here Dale...

 

 

cheers neil..

[dale159]

My breakout boards have arrived from China this week and today I have a day off to do something with them.

 

Only slight problem with them now is they don't have any screw holes to fix them down and they are a bit deeper than the three inch timber I used on the control panel so unless they are somehow secured really well then they could be vulnerable to getting knocked off especially if the panel is away from the layout. I have a roll of double-sided carpet tape to hand but I'm not convinced that's going to be substantial enough - time for some head scratching!

 

Hopefully a further update later today depending on progress

 

Dale

[dale159]

After about 5 hours of work on and off I've barely scratched the surface

 

A quick rummage through the garage produced a solution to securing the boards

 

Nearly 3 hours later the central section had been to connected up

 

Overview of the job having just stuck the outer 4 boards down

 

Then started over on the left hand side

 

All in all there is probably about a 40 or so hours work to get all the connections in place.

 

Dale

[dale159]

Another day spent looking at the underside of the control panel

 

After overcoming an early technical issue, I noticed that the ratchet mechanism was starting to come apart last week but today it finally gave up.

 

The remaining 6 breakout boards were glued up side down to the inside of the board and I started by connecting up the central 9 isolating sections.

 

Then I made up the 6 ribbon cables to join them all up.

 

I've now run out of things I work on in the warm confines of my bedroom so for my next day off on Wednesday I will have to brave the garage referencing what goes where from the rest of the upturned layout.

 

Dale

[dale159]

Another day spent looking at the underside of the control panel

 

After overcoming an early technical issue, I noticed that the ratchet mechanism was starting to come apart last week but today it finally gave up.

 

The remaining 6 breakout boards were glued up side down to the inside of the board and I started by connecting up the central 9 isolating sections.

 

Then I made up the 6 ribbon cables to join them all up.

 

I've now run out of things I work on in the warm confines of my bedroom so for my next day off on Wednesday I will have to brave the garage referencing what goes where from the rest of the upturned layout.

 

Dale

[dale159]

A bit more steady progress on the electrics

 

Having moved out of the warmth of my room and back out into the garage.

 

Underneath the control panel I have joined all the sections of copper tape together with some thicker gauge red and black wire

 

Starting on the left hand side of the board I have connected all the track and point feeds up to the breakout boards

 

Then moving over to the right hand side I have completed all of the track feeds and started on the point feeds with the three for the scissor crossing.

 

So only about 25 wires remaining to connect up between board joint and breakout, but I still have to link the point feeds back to their switches within the control panel before we can have a test run.

 

I have just ordered the other 2 required point detection indicator boards too so they will need to be integrated at the same time.

 

Dale

[dale159]

A couple of hours out in the garage this morning before I go to work later.

 

I have now connected up the remaining wires from the board joint to the control panel

 

Overview of the job so far.

 

Now I have to join up the point wires within the control panel and associated LEDs. I have now taken delivery of the other 2 point detection indicator boards I needed. Given that I will be using 3 of these boards I have split the point wiring so that each of these boards will have its own CDU, probably a bit overkill but I think it will simplify things in the event of a problem. I also need a 12 volt supply for the relays and point detection boards separate from the track controller.

 

11 days off work coming up in a few weeks time, so fingers crossed for a test run before then!

 

Dale

[dale159]

Another productive afternoon in the garage today.

 

 

The pair of Scissor interlock boards have been glued into place

 

And wired in.

 

Next I started on the point LEDs, starting with those for the scissor crossings. All temporarily powered by a 9v battery and some jump leads at this stage.

 

Straight ahead

 

Facing crossover

 

Trailing crossover

 

And another gory close up of my dodgy soldering. On my point indicator boards all the LEDs are on a common positive feed.

 

16 LEDs down, only another 80 to go!

 

Dale

[Removed a/c]

That is some serious wiring !!! I wouldn't even know where to begin. 

[dale159]

I have been slowly chipping away at small but important jobs over the weekend.

 

All the point indicator LEDs are now in place and wired in with 3 separate common positives, one for each detector board,

 

And the detector boards have been mounted on pieces of 12mm MDF and glue gunned to the underside of the panel.

 

Next the job of working out which pink and purple wires control which points, routing them into the correct switch on the panel and sorting out its LEDs - getting there - honest!

 

Dale

[dale159]

I've been getting stuck right in to the control panel wiring over the last 2 days.

 

First up I fitted the two din sockets for the handheld controllers - one on each side of the panel.

 

I have also installed a 4 way extension lead at the bottom of the board, after a slight oversight

Soon rectified.

 

And so the job as it stands tonight..

 

 

Still to be connected are;

 

Din sockets

2 more CDU's - which I need to buy

12 volt supply to all the point detection boards and out to all the relays and the scissor crossings

Source a suitable transformer for the track supply, thinking of using a Hornby one I have in stock for this.

 

And one more small headache with the point detector boards and the scissor crossings - I need to somehow interlock the straight ahead LEDs, they are fed by 2 different outputs on the detector board, the LEDs have a common 12 volt supply and each terminal on the detector board is an earth which is switched on to 0 volts when the LEDs are to be illuminated - think I've made that simple enough. Hopefully something as simple as a diode or 2 will do the job but its just a case of where to put them but I fear something more complicated will be required.

 

Dale