Tenbione

[SHMD]

More wiring... ..lots more wiring!

 

 

First job was to add the track bus-bars.

For this I used 1.5mm solid mains "twin and earth" wire. I will have no "mains" voltages on (under) any of my layout baseboards so there can me no mistaking dangerous voltages.

The two main lines come in from the extreme left so that is four wires. These then become 3 sidings, which each have their own track-buses. I have deliberately extended the mainline bus bars, the full length of the baseboard, because these voltages are used (and switched) to the sidings as each route is selected.

The last two bus bars are for the electronics boards 12v supplies.

So, so far the track buses are in place and the associated droppers (threaded under the bus-bars to hold them in place and stop them from being snagged) are wired plus the electronics 12volt supplies are connected.

 

Next up was to add the Seep point motors.

The Seeps were positioned, over the 10mm holes, ensuring that free and easy point throwing was possible. The Seeps were then screwed to the base boards.

Wiring up the Seeps to my PDB1 controllers could not have been easier!

Also, the four frogs (5 really but 2 of the frogs are always the same as each other!) were connected - not the associated stock rails.

 

These next two close-ups show the wiring from the Seeps to the PDB1 controllers

These PDB1 controllers provide a programmable current/duration signal to each solenoid allowing me to tailor each points power requirements.

 

All multi-strand wiring on my layouts are crimped into "boot lace ferrules".

This is not just for neatness but massively increases reliability.

(As a bonus, the ferrules also allow easy and quick wiring changes!)

 

Here I have added the stock rail connections to the Frog polarity switching circuits. The (TTL) comms bus has been added (I have several design schemes for this to try!). Plus some route selection and siding isolation wiring to my PDB2 controller.

 

Another view of the same thing.

(Checking this photo, I have spotted 4 wiring mistakes!)

 

In wiring up this baseboard I have found having another (same) junction track formation handy greatly speeded up accurate working as I did not have to continually "flip" the base board to "see" what I was doing.

 

 

 

Oh, and before the proponents of radio control/battery power point out the obvious, may I say that at least half of the above wiring will still be required to automate the layout - even if there were no track (motive power) supplies.

 

I have not even started adding the signalling, sensors and (some) mechatronics wiring yet!

 

 

Kev.

 

[SHMD]

Stock taking...

 

Having done quite a bit of wiring underneath I decided to up-turn the base to see what I was doing!

 

I think, I would have added a few more droppers and a couple more isolation rail-joiners with hindsight.

 

..a reminder of what is happening on the (under)side.

 

I think I will use another project of mine - a 5" gauge diorama - to temporarily control the points and isolation sections.

 

 

Kev.

 

[SHMD]

Tenbione Sidings are nearly at the stage where I can power it up and start testing.

Just need to source (decide upon) some connectors to pass the various power and comms cables to the next baseboard.

 

So, I will need a means of controlling the electronics to test the point (motors), Frogs, Isolation sections and the main UP route controller selection.

The five lever Ground Frame (previous post) just does not have enough levers to test Tenbione Sidings wiring comprehensively enough so I have decided to use my self contained (portable) Toggle Lever Board.

This has eight levers and, with some (dubious) doubling up, I think it might work whilst testing some of the control concepts that I want to use.

 

The switches are 3 position on-off-on toggles and my TLB can sense all three positions and thus can transmit either 2 or 3 commands per lever depending on use.

 

I wired up the baseboard weeks ago but I have only just decided upon the Lever assignments.

Actually, I have swapped, changed and moved the lever uses A LOT these last two days as I learnt new things and thought of other uses/requirements. This is the advantage of me being in control of the design and programming.

(I may - just may - have got the lever numbering and colours somewhere near the prototype!)

 

 

Kev.

[SHMD]

Assigning and programming the Tenbione Sidings Baseboard Levers made me think some more...

 

I do want to make a "working manual Signal Box". If so, then it is now that I need to assign the Levers/commands and addresses for all the comms signals. Besides, I enjoyed producing the previous post's assignments - what better than a whole Box?

 

 

..some wagons to play/test the laid trackwork..

 

 

 

Things are coming along.

 

 

Kev.

(Not sure what order the pics will come out in as things appear to be "playing up" at the mo!)