I don't use Kato turnout, I have actually looked at Kato instructions, but since I don't have any, I can't really address that. It looks possible, but for now I can't offer any help with that.

You can solder directly to the holes, you can add a pin header like on the left side, you can solder on screw terminals. Headers and screw terminals are available online from almost any electronics supply Co or even Amazon

@@SPKPRR thank you ! Your videos are amazing

If you are just using the PCA to trigger a relay, then yes you can. I prefer an I/O device like the MCP23017, but either can work. The first two PCA's are pre defined in DCC-EX, so all you need to do is trigger the correct pin in your AUTOMATION(). when you want to trigger the relay, use the SET(pin#) command. to "untrigger" the relay, use RESET(pin#), where (pin#) corresponds to the pin your juicer is connected to. Connecting to the PWM and GROUND pin, there is a built in resistor that limits current. You may want to use the V+ and PWM pin, with the NEG connected to PWM.

@@SPKPRR Thanks, I'll try looking into it. The plan is to use some PCA's to move the servos and some more PCA pins with relays to change frog polarity. I'm trying to keep that in DCC EX itself, so there should not be any mishap (or with a much lower chance) than keeping the frog juicing on a separate device. I'll also check this IO board as well. Thanks

I am WAY behind in getting new videos posted. I'm trying to get to some new stuff, but I don't know when it's gonna happen. I do have an earlier version of video with info on the momentary buttons. If you want to see that one, just skip forward to the sections on momentary switches. It is an older version that uses ide instead of EX-installer, but you may find it helpful. Wha are you wanting to accomplish with the enclosure?

@@SPKPRR Thanks I have watched to older video and managed to work it out from there into Ex-installer. My idea is to incorporate a mega, breakout board (piggy back), motor shield, PCA9685's (4) all into one case, maybe an LCD display. I like things neat and tidy! not ideal for large layouts but in the UK we have small houses 🙂 The current 3D print enclosures on the EX website are either small or very complicated. I like things simple as well. Keep up the good work

And the main thing is that using this, the cost is also low.😊

Yes you can. I do that exact thing, although I do it through DCC-EX, but you can code your Arduino alone to do it as well.

@@SPKPRR Does that mean I can program the Arduino with the DCC-EX files?

You could. If you are using DCC-EX, you can program the whole thing in on Arduino (Mega) to control your servos and LED's through the PCA9685. You could have a separate Arduino with DCC-EX installed, but you run into issues with your Command station communicating with the separate Arduino. I use one Arduino with my DCC-EX CS programmed to read the buttons from my turnout control panel and control the LED's and Servos. I have been really busy lately and haven't been able to get to my next video, which will deal with this exact topic. I hope to get to it in the next couple weeks, but no guarantee.

@@SPKPRR Thanks for the info. I'll check back every so often. I may give it a shot to see if I can get it to work. I have made 3 servos, 3 push buttons and 6 LEDs work on an Arduino Pro Mini. Took me 3 or 4 months to get it to work. Found out the screw terminals were causing the problem. So I hard wired most of it to my pc board. Haven't installed yet on my layout but it works great.

Either 3mm or 5mm will work, or a mixture of both.

I am using an 8channel(zone) block detection kit from the Model Electronics Railroad Group. merg.org.uk/ It is a UK based group. Once you are a member (about $36/year us) there are quite a few kits you can order. You will need to assemble them (Solder parts to a pcb board). I have done multiple kits, the instructions are clear and easy to follow. Beside the ability to order these kits from them, they publish a quarterly magazine that has lots of good articles on members doing some neat things with electronics. Lots of Arduino based stuff. also lots of online articles and info available. definitely worth the cost of membership. I think the 8 ch block detector was about $35 shipped to the US. Compare that to single and 2 channel options available. These are designed to work with DCC, wont work on DC signal.

The UNO doesn't have much memory. You definitely won't be able to do the WiFi connection, you would have to connect through jmri. Even then, there is very little memory for automation and you would not be able to add much. That's why the Mega is the choice.

Flashes on and off once or keeps flashing. Are you adding the led definition or just using full bright? Hard to say without knowing wiring setup or seeing you code

There will be a video coming up on using mcp23017 expanders, but I can't promise when.

@@SPKPRRI just watched you video again and I thank you for response and looking forward to seeing an MCP23017 configuration, I have 7 PCB setup with Diode Voltage Drop circuits giving me 7 x 6 channel so 42 inputs and a logic outputs to the MCP23017 board I designed and got a PCB made ... ... Regards John

I just whatched your video again and this time I could grasp more how you installed the Turnouts etc, also I am still building my layout as wondered if I could use the same concept to add the MCP23017 inputs using HAL , I will probably have more than 8 devices but DCCEX on Discord said I could use the TCA9548A module to add more I2C devices ... Regards John

Not enough info to offer any advice. Are you trying to control servo turnouts? Follow the methods in this video, it tells you how to set it up. Using only one PCA9685 you only need to define the turnouts. What is the address of your 9685?

Managed to get it working, typed HAL(PCA9685,100,16,0x40) in myHaldevices.h and SERVO_TURNOUTS(100,100,300,170,slow, "Turnout_1") in myTurnouts. My Automation is as yours is. Looking forward to watching your future videos.

Managed to get one point working on 9658, it is as out of box. But added other points to it, all new ones operates the first point setup.

I show an example of how to flicker an LED to simulate a flame using FADE() and DELAY().

In the planning stages

​I found the solution, to less amps on the power supply. I replaced it and know it works fine. My next project is the DFPlayer mini. I can't get it to conmect on DCC-EX 5.0.

I do not have other social media. I am on Facebook, and a member of the DCC-EX page, but I don't generally post to my own timeline, just as part of the DCC-EX group.

To add the green LED, just duplicate the SET(x) command, but have it set when you CLOSE the turnout, and RESET the red LED, i.e. THROW(turnout_address) RESET(green_LED_address) SET(red_LED_address) and CLOSE((turnout_address) RESET(red_LED_address) SET(green_LED_address)

It issomething I made, had the board fabricated by JLCPCB. As I redo and update my current videos over next few weeks, I will make the gerbers and parts list available.

The PCA9865 probably won't work to fire the relays, but a MCP23017 i/o extender may work, depending on the relays.

@@SPKPRR Based on your suggestion, I checked the MCP23017 however before committing to MCP23017, I did some more research and experimentation. I am glad to let you know that PCA9685 worked and it can fire the relay. Keep your videos coming, they are very informative. Thanks for creating them.

I am using a kit from the Model Electronic Railway Group (MERG). it is a UK based group of really smart people who have designed multiple kits that can be used in DCC systems. You must be a member to order the kits, but I think annual membership is ABOUT $35 US. This gets you 4 quarterly magazines with great articles, tons of technical bulletins, knowledge base as well as access to the kit locker. The 8 channel block detection circuit is about $35 shipped to the US, but it is a kit and must be soldered.

It is a header board I created in Kicad and produced by JLCPCB.

I do plan to do a video on I/O expanders this winter/spring that should apply to the MCP expander.

I have not dealt with JMRI much. I have connected through it, but mostly for Decoder Pro. DCCEX does so much, I haven't found the need for JMRI, including rosters, automations, routes, and more.

@@SPKPRR Thanks, I am just starting out and JMRI was recommended but it sounds like I should dig deeper into DCC-EX instead.

???

@@SPKPRR sory, tried to paste an error with the message, i guess i cant do that on here. I followed your video on the servos, 20 in total but when i try to verify it gives me an error message of compilation error: RMFT.h: No such file or directory. Its in the DCCEX.h tab, line 20 to 22

@@bobbyboy1962 Bob, I have replied to you on the DCCEX facebook group. It looks like you need version 5.0. I have NOT found a good way to do advanced customizations through EX Installer, I think you still need IDE for this. Once you get 5.0 working, then try the servo_turnout commands. I'll keep watching to see if this works for you.

Well, since different servos have different pulse durations, it's hard to give exact numbers, but typically in the range of 105-495

EXAMPLES of the code are in the video. You will need to write the code specific to your needs and can use the examples given as a guide

According to the DCCEX team, route, sequence and automations can be anywhere in the range of 1- 32767

Turnouts should be in that range too

There are multiple ways to control LED'S with DCCEX, including io expanders, direct off of the Mega, PCA9685, and others. This video is just to show examples of how it can be used. I choose the Mega because of the number of i/o pins available without adding extra hardware, but yes the edp32 is an option. Thanks for looking.

DCC-EX defaults to the closed position of all servos on startup. You can add some Sequences or macros to run at startup if you want certain turnouts in the thrown position. To test, put a turnout in the thrown position then reboot your DCCEX. your turnout SHOULD close on startup. Anytime you throw or close a turnout. Dccex keeps track of this.

When using the AFTER() command, there is a .5 second delay built into DCC-EX. so, by the time the train exits the sector, the block detector stops sensing the load, DCC-EX reads the sensor, delays .5 second and sends the command to turn the signal, we end up with the delay. It actually is good timing, I like the delay. From what I can find, the LED's are being driven at the same 50Hz. I did read somewhere you can set the frequency for 1000Hz for the LED's, but I forgot where and exactly what the command is. But even at 50Hz, that is too fast to be noticeable to the naked eye. Think about standard lighting, which operates at 60Hz here in the US, and I THINK 50 Hz in Europe. You don't see any flickering at that frequency. That probably is why you see it in the video, there the frame rate makes a difference and makes it noticeable.

The pins on Arduino are set to be input signals. The command AT(pin#) Automatically watches the pin# for a signal (HIGH or LOW). Commands like ONTHROW(turnout) or IFTHROWN(turnout) use "Counters" set up by DCCEX to monitor the state of a turnout, not the status of a pin.