#4.sc - Assemble a DCC-EX Command Station @DriverDTrains

@DriverD Trains #4.sc - Assemble a DCC-EX Command Station
Welcome to Driver D trains. Thanks for stopping by! I’m your host Driver D.
Joining us today is our conductor and brakeman, Scratchy-C. [Meow!]
Recently I completed a series of videos on how to assemble and configure a basic DCC-EX command station to run our trains. When I began work on this project in June 2023, I thought that I would be making 1 video about DCC-EX, and it would take a couple of weeks to complete. Little did I know that the project would grow to include 6 videos and several shorts, and take 7 months!
In order to assist both new and returning viewers, I have compiled all the videos from the series into this one “supercut”, so that you can have the complete set all together in one place.
Videos in this series:
Part 1: #4.a - Assembling a DCC-EX Command Station • #4.a - Assembling a DC...
Part 2: #4.b - Installing & Configuring DCC-EX • #4.b - Installing & Co...
Part 3: #4.c - Adding Wi-Fi to DCC-EX • #4.c - Adding Wi-Fi to...
Part 4: #4.d - Configuring DCC-EX Wi-Fi for Station Mode • #4.d - Configuring DCC...
Part 5: #4.e - Adding and LCD Display to DCC-EX • #4.e - Adding an LCD D...
Part 6: #4.f - Correcting the Wi-Fi Firmware for DCC-EX • #4.f - Correcting the ...
The resulting video is quite long. To assist with navigation through the various parts, I have included a table of contents at the beginning of the video, as well as individual chapter markers in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Driver D trains!
02:51 Part 1 - Assembling a DCC-EX Command Station
20:02 Part 2 - Installing & Configuring DCC-EX Software
45:35 Part 3 - Adding Wi-Fi to DCC-EX
1:09:02 Part 4 - Configuring DCC-EX Wi-Fi for Station Mode
1:38:14 Part 5 - Adding and LCD Display to DCC-EX
1:59:23 Part 6 - Correcting the Wi-Fi Firmware for DCC-EX
2:48:07 Addenda - A Case for DCC-EX & Automation
2:49:49 What’s Next... Bonus Materials & JMRI
2:51:00 Credits
Links and Code:
DCC-EX: www.dcc-ex.com
Arduino: www.arduino.cc
EX-WebThrottle (Chrome browser only): dcc-ex.com/WebThrottle-EX/
See the following post on my community page for links to all products listed in the videos: • Post
See the following post on my community page for links and code to upgrade or downgrade the Wi-Fi firmware: • Post
Python code to upgrade/downgrade the Wi-Fi Firmware:
Python command to install the firmware (Mac users copy and paste this on the command line in Terminal when instructed to do so - BE SURE TO COPY IT ALL):
python3 -m esptool write_flash --flash_mode dio --flash_size 2MB-c1 0x0 boot_v1.7.bin 0x01000 at/1024+1024/user1.2048.new.5.bin 0x1fb000 blank.bin 0x1fc000 esp_init_data_default_v08.bin 0xfe000 blank.bin 0x1fe000 blank.bin
Memory Offsets for Firmware Binary Files (Windows users enter these in the Flash Download tool when instructed to do so):
boot_v1.7.bin: 0x00000
user1.2048.new.5.bin: 0x01000
esp_init_data_default_v08.bin: 0x1FC000
blank.bin: 0xFE000
blank.bin: 0x1FE000
What’s next?
In my next series of videos, I will introduce you to the basics of JMRI, the Java Model Railroad Interface, and show you how to use JMRI with DCC-EX and the Wi-Throttle and Engine Driver apps to program your locomotives and run your trains. This initial series of videos will focus on JMRI’s Decoder Pro app, and JMRI throttles. I’ll come back to the Panel Pro app and turnout control later.
However, before we dive into JMRI, I have a few other deliveries to make, including some bonus materials from the DCC-EX series.
All aboard!
[Meow!]
DriverDTrains ©2024

[@mgar2112]

Fantastic series. Thank you for doing this. I often refer others to your videos. Do you think you might do a video on stacking motor shields?

[@DriverDTrains]

Thank you so much for your kind comments. I really appreciate the support. I'll have to look into stacked motor shields at some point in the future. : ) Thanks again! DD

[@rolftammen4482]

Goodday......i think the Motor Shield from Hans Tanner/ IOTT will be a good idea too..........thats from USA and shipping will be less expensive

[@DriverDTrains]

Thank you for your kind comments! I do want to try out Hans' IBT-2 motor shield board sometime. I also want to try the DCC AUX board with the IOTT stick on it or possible a Red Hat Shield. So many things to try! : ) When I do I will certainly make a video about it. Thanks again! DD

[@stephanweinberger]

@16:15 that's what wire ferrules are for... never use stranded wire directly in any sort of screw terminal, but crimp on ferrules.

[@DriverDTrains]

Thank you for your kind comments. That's a great tip! I've used ferrules in plenty of other applications but not in one like this. I've ordered a new crimping tool and will report back on the results in a future video. Thanks again! DD

[@BriansModelTrains]

Looking forward to seeing you use a physical throttle and some more automations. Best to Scratchy C!

[@DriverDTrains]

Thank you again for your kind comments, and you know Scratchy-C always appreciates the love. I will definitely make a video with some of the different physical throttles I have used with DCC-EX & JMRI, as well as some more videos on automations. So many things to talk about! : ) Thanks again! DD

[@rolftammen4482]

ups......i forget.......So much thanks for thoose videos ...i have learned so much from you!...best regards from Germany

[@DriverDTrains]

And I'm so glad you're enjoying the videos and find them helpful! Thanks again! DD

[@donaldkormos5529]

Thanks for your DCC-EX videos ... always fun to learn and experiment. I started with the LCD display (4 lines) but have switched to the white OLED display (7 or 8 lines). You might want to give it a try ... much easier to read. All the best ...

[@DriverDTrains]

Thank you very much for your kind comments! Yes it is fun, and model railroading offers a lot of opportunity for, shall we say, trial and error. But it is satisfying to find and correct those errors and learn along the way. That's a great suggestion about the OLED; I will definitely need to give that a try sometime. Thanks again and enjoy! DD

[@pietersnackaert]

Could you also make a video on how to connect a pca9685 to your arduino with servo's, your videos are clear while other people leave parts out. Which means I wasn't able to get it to work.

[@DriverDTrains]

Thank you for your kind comments. Yes, I do plan to do some videos on turnout control, including using PCA9685 modules to control servo motors (for turnouts or other features). As I mentioned in the video, there are a few other things I want to cover first, so it may be a little while before I get to that. Sorry you haven't been able to get it to work yet. There's both a hardware and a software component, and the software is probably the tricky part. In the meantime, hoping you are able to get it to work. If not, look for the videos in the future. Thanks again, DD

[@pietersnackaert]

@@DriverDTrains yeah i was able to find it after some time, i bought the pca9685 on wish, because it was cheap... turns out its i2c adress was on 0x03 which me and a mate from the model railway club figured out, but it wouldnt communicate with the board, i had 2 of them and it wouldnt work, well a couple days ago i bought ones from the store i bought my mega and motor shield and they instantly worked, i had everything down except for the wish hardware.