IoTT Cube Customizable DCC Command Station (Video

[@robleathley6024]

Once again your designs are pure genius! I think that this will go a long way in making DCC-EX a reality for many. Great work!

[@IoTT]

Thank you. Well, I am basically just integrating what's already out there, but sometimes this creates interesting new features ;-)

[@pierrelambert446]

Great simplification of the DCC ex system by your contribution.

[@IoTT]

Thank you. It's called the KISS principle ;-)

[@jimbates6227]

Up to now, I have felt a bit lost when trying to understand how, or if, I should consider your solutions for my DCC implementation. This video has really helped me with that analysis. Thank you for this video and for your work.

[@IoTT]

Thank you. Glad it helped!

[@scentgrasslakerailway]

Thanks, excellent concept creation and presentation!

[@IoTT]

Thank you. It was really fun to make that video.

[@jerrysmith1929]

I have ordered the AUX shield and look forward to receiving mine. I already have built my DCC-EX command station and cut the VIN trace, so will also need a new motor shield before I can try out your device. I believe the AUX is a great idea, but am concerned about potential for wide, long term availability. Using widely available inexpensive components, it seems to me, is at the heart of DCC-EX.

[@IoTT]

If you cut the VIN trace in the correct location , it should be no problem to bridge the gap with some solder or maybe a short piece of wire. The DCC AUX shield at the end is only a DC/DC buck converter, and those components will always be available, so no worries about that. But you are right, the modular concept of an Arduino command station has great potential and it is core for low cost as well as configuration flexibility.

[@hans8975]

Ooooh, this will be good when it is available. My summer rebuild of my layout will be great fun.

[@IoTT]

Thanks. So, I better hurry up making everything available, summer is coming soon ;-)

[@steenrudberg]

Nice design

[@IoTT]

Thank you!

[@2sk21]

Very impressive!

[@IoTT]

Thank you!

[@geesharp6637]

Great addition. This added so much flexibility and also simplified the redhat. I believe I have the prototype redhat shield. I'm going to loose track of the differences. 😄

[@IoTT]

The DCC AUX Shield is sort of "RedHat light" as it does not have the Loconet interface hardware. On the other hand, the DC/DC converter moved to the DCC AUX Shield. This allows for better scalability for different user groups. In other words, single power supply is now an option for all users, not just the Loconet guys.

[@lutzmuller5703]

@IoTT Hi, I didn't quite understand how the whole thing works. With an analogue system I have two cables that go to the rails, how exactly is the motor shield connected? Do I understand you correctly that there is full voltage on the track and the direction and speed are set by the frequency? Greetings as Germanys

[@IoTT]

Here is a short video kzbin.infotebRHRqWykQ that explains the difference between DC and DCC. To learn about the technical details of the DCC bitstream you should study the NMRA standard documents. The motor is a H-bridge that amplifies the bitstream of the controller to give it enough power to run a locomotive from it.

[@rccrawlervenezuela]

Hi Hans Incredible work, you really managed to create a jewel for all modelers in the digital world. Everything simplified in a stack that combines all the power needed to manage a mockup. Having my IoTT Stick (Not Plus), Arduino MEGA and UNO and L298P Shield R3 Motor Driver Module, would I only need to order the DCC AUX Shield to be able to integrate my basic stack? Thank's

[@IoTT]

Yes, adding the DCC AUX shield would connect the Stick to the Stack and give you Loconet over TCP, WiThrottle and Loconet over MQTT connections. Plus reduce your power supplies to a single one.

[@rccrawlervenezuela]

Excellent, on the waiting list! @@IoTT

[@hb9dod]

Hi Hans, great Project. I will order the whole stack when the power aux board comes available. One question: Do I still have to make a usb or LAN connection to my computer when i want to operate with itrain/rocrail oe some of those programms? Because an aruino ethernet board will not fit in the stack

[@IoTT]

The IoTT Stick is using the serial connection, so it is not available for computer connection. Instead you connect JMRI and other software using Wifi via Loconet over TCP. I believe Rocrail can act as Lcoonet over TCP client, but you have to check. JMRI can, WinDigipet can as well.

[@billflude5204]

Hi Hans I ordered a Power Shield yesterday. I already have a Red Hat with integral buck convertor. My stack will have an Arduino Motor Shield, Power Shield and Red Hat. I will run the system on HO voltages. Do I only need one power supply - if so where do I connect it? Cheers Bill

[@IoTT]

That's right. You set the VIN jumper on the PowerShield board and supply up to 18VDC to it, and the entire Arduino Stack will be powered, including the motorshield, with 5V supply provided by the RedHat DC/DC converter in this case.

[@billflude5204]

Thanks Hans - this just gets better and better!

[@BananaTie]

Hello Mr. Tanner. Love your work , I am just starting a small layout with DCC-EX and wanted to use some of your excellent hardware. Do you know of anyone who sells the enclosure frames? I do not own a 3D printer and would like to buy them somewhere.

[@IoTT]

Well, I do occasionally print some frames for people. I just don't want to be a printer farm, so I do not list them in the shop ;-) Send me an e-mail to [e-mail] to let me know what frames and colors you want. Pricing would be as outline in the video.

[@BananaTie]

@@IoTT Thank you for the opportunity. I sent you an email. Take your time, no rush!

[@rinjk3a]

I am stuck now, I have no 3D printer and I would like to have the enclosures. I will be requesting a set. I have UNO/R3 motor shield/Red Hat with headers.

[@IoTT]

I need to know color and frames to make you one. Picture is helpful to see if you have spacers between motorshield and RedHat.

[@rinjk3a]

@@IoTT I have no spacers between motorshield and RedHat. Black for UNO and Motor and Red for the RedHat.

[@pierrelambert446]

I think LCC will gain some momentum following the release of the tcs command station.

[@atanisoftware]

Unfortunately DCC-EX is unlikely to support LCC natively without moving off the 8-bit AVR platform. However, the IoTT stick could implement the bridge between the two if there are sufficient io pins available, which I'm not certain there are. LCC enabled command stations are available now and there are a few more major manufacturers working on new products for the same (I'm working on such a project now)

[@pierrelambert446]

@@atanisoftware yes i know Dcc-ex is unlikely to support this protocol. But Iott can easily do it. If it not directly on the red hat. It can be on a separate hat. In all case there already a converter module between loconet and LCC existing.

[@atanisoftware]

​@@pierrelambert446 Yes, there is an LCC LocoNet gateway on the market now which supports CAN/LocoNet/USB connections. I won't say it can't be done, but it certainly won't be done easily for IoTT stick based devices without making some feature sacrifices along the way. The biggest challenge will be IO pins *IF* the CAN connection *AND* LocoNet connections are on the same board. There may not be sufficient IO pins available for this to work.

[@IoTT]

I played with LCC back in Video #45 the first time, but that was a simple computer interface, basically a CAN to Serial converter. No node management functionality, which can be added at the cost of lots of code space. Right now I am not convinced that LLC is the way forward. 800% or so more overhead than Loconet and at the end it does the same. Serial port needs to run at 400 Baud to keep up with the administrative messages. I watched Larry Puckets video this week about the TCS LT50 and did not see any unique features. And from a conceptional point of view (CS in a handheld, that later, when using LCC) on only serves as throttle, it is a fiasco. So for the moment, I just keep watching what's going on and thinking through potential options.

[@atanisoftware]

LCC has a lot of potential, partially due to open standards, but I do agree that it has a significant overlap with what LocoNet / XpressNet / Z21 / etc does as well. One of the biggest problems with the industry today is interoperability between manufacturers. It's quite challenging to pick up a throttle from DigiTrax and use it with any other manufacturer in a native fashion (there are adapters/translators but it's not "native"). This is one area that LCC can help solve. Right now the biggest thing that holds back LCC is manufacturer adoption. TCS is one of the first to embrace LCC and run with it. TCS isn't the only one embracing LCC though, I've been working with a manufacturer on refreshing their product line to include LCC functionality. The first product of which should be on the market this summer with others following closely thereafter. I can't share any details yet other than users will be very excited to finally be able to find/purchase these products after they've been out of stock for a while now.