Automation system for small DCC layouts

A simple automation system for small DCC layouts - ‘EzyAutomation:
No wiring
No track cuts
Simple programming of automatic sequences
This Part 1 video describes the system and how to programme the PIC controller.
A simple timed shuttle train is shown as a first easy example of the system in action.
The absence of wiring is due to the cunning system of two-way communication on the DCC bus - in this case the track. No track cuts are necessary because optical train detectors are used. These optical detectors use LDRs in the track base, and are automatically adjusted for the room lighting.

[@gsam6604]

Hi Julian, this is fantastic, this is exactly what I was looking for. Can you please let me know where I can get the DCC controller board
that you have shown in the video (PIC/16F684). Also where can I get a reference to all of the commands for programming the board.
Thanks in advance.

[@juliancoles1825]

Hello gsam, glad you like it! I suggest you email me with more details of what you want to achieve and we can take it from there. [e-mail]

[@peterworland5713]

Hi Julian I have just come across your video of your three rail 00 Hornby system, congratulations on such an excellent job. My interest was kindled because I still have my old Hornby 00 system from the 50s and have been considering passing it over to my great grandson. I am still at the research stage on the possibility of converting it to DCC. But I seem to remember that one of the motor brushes is fed via the wheels and chassis which obviously would not be acceptable for a DCC system. I wonder if you could advise me as to how you solved this problem. Does anyone supply insulating brush holders. I have three locos and a good selection of track and rolling stock so it would be a great shame not to bring it all back into use again. There seem to be plnety of DCC decoders on the market and I think there should be space inside the locos to accommodate one of the smaller samples. I have a 4MT 2-6-4 Tank, a 06-2 Tank and a Duchess of Atholl.
I hope you can offer some advice to an 84 year old retired engineer.

[@juliancoles1825]

Peter please email me: [e-mail]

[@simonbaxter8001]

Would have been more user friendly if the PIC had USB and the 'script' wasn't hardcoded into the PIC source code. You could just then download the script from a nice PC train automation editor application and then downloaded into the PIC via USB. At which point the script would be 'interpreted' by the main code on the PIC and do the calls to each function as you do in this video. Very nice project though.

[@juliancoles1825]

Simon: Thanks for you interesting comment. That's a bit too computer nerdy for me - I'm a simple soul. But if you would like to build such a system, I would be delighted. Anyway glad you liked the project.

[@johnjeanb]

Hi Julian. I fail to see how the Toti is involved in your program to report the train has reached its destination.
Also the Toti seems to answer-back directly on the track signal (DCC?). Is this true?

[@juliancoles1825]

John: In the example I give here no TOTIs are involved. That is to make it easier to understand the concept. In the next part - which will be published in a couple of weeks - I add TOTIs to the shuttle. And yes, the TOTI does indeed 'answer back directly on the track' to the controller. This what makes it a 'wireless system'. I explain how it is done in Part 2 and in the MERG Journal articles (Sept and Dec 2021). Basically it is like `Railcom' - a signal is sent during gap in between the DCC packets.

[@johnjeanb]

@@juliancoles1825 Thank you Julian. This is clear now. Jean

[@musoseven8218]

A really interesting project👍✌️😊
With such simplified wiring (no BUS) for DCC, is there ever voltage drop or runaways? Or is the layout too compact for such (plus it's tail chaser style)?🤔🤔

[@juliancoles1825]

Glad you found the project interesting. Certainly no runaways. On may actual layout (seen in the background and see earlier video) there may be voltage drops but not enough to affect operations as all locos have decoders with back BEMF. When an uncoupler is operated the voltage drops by a volt - but this causes no noticeable effect elsewhere. My other layout - much larger and seen on an earlier video - has no problems with the track as DCC. I take care to ensure that all rail joints are sound.