Switches and signals are wired separately. I have developed my own decoders, based on standard serial communication. I am also working on a train recognition system based on infrared transmission. This system is now in the prototype stage.
Right now, I just use my computer as a "Control Unit", but I have started to develop a more automated control system. The idea is to use a small Linux® based computer board from Acme Systems, built around the "ETRAX 100LX MCM 4+16" component from Axis Communications.
For the more low level electronics (switch decoders and such), I use PIC® processors from Microchip Inc. I have built the PIC-Programmer 2, designed by Jens D Madsen. The programs are developed using MicrochipTM MPLAB® development software, and the devices are programmed with the IC-Prog software written by Bonny Gijzen. The PIC devices I have used are PIC12C508 and PIC16C505. A PIC program template containing the source code for my serial receiver can be found here.
My Electronic projects:
| Current sensing train detection | A module that detects the presence of a train on a certain track segment by sensing the current drawn. |
| My train control system | I have started to design a train control system based on the Fox board from Acme systems. |
| My train recognition system | Here you will find more information about my train recognition system, with schematics, PIC code, pictures etc. |
| Lamp control module | A module to control lamps (e.g. street lights) on the layout directly from the PC serial port. The intensity of each group of lights can be controlled individually. Based on a PIC16C505 processor. |
| Light sequencing module | A module that turns on and off lights in a pre-programmed sequence. Based on a PIC16C505 processor. |
| Serial receiver template | PIC program template containing source code for a serial receiver. |
| Signal control module | PIC based module to control Viessmann light signals directly from the PC serial port. With soft light change. |
| Turnout control module | PIC based module to control turnouts directly from the PC serial port. With individually programmable pulse length for each port. |
| Connection of the 6017 booster to the Mobile Station | Here you find a description on how to connect a Märklin 6017 booster to the Märklin Mobile Station (or Central Station), with mfx feedback from the boostered section. |
Below you find some more information that I have put together. If you have any questions
you think I can answer for you, you are welcome to contact
me.
| Conversion of Märklin 2890 loco | An article about how to convert Märklin V60/260 diesel models to fully regulated digital with the 60903 kit. |
| Conversion of Märklin MaK models | An article about how to convert older Märklin MaK models to fully regulated digital. |
| Locomotive list for Märklin 60903 | A listing of the locomotives that can be converted with the Märklin 60903 conversion kit. |
| Locomotive list for Märklin 60904 | A listing of the locomotives that can be converted with the Märklin 60904 conversion kit. |
| Märklin 608018 decoder | A description of Märklin 608018 regulated decoder for MaK G1204 diesel models. |
| Märklin 6603 Delta decoder schematic | I have reverse engineered a Märklin 6603 decoder. |