My New Super Chuffer Board Demo

Yep, I believe the hardware work is all done for now, now I can work on the software and add a couple of features I'm thinking of.  The good part is these can be field upgradable very inexpensively, just pull the old PIC chip out and pop the new one in.

I can't wait to get one of these installed in a steamer!

Looks great!

The good part is these can be field upgradable very inexpensively, just pull the old PIC chip out and pop the new one in. 

Very cool feature.

Let me know when it's available, I want one for my Penn Atlantic.

Chet

We'll spread the word when the units are available.

Outstanding, John!

Hopefully I'm still on your list...

Best,

Dave

Depends on the list Dave.

John...I watched the video and my smoke detector in the house went off!!...

Alan

Well, I can't take credit for the volume of smoke, that goes to MTH for the smoke unit!

I think the correct pun is "you must be stoked" <G>    

WELL DONE  JOHN

As always and to be expected from you, John - a most dedicated and superlative effort resulting in a spectacularly stunning and "must buy one of these" result. Rather than you being an authorized repair tech for Lionel, they should contact you to hire you on to be part of their engineering/development team. That is if they are interested in going heads up against their #2 competitor.

Kudos to you gunrunner!!!!!

Thanks guys!   I don't think I'm ready for the big leagues yet, but it's been a long time since I did design work on this level, so I'm just getting my sea legs.  The peanut gallery offered a lot of good suggestions that made it a better product as well.

Hey John,

Excellent work! I will no doubt embarrass myself by asking this question, but here goes anyway:  if I understand correctly, your chuffer board could function without Railsounds installed; i.e. only with a TMCC board such as a cruise commander and a reed switch, right?

I realize this may baffle some to not have sounds in sync with the puffing smoke but I am one of those operators who likes to run several engines at the same time but have sounds from only one of them. Two or more engines putting out sounds quickly gets on my nerves. This is also a way to keep expenses down when upgrading a lot of steam engines to ERR. RS can always be added later if desired but I would like to have the puffing smoke from the get-go.

Looking forward to seeing your installation instructions for the board.

Regards,

Mack

No problem at all running with no sound, just don't connect the chuff output to anything.  You'll still get the smoke operation and the lighting options.

Those have a puffer smoke unit, so my board really isn't applicable to that locomotive.  This is strictly for fan driven smoke units.

John, I have the PE original steam engine. What you told OGaugeGuy, is mine also just a puffer?

If your wonderful creation  is not for mine, I might have to buy a steamer just to use your super chuffer board!

You have to look it up by product number on the Lionel site in the parts section.  Look at the exploded parts view and see what you have.  I'm pretty sure it'll have the puffer.

Hi John I posted the PRR Q-2  with the first version in it.

John,  This is terrific design and work.  I can't wait to see them for sale.  Boy, wish I was closer to Lansdale!!!  I hope you do well with this financially but I know it is a labor of love.  Best of luck with the chaffer board!

I think it's safe to say I won't get rich on this one.  It's just been an itch that I've wanted to scratch for some time.  I could never find a reasonable solution, so I decided to do the only logical thing, build one.

Its very cool the way it turned out.

Got any more itches?

Well, I'm considering a diesel model that has ditch lights, mars lights, cab lights, markers, etc.  It would drive all LED lighting directly and eliminate diodes and resistors.  The markers would be directional and change polarity when you reversed direction, making it easy to have those features.

Some one suggested a cheap module to control passenger car lighting, if I could get the price down enough, that might be useful.  The usual issue there is the basic parts cost, especially the boards in that case.

Some modules to add audio would be nice to have, that's one area that certainly could use improvement.

Of course, the area of layout signals and control is fertile ground.

Looks and synchronizes wonderfully.  Good luck John!

GRJ, there are several good medications that can take care of the Itching, but they are only for physical itches!

Thank the Train Gods that they did not allow any cure for this type of itch!

Keep on Itching! or maybe Trainitch?

Yep, the creams and pills just weren't doing the trick anymore.

Glad to hear the good news.

What time are you guys at the train club on Sunday Nights?

I want to drop off something for H3 and see the layout but also 4am Monday Morning comes early and do not want to stay too late.

Dennis, we're usually there by 6:00-6:30.  Harry gets up around that time to go to work as well, so by 9:00-9:30, we're on our way out.

I think you've discussed this in the past, but as a suggestion for a future board, if it is feasible:

A board to control the original horn and bell on a conventional locomotive, after the locomotive has been upgraded to to an ERR cruise control, but you don't want to spend the money to upgrade the sound boards.

Might not be enough profit potential as the market is hobbyists who don't want to spend the money for Railsounds boards.

That's actually something that has been done.  I have a beta version of it.  I was thinking that ERR would have posted it for sale by now.  It takes the serial data and actually powers a horn/bell button.  Contact ERR and see if they're going to offer it any time soon.  I know Jon Z. said he was busy and didn't have a lot of time to devote to side projects, so maybe this is still in the pipeline somewhere.  I have no idea what the pricing might be, but I know he was thinking of a pretty reasonable price point.

It works great connected to the serial data from a Cruise Commander and driving a couple of different whistle/bell boards.   Here's a quick shot with my cellphone camera.  If you want to discuss this further, I'd suggest a separate thread in the TMCC/Legacy forum.

Thanks for the info. I can be patient and wait until ERR makes an announcement.

Hi Dennis 

Hope to see you soon the doors are open for you to visit us guys at the club. Sunday if you get down as early as 4:00pm that ok.or Monday  around 5:00pm I stay up till around 9:30 pm to 10:00pm  like John said 4:00 am comes fast For work.

Harry,

Didn't see your email but wanted to get a rain check for tonight as having to put new brakes on my wife's car is taking precedent. Hopefully, next Sunday!

Perhaps Harry should put his email in his profile.

Gunrunnerjohn,

   Now that is way cool, no doubt about it!  Fantastic engineering John.

PCRR/Dave

Amazing smoke effects - great job John!

Thanks, I was pretty pleased with the enhancements from the first version, I think this one's a keeper.

John,

1.  Can one turn the smoke on and off using the remote?

2.  Can one change the sound of the whistle to a different type?

Thanks in advance,

Steve

The smoke heater is still controlled the way it is currently.  If you can turn off the smoke now from the remote, you'll be able to when this is installed.

This board has nothing to do with changing the sound of the whistle, it's a smoke and lighting controller.