* This new video shows an NCE "Mini-Panel" controlling 3 (THREE) N-ga. Kato DCC locos with factory-installed ESU Loksound decoders on the same mainline -- using no turnouts, no blocks, and just 1 Z-Stuff infrared detector.
* The detector does NOT even need to connect to the track; it just sits NEXT to the track.
There is a 6-minute-long "FAST-FORWARDED OVERVIEW" at the beginning of the video -- that allows you to "preview" the entire video in 6 minutes (the entire video is 54 minutes long).
If you want to SKIP the preview and SKIP my spoken introduction -- to see the first 'real-time' demonstration, just drag the 'Play' button to the 10:04 point.
But Will This Work For O Gauge:
This same sytem will control ANY scale of train with decoders that follow the open-source NMRA standard. This INCLUDES all MTH Proto 3 decoders.
An earlier Forum thread 'NCE DCC 'Mini-Panel' AUTOMATICALLY Controls TWO MTH Proto 3, O ga. 3-Rail Diesels Running Point-to-Point' includes links to several videos showing this same NCE system controlling MTH O-ga. locos.
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| A. QUESTION:
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I'm curious to know, if this Mini-Panel "Automatic Train Control" information is USEFUL to anyone in this group?? This setup would probably be most useful for an OPEN HOUSE, or a public DISPLAY layout.
I see people on other groups discussing JMRI, Rasberry P, Arduino, and other "advanced methods".
But I'm NOT SMART enough to figure that stuff out.
The Mini-Panel appears to me, to be EASIER TO LEARN ??
Previous Video #826, showed the same NCE system controlling 2 MTH Proto-3 O-gauge trains
on a small loop: https://youtu.be/J2RWOI7htf4
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MORE FYI COMMENTS, ABOUT THE VIDEO:
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| B. OPERATING LOGIC:
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We can accomplish this 3-Train Control with a very SIMPLE logic:
* One train is running on the mainline at Spd 8, and 2 trains are "parked" in the yard
* When the train on the mainline passes in front of the detector at the entrance of the yard, the Mini-Panel:
. 1) slows the mainline train to Spd 4
. 2) starts the rear train in the yard up at Spd 5
. 3) starts the front train in the yard at Spd 8,as it travels out onto the mainline .
* The Mini-Panel then executes a "Delay" statement of 15 seconds to pull the 2 trains in the yard forward, and then STOPS them after the 15 seconds elapses.
* This process then REPEATS, when the 'new' train on the mainline completes it tour of the layout, and passes in front of the detector.
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| C. FOUR OPERATING OPTIONS:
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* DEMO 1: A single PUSHBUTTON that the PUBLIC can push, causes the 3 trains to perform a SEQUENCE of making 1 trip around the layout, and then "parking" where they started.
* The locos will idle until the pushbutton is again pushed, then repeat the sequence.
* DEMO 2: Closing the 'Repeat' switch on the control panel, will cause the Mini-Panel to keep repeating the sequence.
* DEMO 3: Closing the 'Long Delay' switch on the control panel, will cause the Mini-Panel to use a 2nd 'DELAY' statement, which keeps the 2 trains in the yard running LONGER before they stop.
* DEMO 4: Closing the 'Keep Moving' switch will cause the front train in the yard, to run continuously (thus only 1 train will be "parked" in the yard, instead of 2 of them).
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| D. PART 2 & DOCUMENTATION:
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There is a Part 2 of the video, that reviews the wiring & commands used, at https://youtu.be/GCsco0sVxno .
There is a Google Drive album that contains the “documentation” at
