Doai Station - 土合駅

I cannot remember how I get to this, but I was surfing the web and ended up in this page talking about the deepest railway station in Japan: http://www.totorotimes.com/doai-station-deepest

Check the page because it has impressive photos. This station is in the Joetsu line, and has one platform at ground level and another at 70 meters under ground, in the middle of the Shin-Shimizu tunnel!!!!

You have to walk 486 steps to get to the platform, you can see the number written:

I haven't been there, but being part of the JR railway network I'll visit it next time for sure!! Looks mysterious and interesting enough.

Loconet Outputs and Sound Module with LNCV configuration

Hello,

I think I finally did something that can be useful for others, a new program for Arduino which converts it to an Ouputs Loconet Module plus a Sound Module.

This first version is very simple, you can assign an output number to each of the free pins of Arduino. Pressing the "green" for that output the Arduino pin goes HIGH, and pushing the "red" goes LOW. Using Mosfets or Relays you can drive whatever you want, not just simple led.

You can also assign as many output numbers to as many files you have loaded in your MP3 shield. Each time the output is activated that sound file is played.

There are no more options in this "version 1" program, no pulse outputs nor input pins, but it will be implemented in future versions.

You can download the program from here.

These are the configuration variables (LNCV) that can be accessed and changed from the Intellibox, Uhlenbrock Software or any compatible software like RocRail:

LNCV	MEANING	DEFAULT
0	Module Address	1
1	Address pin 0 (0=Sound, 99=Debug)	0
2	Address pin 1 (0=Sound, 99=Debug)	0
3	Address pin 2	1
4	Address pin 3	2
5	Address pin 4	3
6	Address pin 5	4
7	Address pin 6	5
8	Address pin 7 (0=Reserved Loconet)	0
9	Address pin 8 (0=Reserved Loconet)	0
10	Address pin 9	6
11	Address pin 10	7
12	Address pin 11	8
13	Address pin 12	9
14	Address pin 13	10
15	Address pin 14 A0	11
16	Address pin 15 A1	12
17	Address pin 16 A2	13
18	Address pin 17 A3	14
19	Address pin 18 A4	15
20	Address pin 19 A5	16
21	Address first sound (0=No sounds)	50
22	Total number of sounds (0=No sounds)	10
23	MP3 Volume (0 to 30)	15
24	Sound Source (0=SD card, 1=SPI, 2=Udisk)	2
50	Config command:
	1 - Store config in EEPROM
	2- Reset Module

For Loconet communication, a Peter Giling's GCA185 shield is used. MP3 shield is from Elechouse.

Installing servos in Peco turnouts

Some posts ago I showed how I wire Peco electrofrog turnouts. 

Hace unos cuantos posts mostraba como cableo los desvios Peco.

Wiring Peco electrofrog turnouts

I also talked about the paper clips and using them as piano wires to move Peco turnouts:

También hable sobre el uso de los clips de papel como alambre o eje para mover los desvios Peco:

The power of the paper clip!!!

An today I would like to show the the complete process I follow to install a servo motor under a turnout. First of all, bend a paper clip in a "U" shape, with one arm longer than the other. Also mount servo in servo mount and screw the single arm to the servo. Before screwing the single arm (white plastic piece), make sure the servo is centered connecting it to the servo driver board. Y hoy me gustaría enseñar el proceso completo de cómo instalo un servo debajo un desvío. En primer lugar, se dobla un clip en forma de "U", pero dejando un brazo mas largo que el otro. Monta también el servo en el soporte y atorníllale el brazo sencillo. Antes de atornillar el brazo (la pieza blanca de plástico), hay que asegurarse que el servo está centrado conectándolo antes a la placa controladora de servos:

Put the paper clip in the servo as in the photo.

Se pone el clip en el servo como se ve en la foto.

Then bend the paper clip and cut the short side properly.

Después se dobla el alambre y se corta el lado corto a la medida.

That's the result before fixing it under the table. 

Este es el resultado antes de fjarlo bajo el tablero.

Put double sided tape on the servo mount to fix it easily under the table. This helps to keep the servo in place while we screw it to the table.

Poner cinta de doble cara sobre el soporte para poderlo fijar cómodamente bajo la mesa. De esta manera se puede atornillar luego sin que se mueva y se descentre el servo.

Before mounting it you have to remove the spring from the turnout in order to allow point blades to move freely. Of course you have drilled the needed hole before fixing the servo. Pass the clip through the hole of the throw bar and make sure servo and servo arm are aligned with the turnout. Also make sure point blades are in the middle of the movement, not touching any of the stock rails, and press the servo to the table. With the double sided tape it stays in place and you can screw it.

Antes de montar el servomotor hay que quitar el muelle del desvío para que los espadines queden sueltos. Por supuesto, antes de fijar el desvío se ha hecho el agujero necesario. Se pasa el clip por el agujero del tirante asegurandose que el servo y el brazo están alineados con el desvío y el movimiento que ha de hacer. Asegurarse que los espadines están en mitad de su movimiento, sin tocar ninguno de los contracarriles, y apretar el servo contra el tablero. Con la cinta de doble cara quedará fijado y se puede atornillar con seguridad a continuación.

Espero como siempre que os sea de utilidad. I hope this be useful!!