Hallett Cove Southern: April Update

In April there was no activity in the layout room but work was completed on the Top Level Signal Controls, a lot of activity occurred for Wayne covering JMRI Roster, Maintenance, JMRI WiThrottles, operating sessions and planning future improvements and Chris's WiThrottle too.

Top Level Signals

This month has seen work on the Junction Control Modules. I'll explain the concepts which are used using the first junction. I will go through the track arrangement, possible routes and consolidation of those routes. To ensure the micro controller code is working correctly I built a test assembly to simulate inputs and outputs to the Route micro controller.

Route Controls

The first junction consists of two parallel tracks with two pairs of cross overs.

The nomenclature is:

Entry/Exit "A", "B", "C", "D" - the [Booster_Area, Booster_Power_Block]
Turnouts "T1", "T2", "T3", "T4" - the [Layout_Turnout_Number]

List of all the available Routes and their respective turnout settings.

Turnout nomenclature:

"N" - normal or straight through
"R" - reverse or diverging route
"-" - position is irrelevant

Concurrent Route list

Consolidated Route list

Test Board

I setup the test board which connects to the TI Launchpad for:

Inputs 1 - 7 to simulate "Turnout State" - "Switch Up" = "N" & "Switch Down" = "R"
Outputs A - I to simulate "Route State" - "LED On" = Not Available & "LED Off" = Available

Turn-Onka Junction [T-JCTM-2 V1]

Module nomenclature [T-JCTM-2 V1] = Top Level-Junction Module Number- Version.

This is a "Junction Route Summary" page you can see the components explained above with the addition of a graphic showing the micro controller connections.

All turnouts in Normal position - Routes "A" [A-C] & "D" [B-D]

Turnouts 1 & 3 Reversed - Route "B" [A-D]

Turnouts 2 & 4 Reversed - Route "C" [B-C]

Turnouts 1, 2, 3 & 4 Reversed - Route "E" [A-X-C] Should never be used but a novice tower person just might do it!

NO valid route selected.

If you are interested the code can be seen here.

Stanvac Junction [T-JCTM-3 V2]

This junction T-JCTM-3 V2 is the same as T-JCTM-2 V1 with the addition of turnout "T5" on the approach from "A".

The additional turnout adds two additional consolidated routes.

Route indications are the same for Routes A, B, C, D & E.

First additional Consolidated Route

Second additional Consolidated Route

NO valid route selected

If you are interested the code can be seen here.

The Turn [T-JCTM-1 V1]

This junction T-JCTM-1 V1 is totally different for those before.

If you are interested the code can be seen here.

Signal Aspects

The standards I am implementing are shown below.

Signal Controls

The Junction Module's also have East and West Controllers that incorporates the Block Occupancy and combines with Route from the Route micro controller. Below are the same junctions as detailed above showing the East & West Signals to be Controlled.

The nomenclature is

[En] T-S-Ennn - [East_Signal_Output_Number] Top-Signal-East_Signal_Head_Number
[Wn] T-S-Wnnn - [West_Signal_Output_Number] Top-Signal-West_Signal_Head_Number

Where dual head signals are used the lower Head Signal_Head_Number is one higher than the Top Head i.e. E210 - Top Head E211 Lower Head on the same signal mast.