Excellent video. I like the idea of manually controlling signal aspects and this is a very elegant solution. Thank you for taking the time to put this together.
If you have *any* difficulties or questions *at* *all* feel free to drop me an email. You can find my email address by going to my home page and clicking the "...more" link (it's underneath the word "in" in "HO Scale Rio Grande in the San Luis Valley") I'll help as much as I can.
Where do you get your own PCBs made custom like that? I’m working on a 13 control point system with 40 3-led signals and 35 turnouts/interlockings, and 26 IR block occupancy sensors all driven from a single arduino nano. I’ve been trying to layout all the parts on perfboard, but it would save me a ton of time if I could have my 13 control point PCBs custom made.
Look through these comments for the question from @cabanabobshlemonjr2758 and see my response for additional details. Also, see my video: ua-cam.com/video/58Gbmabdz84/v-deo.html where I *briefly* illustrate the board design process using Fritzing and explain in the video description the process of ordering the custom PCBs. They are amazingly inexpensive: 15 boards will cost you less than $10. Select "Global Standard Direct Line" shipping - it is cheaper by far! Since you're going to need 13 nanos, you can save a *bunch* of money buying them from AliExpress. If you buy them without cables, they'll run less than $2 each - you just have to solder the pin headers to the boards. The LAFVIN Nano clones on Amazon are almost $20 for 3, bringing your total cost for fully assembled Nanos to over $80, versus about $20 if you solder your own pin headers. Good luck, and feel free to reach out for help. You can find my email address by going to my channel home page and clicking the "...more" link.
I order my boards from JLCPCB (jlcpcb.com). These guys print custom PCBs at *very* reasonable prices - you'll pay just over $4 for five boards and just over $7 for ten boards, *including* shipping. (BUT be sure to select "Global Standard Direct Line" shipping, which will take a little over two weeks from the day you order until the day you receive (based on my experience). To order the boards, go to my GitHub page (github.com/RJW496/DRGW-HO) and download the file named *either* Three Aspect Signal Controller v1.0_.zip (to control a single three light signal using a three position switch) *or* Six Light Signal Controller v1.3_.zip (to control one or two signals using an Arduino Nano clone.) When you click on the file name, you will see an apparently blank page, but click on the "View Raw" link and you will be prompted to select a location to download the file. Once you have downloaded the file, go to JCLPCB (or any other custom PC board supplier) and click the "Order Now" link. You will be prompted to upload a Gerber file. Select the .zip file you just downloaded from GitHub. Select how many boards you want (you can order in increments of 5) and select add to cart. Then go through the checkout process as you would with any web site. *IMPORTANT* I am not compensated in any way by JCLPCB. I learned about them from Jimmy on his Digital & DIY channel. While you're waiting for your boards to arrive, you can order the rest of the components you'll need. Hope this helps!
Thanks to Richard for doing all the legwork. I ordered and just received 25 Arduino Nano based boards from JLCPCB. While I don't think I will need 25 pieces that was a good breakpoint on the cost plus shipping. I can spare you a few if you still need them - cost plus shipping. - Tony.
You're absolutely right - this isn't for everyone. However, there are a large number of modelers who enjoy that aspect of the hobby, and hopefully, this video will appeal to some of them. Thanks for watching!
Excellent video. I like the idea of manually controlling signal aspects and this is a very elegant solution. Thank you for taking the time to put this together.
Very fine video, I’ve always wanted to get into arduino but never had a good project to start on. Here we go!
If you have *any* difficulties or questions *at* *all* feel free to drop me an email. You can find my email address by going to my home page and clicking the "...more" link (it's underneath the word "in" in "HO Scale Rio Grande in the San Luis Valley") I'll help as much as I can.
I am impressed, brilliant ideas!
I particularly appreciate the slow speed of your dialog.
Thanks. I speak slowly mainly to avoid tripping over my own tongue! (Try saying "single head signals" three times fast...)
Nice. Thanks for sharing.
Where do you get your own PCBs made custom like that? I’m working on a 13 control point system with 40 3-led signals and 35 turnouts/interlockings, and 26 IR block occupancy sensors all driven from a single arduino nano. I’ve been trying to layout all the parts on perfboard, but it would save me a ton of time if I could have my 13 control point PCBs custom made.
Look through these comments for the question from @cabanabobshlemonjr2758 and see my response for additional details. Also, see my video: ua-cam.com/video/58Gbmabdz84/v-deo.html where I *briefly* illustrate the board design process using Fritzing and explain in the video description the process of ordering the custom PCBs. They are amazingly inexpensive: 15 boards will cost you less than $10. Select "Global Standard Direct Line" shipping - it is cheaper by far!
Since you're going to need 13 nanos, you can save a *bunch* of money buying them from AliExpress. If you buy them without cables, they'll run less than $2 each - you just have to solder the pin headers to the boards. The LAFVIN Nano clones on Amazon are almost $20 for 3, bringing your total cost for fully assembled Nanos to over $80, versus about $20 if you solder your own pin headers.
Good luck, and feel free to reach out for help. You can find my email address by going to my channel home page and clicking the "...more" link.
Where can I get the PC board
I order my boards from JLCPCB (jlcpcb.com). These guys print custom PCBs at *very* reasonable prices - you'll pay just over $4 for five boards and just over $7 for ten boards, *including* shipping. (BUT be sure to select "Global Standard Direct Line" shipping, which will take a little over two weeks from the day you order until the day you receive (based on my experience).
To order the boards, go to my GitHub page (github.com/RJW496/DRGW-HO) and download the file named *either* Three Aspect Signal Controller v1.0_.zip (to control a single three light signal using a three position switch) *or* Six Light Signal Controller v1.3_.zip (to control one or two signals using an Arduino Nano clone.) When you click on the file name, you will see an apparently blank page, but click on the "View Raw" link and you will be prompted to select a location to download the file.
Once you have downloaded the file, go to JCLPCB (or any other custom PC board supplier) and click the "Order Now" link. You will be prompted to upload a Gerber file. Select the .zip file you just downloaded from GitHub. Select how many boards you want (you can order in increments of 5) and select add to cart. Then go through the checkout process as you would with any web site.
*IMPORTANT* I am not compensated in any way by JCLPCB. I learned about them from Jimmy on his Digital & DIY channel.
While you're waiting for your boards to arrive, you can order the rest of the components you'll need.
Hope this helps!
Thanks to Richard for doing all the legwork. I ordered and just received 25 Arduino Nano based boards from JLCPCB. While I don't think I will need 25 pieces that was a good breakpoint on the cost plus shipping. I can spare you a few if you still need them - cost plus shipping. - Tony.
I don't understand any of this electronics nonsense......it's just to complicated to me
You're absolutely right - this isn't for everyone. However, there are a large number of modelers who enjoy that aspect of the hobby, and hopefully, this video will appeal to some of them. Thanks for watching!