Coming Soon:
Pictures will appear when the board is available

DCC CurrentSense

I have been giving a lot of thought to specific problems we ran into when implementing the Automatic Block Signal System.

The BIGGEST problems we ran into was how to sense trains in the Trestle and the Tunnel modules. The Trestle module is in full light, but the construction is so delicate that we didn't want to touch the track on the actual trestle. The Tunnel modules have the problem of being DARK so light sensors can't see light without adding lights or IR emitters in the tunnels. Lights make the tunnel look weird and IR emitters require a bit of accuracy and pretty much one emitter for each sensor.

Our Layout travels to different shows and there is often a problem with adequate lighting so the sensors are often convinced there are no trains present due to the lack of light.

My solution suggestion is to use current sensing in every block you design.

Now, before you start screaming that you want to go photo based so you don't have to add resistors to each car in your fleet, here is my solution:

This will only work if you have a DCC system. I will work toward a DC solution once the DCC version is finished.

The NEW DCC CurrentSense Board will contain the electronics required to sense the current flowing through the wire feeding each segmented block. You will run the track feeder wire through a pick-up coil which senses the current flow. It will then provide the correct power directly to the appropriate Signal Light Controller. You will NOT need to purchase any MultiSense Boards or Event Controllers as these functions are incorporated in the new design. If you want to add resistors to your railway cars, then you don't need to worry about the optical portion of the new board. If you want to use the NEW Optical Sensors (one at each end of the block) to sense the railway cars until they leave the block, you just need to buy the sensors, emitters and connecting cables. If you only run trains in ONE direction, then you only need to install ONE Optical Sensor.

The NEW Optical Sensor uses embedded emitters on either side of the sensor and "sees" the reflection of the infrared light off the bottoms of the railway cars. The sensor gets installed in the middle of one Track Tie and the emitters get installed in the open space between the adjoining ties so they are around 3/4" ahead and behind the sensor.

The emitters are 3mm size so they require a reasonably small hole and just need to be above the track bed, NOT above the ties.

The sensors are something "borrowed" from Robot Designs. We are currently using Sharp IS471FE which are Pulse Width Modulated and have a SHORT range so you don't have to worry about sensors being "turned on" by stray Infrared Light Beams. The sensor is around 1/4" x 1/4" and require an oblong slot just alongside the tie you are going to embed the sensor into.

This is a huge departure from the original "SIMPLE" system and it requires a little more work to install the sensors AND emitters but a little effort goes a long way to making the signals work ALL THE TIME - including when you want to run the trains in the dark!

The NEW Optical Sensor is being designed to work along with the DCC Current Sensor Board and each board will support TWO Blocks per board. I designed it this way because a lot of users have dual tracks in each module or section so this saves a little by sharing the cost of a single circuit board.

Send me an email if you want more information about this new system.