Closed for winter

 

Closing the rack - wiring - part 10

 With all the shelves wired to the Molex connectors, I can now close the rack!

And while turned on:

Wiring - part 9

 This is the last part of wiring before closing the rack! This is for shelf #1 with the 4 Lenz LS150 that commands the switch motors.

Not much to mention here; it's the same process as before.

Wiring - part 8

In this section, I focus on the connections between shelf #2 in the rack and the layout. I have spent a fair amount of time finding connectors that can carry the 5 Amp from the command station to the layout. I chose the MX150 connectors from Molex.

Connectors Molex MX150

Those connectors are meant for the automobile industry but will suit my needs just fine. They are available on Amazon, but also on Digi-Key and Mouser:

• Molex 16 Pin on Amazon
• Molex 20 Pin on Amazon

The instructions are pretty clear, but it takes a bit of practice to wire those things properly.

In addition to the connectors, the following supplies were needed:

• IWISS Open Barrel Terminal Crimper on Amazon
• 18 Gauge cable on Amazon
• Cable tubing 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch on Amazon

Connector diagram

Here's the wiring diagram for shelf #2 to the Molex connectors:

Final result

I've tested each terminal connection from the shelf to the screwing terminal that will be positioned under the layout and everything worked as expected!

Train cabview at Ascq

 

Custom test bench - part 3: Wiring

Wiring

The wiring was fairly straight forward:

Finished product

And here's the finished test bench:

I left quite some space on the panel to allow for a future installation of a LED display to show voltage and current consumptions. I'm thinking about an Arduino project.

Custom test bench - part 2: Components & Diagram

 Since the goal for this test bench is to host all testing options, I have the following inputs:

1. DC power
2. DCC with my Roco Z21 multiMAUS
3. ESU LokProgrammer
4. AUX which is in fact my ESU ECoS 2 Command Station

and I have 3 outputs:

1. Track 1
2. Track 2
3. ESU Decoder Tester

Each track can take any of the 4 inputs, but obviously, the Decoder Tester will only take the 3 DCC inputs.

Components

Here's the list of all components for this part of the test bench:

• Athearn 9997 Trainpak Power Pack - link
• Roco 10810 Z21 multiMAUS - link
• ESU ECoS 2 Command Station - link
• ESU 53451 LokProgrammer - link
• ESU 53900 Decoder Tester - link
• 2 Rotary Switch 2 Pole 5 Position - link
• 1 Rotary Switch 2 Pole 4 Position - link
• 3 knobs - link & link
• USB A panel mount connector - link

Diagram

A simple wiring diagram:

Custom test bench - part 1: Woodworking

As I need to digitize a significant number of engines, it became clear that I need a test bench that can host the DC and DCC stations. I also purchased a decoder tester and a decoder programmer from ESU; those will also be placed on the test bench.

The first step is the woodworking part. I didn't do any precise plans, just going off by the size of the plywood I got and hoping wood glue will do magic.

• 6mm 1/4 x 12 x 24 Inch Premium Baltic Birch Plywood - here

I didn't take pictures of every step, unfortunately.

Digitization of a Z 24500 Jouef - intro

This is going to be a multi-part post on the digitization of a Z 24500 from Jouef and more specifically the Nord-Pas de Calais version HJ 2001:

Parts

In this section, I'm listing all the components for this work:

• ESU 54614 LokPilot v4.0 for the side without a motor to control headlights and interior lighting; purchased from Train Modelisme
• ESU 54671 PowerPack Mini for LokPilot V4.0 to prevent flickering of the interior lighting; from eBay
• ESU 58419 LokSound v5.0 for the DCC Sound control; purchased from Train Modelisme
• LED strip, warm white 4000K, 600 SMD on 5 meters, 12V:
• 3 colors: yellow 3000K, warm white 4000K, daylight 6000K - the warm white is obtained by turning on both the yellow and the daylight LEDs; purchased from Amazon
•  1 color; purchased from Amazon
• Miniatronics 3-Pin Micro Mini Connectors MNT5000301; from eBay
• Passenger models purchased from Amazon

Resources

• Notice from Jouef

Several links to articles and posts about digitization and interior lighting:

• Article in RMF 563 from June 2012
• Biscatrain
• Blog

And links for the real unit:

• Europe train
• Blog
• Maligne-ter

And some videos to see the interior colors:

• Video from Simply Railway
• Video from SteveTC59
• Video from Productionstudio 92

The next post will be about the installation of ESU 54614 in the side without a motor.

Shelf #2 wiring - part 7

 This shelf carries the ESU ECoSDetector modules. I have the following items:

• 1x ESU 50094 - http://www.esu.eu/en/products/digital-control/ecosdetector/ecosdetector/
• 3x ESU 50098 - http://www.esu.eu/en/products/digital-control/ecosdetector/ecosdetector-rc/

The ESU 50094 has 16 inputs for detection, but only 4 are RailCom. The ESU 50098 has 4 RailCom inputs.

Schematic

Here's what I designed on Anyrail:

Wiring

Here are these several steps with pictures:

Completion

And here's the final result:

Shelf #1 digital

In this post, I summarize the digital configuration for all switch motors:

Switch reference	Lenz decoder	Digital address		Switch reference	Lenz decoder	Digital address
A1	LS150#3	13		C3	LS150#3	17
A2a	LS150#1	1		C4	LS150#3	18
A2b	LS150#1	2		C5	LS150#4	19
A3	LS150#3	14		D1	LS150#4	20
A4a	LS150#1	3		D2a	LS150#2	9
A4b	LS150#1	4		D2b	LS150#2	10
B1a	LS150#1	5		D3	LS150#4	21
B1b	LS150#1	6		D4	LS150#4	22
B2a	LS150#2	7		E1	LS150#4	23
B2b	LS150#2	8		E2a	LS150#2	11
C1	LS150#3	15		E2b	LS150#2	12
C2	LS150#3	16		E3	LS150#4	24

Shelf #1 wiring - part 6

Following the wiring diagram, I wired the 4 Lenz LS150 with the terminal blocks. I initially thought that the fourth terminal block would need to be located on a side, but then I realized I could probably stack them.

Schematic

Here's what I designed on Anyrail:

Placement

I used the following supplies:

• M3 & M2 bolts and nuts: https://amzn.to/2CoDldR. M3 are used for the Lenz LS150 and the terminal blocks, where M2 are used for the screw terminals
• Rubber feet: https://amzn.to/3hfPIrp

Here are these several steps with pictures:

Wiring

I used the following supplies:

• 18 AWG cables: https://amzn.to/32tkjhh and https://amzn.to/2OGIgt7

Here are these several steps with pictures:

Testing

Now, all Lenz LS150 need to be configured:

Completion

And here's the final result:

Alpha Meter

As mentioned in this previous post, I purchased a 2U panel for an electronic display. This is for the Alpha Meter from DCCconcepts - https://www.dccconcepts.com/product/alpha-meter-for-dc-or-dcc/

It is a digital meter for use on DC or DCC layouts. There are only two wires in, two wires out. It automatically adjusts for AC, DC or DCC power and even compensates for its own load, leaving only readings relevant to the layout operation. 

It is that simple!

Installation

I used the Dremel to cut through the steel plate. It took a while, but no problem here:

Result