[Accrs-o] Message on Options

[ACCRS O Scale list]

Based on the input that the O scale Custom Signals are Common Cathode, Wayne and I talked and I looked into signals farther.  On the Azatrax site, they sell a simple two light signal controller that shows LED polarity, but there is a line in the text that is interesting: "All signals made by Custom Signal Systems, NJ International and Details West are common anode."   As it appears all of the O scale Custom Signals are wired Common Cathode (probably due to the Atlas Controller being designed by them and being a current source design), we need to consider.

I tried to write up what I think we know into our Current Status related to signals and I/O cards:



  *   Signals
     *   We believe that there are sufficient Custom Signals options to meet our needs
     *   All Custom Signals O scale signal targets are wired R/Y/G with Common Cathode
     *   We do NOT know if these are changeable and the cost.
     *   Common Cathode signal wiring requires a Current Source at the output (SMaxi, Smini, MRCS)
        *   All current manufactured/available C/MRI Output cards are wired current sinking/common anode
  *   All other known/available O Scale signals are common anode (they were built for C/MRI)
     *   NJI and Details West O Scale Signals appear to be common anode
     *   Common Anode requires a Current Sink at the output pin.
     *   All C/MRI options require a hardware change from Current Sink to Current Source

        *   Chubb Outputs (Maxi-Node and S-MINI require a different output transistor
        *   MRCS requires cutting a trace and solder jumpering another.
  *   Current Equipment/Usage
     *   We have 10 wired Maxi-Node 32 port Output Cards (and 4 wired Input Cards)
        *   Assuming 1 spare, that is 288 Current Sinking Outputs as wired - only for common anode.
     *   We have about 55 Turnouts to wire/support with I/O
        *   Turnouts can be wired to use current sinking or current sourcing output pins
        *   Turnouts can use our current wired Maxi-Node I/O cards in Current Sinking mode (110 pins) without modificatoin

Questions/Issues



  *   Cards/Nodes - General configurations versus locations specific?
     *   Managing sparing
  *   Is the 5V available in Current Sensing sufficient to run Tortoises/Switch Masters?

I think we need to do some quick analysis of our options before we proceed.  I assume there are other optoins, but there are three I think we have:



  *   Option 1: All-in on Custom Signals
     *   Buy all signals and targets from Custom Signals
     *   All our signals are wired Common Cathode
     *   Must rewire most or all of the current Maxi-Node Output cards (10)
     *   Option 1 A: Rewire all 10 current Maxi-Node Output cards
        *   5V output for turnout motors
        *   MRCS has optional high voltage cards
        *   Chubb has a switch motor card
        *   One off locations is a challenge
     *   Option 1B: Use half of the Maxi-Node output cards for turnouts as current sinking
        *   Can use 5 cards (4 active, 1 spare) as Current Sinking for the turnout motors.
           *   Revise 5 cards to Current Sourcing and use 4/1 spare.
        *   Rewire the other 5 cards for current sourcing
        *   Use 4 active/1 spare
        *   Maxi-node Signal Outputs would be 128 pins or 42 targets (21 signal stands out of 75 total at average)
  *   Option 2 Use Custom Signals only for 3 targets and 10 existing 2 target signals
     *   Use Custom Signals for all 3 targets and 10 2 targets
     *   Use Current sinking for all signals except for above


     *   Support the Custom Signals common cathode with new current sourcing outputs cards (dedicated S-mini or cp/Node in the back locations only
     *   Have a spare component dedicated for these (one S-Mini or one 32 I/O MRCS card modified)
     *   Use all of the current Maxi-Node Current Sinking cards for turnouts and other signals that are common anode/current sinking.
  *   Option 3 Optimize for Maxi-Node - No re-wiring - Use app pins
     *   Leave the maxi-node with 9 current sinking output cards for 288 output pins (1 spare)
        *   If we use the current Maxi-node output cards wired for current sinking for all turnouts, we can use 110 of 288 pins, leaving 178 for signals
     *   For three color targets, that is 59 targets.
     *   We rapidly define 59 targets worth of NJI or Details West we can buy/scour
     *   Buy the rest from Custom Signals and wire all of the remote C/MRI panels as Current Sourcing for those signals


Phil Edholm

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