Today, in the seventh episode of my tutorial about how to control a digital model railway with Arduino, let’s learn together how to make an interface – named Locobuffer – to connect the Loconet bus to your computer.
In the previous videos, I always used a commercial command station (my Twin-Center) to manage the Loconet bus.
If a command station which supports this bus is not available, it is still possible to use Loconet accessories on your model railway, thanks to the ability many softwares have to support multiple connections:
- a connection with the command station (for example DCC++)
- a connection with the Loconet bus
You need therefore a way to connect the Loconet bus directly to your computer.
I took the “simple” Loconet interface used in the previous videos and added two features that normally a command station would do: provide power supply for the Loconet-T bus (12V) and terminate the bus. The result is the Loconet MASTER interface:
This interface, connected to an Arduino running the Locobuffer firmware, can support a “stand-alone Loconet” network.
The files required to build the interface and the Arduino firmware are available on Github. The interface PCB can also be ordered directly from PCBWay.
In the following videotutorial, let’s learn together how to use the interface with two free softwares (JMRI and Rocrail) to handle Loconet sensors and throttles. Enjoy!
Hello.
I’m Li from China. I’m a beginner of railway model. Your series of tutorials have helped me a lot. Thank you!
I learned the course of the locobuffer interface, and made the finished circuit board. After welding the components, I uploaded the sketch you provided, but it didn’t work. It felt like there was no communication. I didn’t know what to do. I asked for your help. I didn’t have your email address, so I couldn’t send you the schematic diagram and circuit board diagram to see the cause of the problem.
Hi! Did you connect the Locobuffer to a loconet device / command station? Are you testing it with JMRI? Did you my PCB / schematic or customize them?
HI luca
I tested in jmri, and the base station used arduion DCC + +. The circuit board referred to your schematic diagram, because I didn’t have lm311n, I used lm393p instead, and the IC pin made the corresponding definition. The locobuffer interface board is connected to the sensor control board of loconet. The test of the sensor control board is normal, but there is no response after the connection of the locobuffer interface board.
Hi luca
I’m sorry to disturb you. Can I send you an email? I’ll send you the schematic diagram and circuit board diagram to see what the problem is?
Hi! Sure, please use the contact form on the website so we can get in touch directly!
Hi luca
I sent an email to this address: hello@dream-theme.com
Is it right?
no, use the contact form