Category:Turtle

From SPCoast

[edit] Introduction

The Turtle is a DIY Stationary LocoNet decoder for use with 4 slow motion Tortoise-driven model railroad turnouts. It features complete Digitrax Loconet-based monitoring and control of 4 power-routing turnouts.

Unlike the Digitrax DS-54 and DS-64 stationary decoders, the Turtle does not work with "solenoid-type" turnout motors, nor can it be configured to drive layout animations like crossing gates or lighting.

Depending component quantity discounts and on how it is configured, someone with basic soldering skills should be able to build this project in an evening for between $50 and $90 ($13-$25 per turnout).

The schematic and PCB layout were created using the free tools provided by ExpressPCB, which also provides high quality board fabrication and easy internet based ordering directly from their programs.

• Download ExpressPCB and ExpressSCH (Windows only)
• Download Turtle 3.2.2 Schematic
• Download Turtle 3.2F PCB

[edit] Project Overview

The various pages in this category will step you through understanding, building, programming and configuring a Turtle controller set that includes:

• Tortoise-brand switch machine motor drivers and occupancy detection,
• Remote-mounted Tortoise daughterboards containing an occupancy sensor, track power connections and frog power routing, and
• A LocoIO-based LocoNet interface.

The Turtle project is based on designs done by Bruce Chubb (SMC Turnout controller), Rob Paisley (pulse transformer based detector circuit) and John Jabour (LocoIO).