Hey Dave, at this point I would like to thank you for showing you your first-class projects on dcc ++. I have now built two of your boosters, two handheld controllers with encoders and one as a radio version. Everything works to my complete satisfaction and I am particularly impressed by the ease of use. That's exactly what I was looking for. Great work from you and thanks again for showing us and the always well-detailed building descriptions.
Dave great project. I would assume that if you had a short circuit it would react the same as if you surpassed the amperage setting? I'm still working on my and your versions of a home built DCC, less the remote.
I haven't built mine yet, but I did download the code but couldn't find all the libraries in the Arduino IDE. Do you have a place to get all the libraries?
I know this was several years ago, but I am wondering if this is compatible with the newer DCC++EX project? Also, I've noticed there are 3.3V and 5V versions of the Arduino Mini. Which version is your circuit designed for?
@@DaveBodnar Thanks Dave. I'll give it a try as I have a couple of older locos converted to DCC and the 1.5amp of the standard controller just isn't quite enough if I get three of them at high speed.
Hello! You made very good project. I would like make your "A High Power DCC Booster REVISED Unit 2021" but didn't fined PCB files for your plate. How I can find it? Thank you!
Hello. I have one of these devices and I really like it. It definitely controls the amperage, but whenever I use it I get erratic behavior. It's like it's taking a while for the signal to reach the loco or something. If I bypass the booster everything works fine again. I am running DCC++ Base Station with JMRI. Any help I would appreciate. Thanks
Corey - without having the unit in front of me I can't give a definitive answer. Best guess would be a wiring error or use of an incorrect component. Many, many folks have built this unit without problems. Give the circuit a close look and see if you can find an error. Good Luck! dave
How would you "phase match" that with another booster in the next district, or does it matter, as in automatic? I have a Digitrax system and would like to add a couple of boosters, and be able to connect them to the "loconet". Is that possible or automatic with this set up?
@@DaveBodnar Thanks Dave, I have a layout that is pretty extensive (trackwise), and much of it is a "reverse loop" situation. Being thrifty, I use 2 DCCSpecialties auto-reverse modules to control the electrical flow on several reversing situations. Problem is on the "rare" occasion two locos hit a reversing circuit at the same time, it shorts. I am thinking if electrically isolate segments of the layout I may be able to solve this problem. Districts from the same booster (Digitrax 210 wo/reversing) does not seem the way to go. As per your reply I may look into building district modules to distribute the power independently. Thus, this led me to adding a home built booster, but the intimidate thought problem was interfacing with the local net, hence my initial question. Thanks again.
Hi, I am building this booster, but I'm making a litle change. If ocurs an overload, arduino wil not restar systema after 2 seconds. I made a second button to restart system. When finished, I'll share it.
@@UP7554CW The schematic here: www.trainelectronics.com/DCC_Arduino/DCC_Booster/index.htm has the potentiometer in the upper right corner - enjoy! by the way, I am working on an updated design - preliminary notes are here: www.trainelectronics.com/DCC_Arduino/DCC_Booster_2/index.htm dave
I build all. I have problems with the librarys. There are so many LCD and LCD I2C librarys. Can you tell me the correct sources ore links for download the librarys #include #include
I just put a ZIP file on my web page that should help Go to www.trainelectronics.com/DCC_Arduino/DCC_Booster/index.htm and look for the file just above the code. Hope that helps dave
Hi. Great work. builded one and it works as described but R2 on the schematics I had to swap 1K with 10K to get Pwm properly to pwm1 . I also have a question, the percentage show on the display it is percentage of the Amax settings, I am not sure but on my setup I had to modify the sketch a little bit to get proper readings and i notice that mod depends on voltage supplied to the motor shield. Is that normal ???? I am still learning arduino so any help is greatly appreciated . I also notice that when I connected a load that is closed to the Amax settings booster takes multiple tries to restart. for example load is 1.65 A and settings Amax = 2 amps booster most likely see high ramp up of current and switching off . Is that related to average time in sketch ???
Thanks for letting me know that you got things working and that you had to make some modifications to make it work. That is not unusual as this is a prototype that has not been tested extensively under different conditions. The percentage that is displayed it the percentage of the amperage setting that is being drawn by the system - for example, if you set the output to 5 amps and the system is drawing 1 amp it will show 20% I hope that helps! dave
What is your e-mail address? I seem not to be able to come across it anywhere. I´ve subscribed to all your posts as well as your videos. My question is, the code you have listed on your page, that´s the code to be entered into the Arduino Mini? And I´ll have to download the code for the DCC++ separately. Thank you for all you do to help us budget minded model railroaders on a fixed income to be able to use DCC which has been cost prohibitive in the past. I love all your electronics since I´ve been an electronic technician since the 1980´s. I built my first multimeter from an Archer kit from Radio Shack and it is still operational to this day. I also served as a clerk typist in the Marine Corps so I tend to write lengthly posts (just my nature).
Rusty - email is dave@davebodnar.com You program the DCC++ controller with one program and the Pro Mini (used on the booster) with another program. dave
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Hey Dave, at this point I would like to thank you for showing you your first-class projects on dcc ++. I have now built two of your boosters, two handheld controllers with encoders and one as a radio version. Everything works to my complete satisfaction and I am particularly impressed by the ease of use. That's exactly what I was looking for. Great work from you and thanks again for showing us and the always well-detailed building descriptions.
What a nice thing to say! You made my day, Torsten - thanks for letting me know that you have had success with my projects
enjoy!
dave
Hey Dave,
This is fantastic, looking forward to building my own.
Many thanks.
This means that this booster can handle dozens of locomotives at once, very useful when laying a large layout with multiple trains/locomotives.
Cool, I'd love to do this, but can't for many reasons. It'll have to wait 'till I get older LOL
How much voltage do you have on the track? 10 volts or more? Can you take it to 14 volts, for example?
14 volts should work fine
Hello Dave, amazing video congratulations, I go to try with NCE Power Cab control, Any suggestion or comment that is useful to me?
Sorry, Saul, but I don't have any experience with the NCE unit - it should work if it is standard DCC
dave
Dave great project. I would assume that if you had a short circuit it would react the same as if you surpassed the amperage setting? I'm still working on my and your versions of a home built DCC, less the remote.
+rpm750
Correct on the dead short - I dropped a screwdriver across the track and it shut down immediately.
Good luck with your projects!
dave
I haven't built mine yet, but I did download the code but couldn't find all the libraries in the Arduino IDE. Do you have a place to get all the libraries?
Have a look at the ZIP file that is referenced just before the code - it is here:
www.trainelectronics.com/DCC_Arduino/DCC_Booster/index.htm
dave
I know this was several years ago, but I am wondering if this is compatible with the newer DCC++EX project?
Also, I've noticed there are 3.3V and 5V versions of the Arduino Mini. Which version is your circuit designed for?
Brendan - I have not tested the booster with DCC++EX but it should work - I would stick with the 5 volt version of the Mini
Have fun!
dave
@@DaveBodnar Thanks Dave. I'll give it a try as I have a couple of older locos converted to DCC and the 1.5amp of the standard controller just isn't quite enough if I get three of them at high speed.
Hello! You made very good project. I would like make your "A High Power DCC Booster REVISED Unit 2021" but didn't fined PCB files for your plate. How I can find it? Thank you!
Drop me an email. Dave@davebodnar.com
Hello. I have one of these devices and I really like it. It definitely controls the amperage, but whenever I use it I get erratic behavior. It's like it's taking a while for the signal to reach the loco or something. If I bypass the booster everything works fine again. I am running DCC++ Base Station with JMRI. Any help I would appreciate. Thanks
Corey - without having the unit in front of me I can't give a definitive answer. Best guess would be a wiring error or use of an incorrect component. Many, many folks have built this unit without problems. Give the circuit a close look and see if you can find an error.
Good Luck!
dave
@@DaveBodnar I will double check everything.. Thanks. And thanks for the design..
How would you "phase match" that with another booster in the next district, or does it matter, as in automatic? I have a Digitrax system and would like to add a couple of boosters, and be able to connect them to the "loconet". Is that possible or automatic with this set up?
Raymond - I have never had to match multiple boosters - I generally use only one unit
dave
@@DaveBodnar Thanks Dave, I have a layout that is pretty extensive (trackwise), and much of it is a "reverse loop" situation. Being thrifty, I use 2 DCCSpecialties auto-reverse modules to control the electrical flow on several reversing situations. Problem is on the "rare" occasion two locos hit a reversing circuit at the same time, it shorts. I am thinking if electrically isolate segments of the layout I may be able to solve this problem. Districts from the same booster (Digitrax 210 wo/reversing) does not seem the way to go. As per your reply I may look into building district modules to distribute the power independently. Thus, this led me to adding a home built booster, but the intimidate thought problem was interfacing with the local net, hence my initial question. Thanks again.
Hi, I am building this booster, but I'm making a litle change. If ocurs an overload, arduino wil not restar systema after 2 seconds. I made a second button to restart system. When finished, I'll share it.
That is a good modification, Jose - looking forward to seeing your report on how it works.
dave
In your schematic for the booster you forgot to illustrate how to connect the 10ohm potentiometer . Could you update it ?
By the way thanks for such a great project ! I am ordering parts right now for five boosters !
@@UP7554CW
The schematic here:
www.trainelectronics.com/DCC_Arduino/DCC_Booster/index.htm
has the potentiometer in the upper right corner - enjoy!
by the way, I am working on an updated design - preliminary notes are here:
www.trainelectronics.com/DCC_Arduino/DCC_Booster_2/index.htm
dave
By the way , do you sell the upgraded cicuit boards sans components?
@@UP7554CW I do have a few on hand - drop me an email (dave@davebodnar.com)
dave
Hi! Could you please tell me if this booster is compatible with the Z21 station based on Arduino?
I don't have any experience with that controller but it should work
I build all. I have problems with the librarys. There are so many LCD and LCD I2C librarys. Can you tell me the correct sources ore links for download the librarys
#include
#include
I just put a ZIP file on my web page that should help
Go to
www.trainelectronics.com/DCC_Arduino/DCC_Booster/index.htm
and look for the file just above the code.
Hope that helps
dave
Hi. Great work. builded one and it works as described but R2 on the schematics I had to swap 1K with 10K to get Pwm properly to pwm1 . I also have a question, the percentage show on the display it is percentage of the Amax settings, I am not sure but on my setup I had to modify the sketch a little bit to get proper readings and i notice that mod depends on voltage supplied to the motor shield. Is that normal ???? I am still learning arduino so any help is greatly appreciated . I also notice that when I connected a load that is closed to the Amax settings booster takes multiple tries to restart. for example load is 1.65 A and settings Amax = 2 amps booster most likely see high ramp up of current and switching off . Is that related to average time in sketch ???
Thanks for letting me know that you got things working and that you had to make some modifications to make it work. That is not unusual as this is a prototype that has not been tested extensively under different conditions.
The percentage that is displayed it the percentage of the amperage setting that is being drawn by the system - for example, if you set the output to 5 amps and the system is drawing 1 amp it will show 20%
I hope that helps!
dave
What is your e-mail address? I seem not to be able to come across it anywhere. I´ve subscribed to all your posts as well as your videos. My question is, the code you have listed on your page, that´s the code to be entered into the Arduino Mini? And I´ll have to download the code for the DCC++ separately. Thank you for all you do to help us budget minded model railroaders on a fixed income to be able to use DCC which has been cost prohibitive in the past. I love all your electronics since I´ve been an electronic technician since the 1980´s. I built my first multimeter from an Archer kit from Radio Shack and it is still operational to this day. I also served as a clerk typist in the Marine Corps so I tend to write lengthly posts (just my nature).
Rusty - email is dave@davebodnar.com
You program the DCC++ controller with one program and the Pro Mini (used on the booster) with another program.
dave
Thanks, Dave. I thought that was the case.