Wireless point control ?

Post Reply
Too Tall
Posts: 144
Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2023 2:21 pm
Contact:

Wireless point control ?

#1

Post by Too Tall »

Not sure if this is the right place to post, so mods feel free to move if required !

What I would like to be able to do is use my point solonoids with my old school peco switches, but without having to run the wires for the points all the way around my board as that would require around 40 ft of 3 wires for each point, and there will be around 24 points on the layout !
Having a wireless control board for each solonoid, or being able to group several to one multiple control unit mounted nearby would sort that.

I am aware that I can use my DCC controller to do this, but would prefer there to be actual switches, as A: controlling locos and points from one controller would tax my feeble brain capacity beyond its ability, and B: with switches they can be plotted to a schematic so I can work out what switch throws which point :oops:

Is there a way to do this ?

If not, could I use a separate DCC controller (like a select) specifically for points and display points visually on a screen if wired separately from the main DCC loco controller (I have a Signatrack Ace 3 controller I bought for loco running when I started collecting all the gubbins).
Tricky Dicky
Posts: 419
Joined: Fri Oct 05, 2018 6:49 pm
Contact:

Re: Wireless point control ?

#2

Post by Tricky Dicky »

You might want to look at DCC Concepts Alpha system this simply uses the DCC bus to power the point motors and transmit the signals from their Alpha control panel which just has simple push buttons. Although it is designed to work ideally with their Cobalt IP point motors. I do not know if it can be made to work with solenoids but it might be worth speaking to DCC Concepts if they can supply a suitable decoder. It is not cheap but using Cobalt motors it certainly cuts down on wiring.

https://www.dccconcepts.com/product-cat ... alt-alpha/

Richard
User avatar
Brian
Posts: 2298
Joined: Thu Oct 04, 2018 3:49 pm
Location: SE Kent
Contact:

Re: Wireless point control ?

#3

Post by Brian »

While not wireless control.... If you're up to soldering components onto a PCB with very good, illustrated instructions to aid construction, then consider joining MERG (Model Electronic Railway Group) and purchasing some of the CBUS kits. For this to work it needs a pair of twisted data wires (7/0.2mm wire is ideal) plus a pair of 12 volt DC bus feed wires (4 wires around the layout).
Or the MERG EzyBus system that uses Arduino boards - Uno and Nano.
Alternatively, Megapoints produce ready-made and tested PCBs for similar operation to CBUS, but they are far more expensive than MERG kits.
Image << Click the Icon to go to my website
Too Tall
Posts: 144
Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2023 2:21 pm
Contact:

Re: Wireless point control ?

#4

Post by Too Tall »

Thanks Brian and Tricky Dicky, something to investigate :)
Although , the DCC concepts stuff look quite pricey at first glance, especially with 24 points to control !
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests