Article

DCC Command Station

Digital model control with the ARM7 micro

Electronics is making more and more inroads into the domain of model trains. Trains are now controlled with digital codes, and in many cases the entire system can be operated from a computer. In this article we present a design for the device that forms the heart of a digitally controlled model railway: the DCC Command Station. The computing power in this design is provided by a high-performance ARM7 processor.

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Materials

070989-PCB.pdf

070989-11.zip

Gerber file

CAM/CAD data for the PCB referred to in this article is available as a Gerber file. Elektor GREEN and GOLD members can exclusively download these files for free as part of their membership. Gerber files allow a PCB to be produced on an appropriate device available locally, or through an online PCB manufacturing service.

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PCB

Download Gerber file: 070989-1.zip

Component list

Resistors
R1,R3,R4,R6,R9,R14,R17-R22 = 10k
R2 = 470
R5 = 100k
R7,R10 = 680
R8 = 120
R11,R12,R13 = 1k
R15 = 100
R16 = 8.2
Capacitors
C1-C8,C10=C13,C15 = 100nF
C9 = 4700µF 40V radial
C14 = 390pF
Semiconductors
D1-D4,D10,D11 = 1N4001
D5 = 1N4148
D6-D9 = BYW100-200
T1,T2,T3 = BC547
IC1 = MAX3232CPE
IC2 = 74HCT125
IC3 = 74LS125
IC4 = 7812
IC5 = 7805
IC6 = LTC1485CN
IC7 = TLP521-1
IC8 = 24C64
Miscellaneous
S1 = pushbutton, 6mm, PCB mount
RE1,RE2 = 12-V relay, 2x changeover, e.g. Finder type 40.52
Heatsink, Fischer type SK104, 25mm, for IC5
Heatsink, Fischer type SK104, 35mm, for IC4
K1,K2 = 20-way SIL socket
K3,K7,K10 = 6-way SIL pinheader
K4 = 4-way SIL pinheader
K5 = 9-way sub-D socket (female), angled pins, PCB mounting
K8 = 2-way PCB terminal block, lead pitch 5mm
K6,K9 = 6P4C modular connector, PCB mount, e.g. Hirose TM5RE1-66
K11 = 20-way DIL pinheader
K12,JP1,JP2 = 2-way pinheader
K13,K14 = 4-way PCB terminal block, lead pitch 5mm
K15 = 5-way SIL pinheader
ARM CPU module (unprogramme); Elektor SHOP item 040444-91
PCB, Elektor SHOP item 070989-11
Kit of parts incl. programmed ARM module; Elektor SHOP item 070989-71