(This page last modified 4/11/2018.)
(This is the POWWEB site.)

ABOUT THE AUTOCONTROLS.ORG WEBSITES:

• These websites contain videos, plans, and other information for automatically controlling multiple trains on the same track — using both DC and DCC track power.

VIDEOS:

A. COMPILATION VIDEO:

• Compilation Video #611 (used in the clinic at the 2017 National Association of S Gauger’s convention: Vimeo |  Youtube (15 min)
  • This video shows 9 analog (DC track power) setups, and 9 DCC setups.
  • Some of the Large-scale setups are NOT in this video, since it was made for the S gauge convention.

B. LATEST VIDEOS:   (not yet added to the ‘Video’ page)

• Video #817 – shows a Mini-Panel and single reed switch controlling two outdoor Largscale trains on the same loop Vimeo | Youtube (13 mine)
• Video #818 – shows the S gauge 2017 NASG Convention demonstration layout in operation:
  • Part 1 is a narrated discussion, recorded at an earlier July 2017 show:
    Vimeo | Youtube (19 min)
  • Part 2 is a short 1-minute unnarrated view of it operating at the Convention:
  • Vimeo | Youtube (1 min)
    • (Part 2 is essentially the same layout as Part 1, except the electric eye in the upper loop, has been replaced by a Z Stuff infrared detector.

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• Video #819 – This video shows a Z-Stuff DZ-1011 Block Signal/Detector and NCE Mini-Panel controlling 3 HO trains on the same mainline, with NO turnouts.
  • What’s NEW In This Video:  This is the FIRST time we have shown a Mini-Panel controlling 3 trains WITHOUT using any turnouts.
  • Vimeo | Youtube (92 min)
  • Documentation (Wiring, Logic Drawings, and Commands)

C. THE OTHER 50 VIDEOS:

The rest of the AutoControls videos (approximately 50) can be found on the ‘VIDEOS‘ page.

D. ORGANIZATION OF THE 3 AUTOCONTROLS.ORG WEBSITES:

The AutoControls.org library of information is actually spread across 3 websites:

1. “Home1” is this WordPress.org “entry page”,
2. “Home2” is the original track2.com website where the video list and plans are located,
3. “Home3” is the WordPress.com “satellite” website containing recent additions.

E. CONTENTS OF THE AUTOCONTROLS.ORG WEBSITES:

• These websites contain videos, plans, and other information for automatically controlling multiple trains on the same track — information created over the past 29 years starting in 1988.
• Demonstrations are done mostly in Largescale and S gauge, with some HO gauge and 1 video including N gauge.
• Some demonstrations are done in DC, and some are done using NMRA DCC.
  • S-gauge videos are in the  S gauge section  on the Videos page.
  • Largescale videos start in the  Introduction Section  on the Videos page.

F. PAGES OF POSSIBLE INTEREST

• The VIDEOS page (on Track2.com) contains approximately 50 videos demonstrating different techniques.
• The PLANS page   (also on Track2.com) has links to drawings for several of the control units.  (Some plans are linked from the Videos page.)
• The “satellite website3” (on WordPress.com) has a few more recent additions, including:
  • The page titled Links for Video #816, “Getting Started with NCE DCC Mini-Panel Automatic Train Control” is an attempt to show all the basics.
  • The page titled Using Proprietary Lionel & MTH decoders With NMRA DCC was just added.

G. ABOUT AUTOMATIC CONTROLS:

• This control task consists of 2 parts: 1) the Logic and 2) the Hardware; and both are discussed.
• This includes control of AC trains, DC trains, and DCC trains — the latter using the NMRA-compatible NCE “Mini-Panel” automatic DCC train controller, and also “DCC-Bitswitch”. This includes both single-track layouts (no turnouts), and use of “automatic passing sidings” where a pair of turnouts are used.

• Discussion of sensors includes magnets & reed switches, and electric eyes. The Anderman method of using automotive relays to operate the current-hungry original American Flyer turnouts is demonstrated.
• Automated push-pull shuttle operation (point-to-point) is also demonstrated, both for DC and DCC.

H. MY OPINION:

• In my humble opinion, the simplest method for controlling 2 DCC trains on 1 mainline (no turnouts), is to use the NCE DCC “Mini-Panel”.  This can be done with just 1 reed switch and no blocks — as demonstrated in Video #815 , “Getting Started with NCE Mini-Panel Automatic Train Control”.

I. ABOUT THE BELOW IMAGES

• Below are two ‘screen captures’ from the videos (can be accessed from the VIDEOS page).