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TwinStar:
I've been looking into the prospect of using Arduino to handle the 69 controlled switches and a yet uncounted number of signals for my Dallas Union Terminal module set. I started with an article in the Nov 2016 MRH and read a blog on the Will County Model Railroad museum.

So far I've figured out that I'll need an Arduino Uno as a base, a motor driver shield, and perhaps a sensor shield stack.

The Deek Robot motor shield that I found is this:

http://deek-robot.com/productshow.asp?id=17&small=4

Is this the correct shield for Tortoise or MP-5 switch motors?

While I can find numerous articles for servo control via Arduino I haven't yet found anyone controlling Tortoise machines and posting pics, hardware, or schematics. I have a huge task in controlling this module set and being able to build the switch control, current detection, optical detection, and signal driving in layers is appealing.

Any Arduino users here among us?

Alan:
I am not an Arduino user however, the TI L293D H bridge is a very popular motor driver used in many applications. It certainly has more than sufficient ratings to operate a Tortoise. Deek is merely providing the L293D on a completed board although I would be leery of Deek. Their website is very amateur.

Here is the full spec sheet for L293D from the manufacturer: http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/l293.pdf
Page 11 (lower) shows the full schematic for a bidirectional driver arrangement you would need for a Tortoise. Bare L293D chips are available on eBay for $0.70. Another $1.00 worth of parts and you have the Deek product, some assembly required.  :D

L293D chips on eBay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/10pcs-L293D-DIP-16-pin-IC-Stepper-Four-Channel-Motor-Drivers-Controllers-Black-/152564910868?hash=item238593cb14:g:AqUAAOSwfRdZK7ir

You can also find assembled L293D boards (shields) on eBay.

TwinStar:
Alan,

Thanks for the information. Searching 'L239D motor shield' netted me far more options such as this:

https://www.ebay.com/i/322228468184?chn=ps&dispItem=1

According to this they can drive 4 DC motors which I assume to mean that it can drive 4 separate Tortoise machines. This appears to be a far more economical option at roughly $2 per Tortoise/MP-5 (Uno $5 + $3 shield per 4 motors) versus the current $20 per T/MP-5 option that I'm looking at.

I'll keep digging. I thought there would be more Arduino use among our group. Maybe a post on MRH might yield more information.

Thanks again.

Alan:
Just curious... What is the advantage of using a microprocessor? Unless you have a complex automation scheme in mind it seems an overly complex solution to a relatively simple problem.

TwinStar:

--- Quote from: Alan on October 03, 2017, 07:25:49 AM ---Just curious... What is the advantage of using a microprocessor? Unless you have a complex automation scheme in mind it seems an overly complex solution to a relatively simple problem.

--- End quote ---

There are 69 tower controlled Tortoise/MP-5 machines with two mains diverging into 4 mains, a passenger lead crossing two mains to reach the north passenger platform approach tracks, six passenger station platform tracks, one house track, numerous double slips, somewhere in the range of a dozen signaled control points, signals for the platform tracks, a current detection layer for each block, and optical detection at each signal block boundary. It's a bit complicated for off the shelf OBUB-3 boards and I thought there might be another solution.

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