Best point motor for 009

[David Hacker]

I am taking a different view.  I have had my share of fiddling around under the baseboard. Being tall and short sighted makes it all the harder; positioning one's specs to see is not recommended!!  So, I decided to explore the above board option.  As I am using DCC I was drawn to the DCC Concepts range of Cobalt SS point motors and controllers (https://www.dccconcepts.com/product/2xcobaltsswithcontrolleraccessories/) . They are not cheap but the motor is small and can be easily hidden under a platelayers hut etc. Furthermore the controller allows me to isolate the trailing routes from the point as well as routing control signals/mimic display board. As with all point motors they are fiddly to set up but the controller gives plenty of scope for adjustments. I am using them in conjunction with wire in tube so I can group the point motors where I want them. am I pleased with the decision? When they work they are great, especially as I can link two (or more) point motors to simplify crossings. Just another point of view and alternative to consider then ...

[Frank]

Me too, I have been experimenting with using Arduinos with them. I am still trying to come up with a method for calibrating the throw without using a computer, but you are right that can be fun in its own right.

Stephen,

You have probably thought of this but you can use three of the analogue pins on an Arduino, two to drive an I2C display and the third to read a simple resistor matrix keypad, say four arrows and an enter button. This will give quite a bit of control and won't use up any of the digital pins.

Frank

[Graeme Dunbar]

Me too, I have been experimenting with using Arduinos with them. I am still trying to come up with a method for calibrating the throw without using a computer, but you are right that can be fun in its own right.

Stephen,

You have probably thought of this but you can use three of the analogue pins on an Arduino, two to drive an I2C display and the third to read a simple resistor matrix keypad, say four arrows and an enter button. This will give quite a bit of control and won't use up any of the digital pins.

Frank

Something like this perhaps?

https://uk.banggood.com/Keypad-Shield-Blue-Backlight-For-Robot-LCD-1602-Board-Geekcreit-for-Arduino-products-that-work-with-official-Arduino-boards-p-79326.html?cur_warehouse=UK&rmmds=search

[Pete Williams]

Perhaps off topic, but i abandoned under-baseboard point motors after a disaster.
I mistakenly obtained lenz point control modules, not realising that they required a seperate AC transformer to supply current to the solenoids.
Being used to the near silent operation of LGB point motors on my garden layout, the loud , near deafening buzzing when a peco motor was' thrown' led to the abandonment of this layout in my shed
I am now in the process of building a layout, soley using Roco/Fleishman track and electronics, controlled by the booster controller that came with a starter set.
It might not look realistic, with the surface mounted motors alongside the points, but at least their opperation is silent.

[Frank]

Me too, I have been experimenting with using Arduinos with them. I am still trying to come up with a method for calibrating the throw without using a computer, but you are right that can be fun in its own right.

Stephen,

You have probably thought of this but you can use three of the analogue pins on an Arduino, two to drive an I2C display and the third to read a simple resistor matrix keypad, say four arrows and an enter button. This will give quite a bit of control and won't use up any of the digital pins.

Frank

Something like this perhaps?

https://uk.banggood.com/Keypad-Shield-Blue-Backlight-For-Robot-LCD-1602-Board-Geekcreit-for-Arduino-products-that-work-with-official-Arduino-boards-p-79326.html?cur_warehouse=UK&rmmds=search

Close, but that uses direct access to the display pins so blocks quite a few of the Arduino digital outputs, and it sits across all of the outputs.  The alternative is to use an I2C display which only uses two of the analogue pins and no digital ones.

One like this (you can get the two row ones as well):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Youmile-Serial-Module-Shield-Arduino/dp/B07PWWTB94/ref=sr_1_20?dchild=1&keywords=I2c+display&qid=1621624089&sr=8-20

Then you can make a set of buttons like on the one you linked to and connect it to a third analogue input.

Frank