Easee Interfaces, LLC

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ABOUT US

CONTACT INFORMATION

EASEE INTERFACES, LLC
 Donald G. Wood
801 Bryson Loop
Lakeland, FL 33809-6676 - USA
(863) 858-8702

ABOUT THE C/MRI

The CMRI uses the computer serial RS232 port or the USB port through a dongle converter to talk with the Interface cards.  Multiple nodes (128 node capacities) communicate using the RS232 to RS485 conversion card to distribute the inputs and outputs for data interpretation of the railroad.  Secondary devices such as detectors for train occupancy, Stall motor control to switch the routing and feedback of their positions.  Panel switches in yards give indications of route alignment and led displays on panels show status and settings of the railroad.  Using a CTC panel for dispatcher control is a natural and easily produced function performed by the C/MRI.  Many users have either one large panel separated away from the railroad in a private office to give the feel of a real dispatcher controlling the main line and branch operations.  Others have multiple panels for yard operations and local switching duties.  Even others are using one to 4 monitors to provide today’s dispatching operations.   Local and OS control of the mainline is simplified, and this leads to signals.  On the main page you examples of searchlight, color light and semaphores being driven via the CMRI to display accurately the commands the dispatcher or yard master is conveying to the road crew engineers.  Being able to follow your train and safely proceed through towns, single track mains and have smooth meets adds enjoyment to the operations.  As well it allows more traffic to run across your layout.  I like to think of it as a well choreographed production were the trains are the actors on stage, the layout is the setting and we as the operators are an active audience.  

GETTING STARTED

Dr. Chubb’s user’s manual and handbook provide several chapters on all aspects of how the C/MRI can be setup to provide the dreams you want to achieve with your model railroad.  To start the railroad needs to be divided into blocks were detection will determine the occupancy of that section of track.  Turnouts need to be counted so the position and control can be established in the Input/output count.   Several methods of controlling the turnouts can be used and the correct one for you is determined by what you want.  These include simple control at a local panel to multiple controls via local and dispatcher.   Then you count the number and type of signals to determine the number of output lines that would be needed to control each arm.  Repeater signals on local panels and of course the dispatcher’s panel   I/O also count.  Then the node types need to be determined, the number of nodes to be used and there placement.  Two types of nodes can be combined.  The SMINI is a standalone node with 48 output lines and 24 input lines.  Usually one per small town is sufficient to read the data and write the results to the railroad.  The second type of node is a SUSIC.  This card plugs into a motherboard along with input and out cards to give the desired ratio needed for larger control areas.  These include main yards and the CTC panels.  I recommend that these nodes be used here as the reading and writing to this node is one simultaneous event and provides quicker data transfer for smooth operations.  Plus in areas with a large amount of inputs and outputs, adding features is just a card away and some added software lines to make it functional.  Again Dr. Chubb’s manuals will help immensely here. 

What should I implement to get started?  I tell many of my customers that getting detection and turnout controls is the fastest way to get started.  Adding the interface is easy and these two steps do not need the computer to be used on the railroad.  Once they are in place, the interface card can be added and the inputs and outputs connected to it.  A four wire cable back to the computer is all that you need to communicate with the SMINI or SUSIC node via the RS485 card.  You can count on one detector per block and one detector per OS section.  Use one SMC12 control per turnout.  The SMC12 has twelve separate controls to drive Tortoise machines.  Likewise, the OD or DCCOD detectors are pluggable into a twelve position mother board.

 

Don & Karen Wood