gca190-en
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+ | ====== GCA190 | ||
+ | [[english|{{ | ||
+ | [[: | ||
+ | |||
+ | \\ | ||
+ | |||
+ | ^^^^By Peter Giling ^^^^ | ||
+ | ===== Description ===== | ||
+ | In the modeltrain world we have various different ways of generating contacts, so called feed-back.\\ | ||
+ | They are absolutely indispensable in automatic control.\\ | ||
+ | In general, I mention here 8 different ways, but there are more, mostly more expensive: | ||
+ | * 1. Railcontact, | ||
+ | * 2. Current detection, a system where a part of the track is isolated and any current drawn from that isolated section generates a contact. GCA offers GCA93 and/or GCA94 for it.\\ | ||
+ | * 3. MFX and Railcom and Lissy, sending back their decoder address, but the exact location has to be added separately.\\ | ||
+ | * 4. Reedcontacts and hall sensors, needing a magnet under your riding material. GCA offers the GCA173 (GCA179) for that option.\\ | ||
+ | * 5. GCA173 can also be used together with GCA173i, to use it as reflection Infra-rad sensors. | ||
+ | * 6. GCA173, with adapted firmware, can als be used with GCA173 wheel-counter. Rocrail is also adapted to this. | ||
+ | * 7. Infra red gates or reflectors. GCA has the GCA133 and GCA141(LocoNet) in program to achieve that | ||
+ | * 8. RFID, a system where a transponder is fixed to the rolling stock. | ||
+ | * 9. Many other, ususally more expensive, systems. | ||
+ | * 10. GCA190, | ||
+ | |||
+ | It is rather easy to install, and no cutting in the tracks is needed. | ||
+ | The used sensor is a TCRT5000, and is not sensitive for normal (day)light. | ||
+ | Consider this: A TL lamp straight above sensor on a distance of 1,5 m is too much light.\\ | ||
+ | In those cases, fit the sensor with an angle so the light does not radiate in directly.\\ | ||
+ | The way the systems works is not suitable for wheel (-magnet) counting because it reacts on almost anything that approaches within 15 mm distance\\ | ||
+ | To get a very good signal, some black plastic wagons might need a bit of white paint on the bottom,\\ | ||
+ | but anything metal will be detected 100%, even the axes of the wheels.\\ | ||
+ | The benefit of this unit is a reliable and simple way of installation.\\ | ||
+ | The unit comes as a set with 8 sensor boards and an connection/ | ||
+ | interface connection, which adapts GCA50(0)(a)(LocoNet), | ||
+ | It also can be used for connection with S88 modules, but then 5V should be added for supply. | ||
+ | With all 8 sensors connected, the board needs 65 mA at 5V supply.\\ | ||
+ | When sensors are ' | ||
+ | The sensor itself fits nicely on the solder-side but can be connected with wires to it, if needed.\\ | ||
+ | TCRT5000 sensor is also available as a type with longer wires (TCRT5000L).\\ | ||
+ | The size of it is 5,5x10mm, and could be mounted sideways along a track, where it will react on passing wheels, or fits between the sleepers.\\ | ||
+ | The first look into the technical description showed that the sensor needs quite some current : 60 mA.\\ | ||
+ | That was not acceptable, since an octal set of these sensors like this GCA190, would draw almost 0.5Amp !!\\ | ||
+ | The TCRT5000 could easily be used without any pc-board, but because of this power consumption, | ||
+ | indispensable with the extra Fet Transistor and two resistors.\\ | ||
+ | That made it possible to reduce the power consumption dramatically.\\ | ||
+ | All together, the board remains small, and will fit nicely under the track.\\ | ||
+ | |||
+ | \\ | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===== How it looks like ===== | ||
+ | | | ||
+ | | the sensor board with sensor fixed (left hand side) \\ and the connection/ | ||
+ | \\ | ||
+ | ===== How to fix the sensor board. ===== | ||
+ | The idea for this sensor came from the wish to use it for tramway and Faller-car system.\\ | ||
+ | In tramway situation, cutting rails, after finishing the scenery, is difficult, because of the way rails are fixed in the tarmac.\\ | ||
+ | Now, if a sensor is ' | ||
+ | The sensor board could be fixed under the bottom of the baseboard with little screws, but an easier way is using hot glue.\\ | ||
+ | Fixing is easy and also removing , when ever necessary, is also quite simple.\\ | ||
+ | The same remarks count for using the sensor in Faller-car system.\\ | ||
+ | |||
+ | \\ | ||
+ | =====Different options===== | ||
+ | 1)The sensors as used in the GCA190 board are working fine when the sensor is not exposed to much light.\\ | ||
+ | There is also an option for a different sensor board, which can also be used in normal lighted area.\\ | ||
+ | This sensor is mounted on a small board , GCA173i, which has an Infrared transiever on board and a separate IR led.\\ | ||
+ | The led can be placedd opposite the transceiver ( where a train runs through the beam and braks the Infrared light beam.\\ | ||
+ | Put the led along the transceiver and you will have a signal when the Infrared beam is reflected.\\ | ||
+ | 2)There is also a small board GCA94-s available which will be published in short time.\\ | ||
+ | This unit is 1/8 of the GCA94, which is sensing currents that can be as low as coming from an N-track train, to any large scale, like G or 1,\\ | ||
+ | and also provides a 100% isolation with anything, achieved by the use of a current transformer coil. | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ===== The hardware ===== | ||
+ | | {{: | ||
+ | | {{: | ||
+ | | {{: | ||
+ | \\ | ||