General Discussion

Hi, Firstly I would like confirmation of how the control mechanism works based on my assumptions, I assume the control box supplys 16V dc at roughly 6amps, this provides power to the "immsersion heaters", when the control switches to control the motor, I'm guessing it contacts a crude voltage drop mechanism that reduces the 16 dc to roughly ten volts, this causes the loco relay to switch and directs the lower voltage to the regulator motor.

Based on those assumptions, if you supplyed DCC voltage of roughly 17V using a > 6amp supply to the tracks and rectify this through a full bridge rectifier you would get 15.6V DC, include something like a LM317 voltage regulator to produce roughly 10V dc, now using a DCC loco decoder you could use the function outputs to switch the relay on the loco to either provide the 15.6V to the heaters or switch the 10V to the motor, now include computer control to accurately control the function output of the DCC decoder to the motor control you could precisely control the rotation time of the regulator opening and closing.

Perhaps some of the forums members here with more knowledge than basic knowledge I have of the live steam sets could advise me if my assumptions are incorrect and point out where my theory would be likely to be wrong?

I would not require DCC decoders to supply high current as based on the above assumptions I would be using the DCC decoder to switch the relay contacts, although I could use the decoder motor control PWM outputs to drive the regulator motor and assign motor control to the function outputs at a set speed therefore I would only need to control the duration.

I have purchased a spare loco relay pcb, I think I have a spare hornby motor lying around and still need to purchase a DCC chip, probably a cheap laisdcc, I have a computer controlled DCC system based on a STM 32 development board, once I have the bits needed I will start experimenting with the relay switching and motor duration control.