Hi Number 90,
Thanks for the feedback. I took your advise and made the signal rules simpler.
I spent about a year designing a layout while on business trips on my laptop. Then I started to design the electronics to go with it and quickly found out that the electronics design is hard and taking more time than the layout design. I have been working on the electronics design for more than a year. After several emails with Dave Hikel I decided to use Layout Command Control, LCC. I will also use a combination of "Train Controller Gold" and JMRI. The LCC network will do the track occupancy detection and control the signals, turnouts, lighting and accessories. Train Controller Gold will have access to the LCC network for occupancy information and to control turnouts and accessories. Computer operation of the layout by Train Controller requires the occupancy information and control of the turnouts. I bought the LCC starter set and several Signal LCC nodes from RR-CirKits. I designed LCC nodes for occupancy detection and turnout and accessory control. The base software came from the OpenLCB group. I decided to use the RR-CirKits Signal LCC node to control the block signals because the software is more complex. The Signal LCC nodes needed for 200 3-Aspect Block signals is shown in the following picture. The nodes will be distributed around the layout and connected with CAT-5 ether net cable and not place on one board as shown in the picture. The Signal LCC cost for a block signal is ~$8.
The DIY occupancy detection LCC nodes for 216 track sections is shown in the following picture. It cost less than $1 for a track occupancy detector.
I have extensively bench tested the DIY LCC occupancy nodes with the Signal LCC nodes and they work well together. I am now building a test oval with turnouts to test all the electronics before scaling it up to large layout. With the 3D printed block signals the out of pocket cost for a 3 Aspect block signal is ~$10 a 3 over 2 is ~$14 and a 2 aspect dwarf signal is ~$6. Replacing the RR-CirKits Signal LCC with a DIY LCC node would reduce the 3 and 3 over 2 block signals by ~$4. The cost does not include the wiring. Wiring a larger layout will require discipline. For most part I have enjoyed learning the electronics and software for a microprocessor controlled layout.
