Stan2004 and GRJ, I finally got a PCB made using Diptrace and JLCPCB, using the 4-Way Traffic Signal schematic discussed in this thread. Ended up making a few changes to the original, but the assembled PCB seems to be working pretty well...no smoke so far! It's been a great learning experience as well.
This was all made possible for me with the help of GRJ designing the TIU Tester proposed by Adrian, some suggestions from Stan and GRJ's PCB design work to put it all together. Then GRJ passed the kit offering part to me since he was too busy at the time to fiddle with making TIU Tester kits for everyone that wanted one. Looking at his Diptrace files and learning how to get the PCBs made for that project gave me the incentive (and courage) to finally try learning about the entire process myself using Diptrace. Took me a while, and I still have a lot to learn, but I finally got where I could use Diptrace enough to cobble things together and get a PCB made from the files.
I started with the basic traffic signals only and then added the opto-isolator for crossing signals that Stan added toward the end of the project. I have working PCBs for the traffic signals only, but have not yet had any made with the opto-isolators. That is coming up next as soon as I breadboard the circuit so I can understand it better.
I ordered most of the PCBs from JLCPCB, they were $2 for 5 PCBs and $5.50 for shipping. Takes about 2 weeks or so to get them, which isn't bad, unless you have made a mistake and have to correct it and order more. This did happen a couple of times, but I think I have things all fixed now.
Anyway, if I could talk you two into it, I would appreciate you two looking over the new schematic and I will also post the Diptrace PCB files for your examination. Any comments/tips/pointers etc. would be much appreciated!
I posted the files in .pdf format for ease of viewing. Subject to approval from Stan & GRJ here, I'll post all the Diptrace files for anyone to use as they want.
