Point control using the MS2 can be a painful and repetitive process when a layout gets past a certain size. This project allows for control of a group of points from a single push button. It can be programmed with long sequences of regularly used commands and then play them back when needed, all without the need to chase through any of the MS2 menus. It is a box directly powered from the gleisbox and plugs into one of the CAN connector ports.

I think any of the simple on/off commands for digital peripherals could be stored allowing control of a single point or signal - or a mixed combination of any number of both. For example, if a common operating requirement is to change four points to allow a lok to go from an outer loop to shunting head inside an inner loop then that can all happen with a press of one button. The MS2 will correctly display any settings sent.

I’ve used an Arduino Uno and some dodgy parts here as I have just moved house and haven’t located all my electronic and railway bits and pieces yet. It will run on a Nano and could be physically much smaller – there’s at least half a dozen of those in a box here somewhere. I’ve shown a voltage regulator on the circuit as 18-20 volts is really pushing it for some Arduino boards but, that said, I’ve had many projects running directly from 18 volt supplies that have never given any trouble.

This project could be merged with the touch screen point controller from my 17th April post if desired. I’ve also used toggle switches for single point control in another trial version as they give an obvious indication of the last direction set. I’ve even run a version from the 72710 control box to keep that genuine Marklin look but they have very unfriendly internal wiring and require four resistors and 4 digital I/O pins to read the button presses and light the indicator LEDs correctly (very happy if someone can tell me an easier way).

The video just shows the execution of a stored test command to cycle six points through their routine. Code can be downloaded from my cloud storage.

https://mega.nz/folder/9...zA#vwgiQDIbAP1ja-CZ7x8MA





MS2 Macros.mp4 (6,107kb) downloaded 6 time(s).g