CAN-digital-Bahn
The LampenChef 2.0 -not available -
With the LampenChef one can switch up to 16 "lamps" via solenoid addresses. It has a total of 7 functions, like e.g. blinking or flickering as well as dim and other special functions. These functions are presented in the context of the 'service tool' in more detail later.
The LampenChef can be operated from all devices of the CAN-digital-Bahn project, such as the CAN-StellPult. Also the Central Station 2 and the Mobile Station 2 are suitable to do so. In short, there are many ways to operate it.
The data connection of the LampenChef is effected with normal network cable. On which side a cable is plugged in does not matter, there is no front and rear.
In addition to the connection to the cable system the LampenChef needs an operating voltage.
Of course several LampenChefs can be also integrated into a bigger system construction, there is no address-specific limitation. A LampenChef can be programmed on addresses from CdB-, DCC- or the Motorola area. Should other addressing ranges come in addition, the LampenChef can also learn these, too.
Connection:
To every LampenChef's output one can connect relays, LEDs with series resistor or light bulbs. Every module disposes of an external power supply and driver modules for the current gain. (However, the module is not suitable for the switching of turnouts!)
The module is galvanically isolated from the system bus, so that the operating voltage leads to no effect on the bus and each module can be operated with an individual voltage. The supply voltage should lie between 9 V - 16 V AC or DC.
Although the load per output can be up to 500mA, however, all outputs of the module may not exceed together a total of 5A!
The positive voltage, well, the common PLUS connection for all consumers that are to be operated with this module, is located in the middle of the module at the 2-pin screw-type terminal.
The consumer then has to be attached with its negative connection to the desired output.
The voltage at the outputs of the LampenChef corresponds approximately to the applied operating voltage of the module. However, it is important to note that an applied AC voltage at the module in the case of rectification gets increased by the value of 1.414!
The operation is, I think, self explanatory and it conforms to the procedure like with all known solenoid decoders. Through selection of the address at a control unit or any other operating panel the to the LampenChef connected lightings will operate.
Addresses:
The 16 outputs of the LampenChefs are presetted automatically to the addresses 1 to 16 of the Motorola format.
To change the address adjustments, the LampenChef needs to 'learn' the new address.
The alternative and more comfortable way is the usage of the service tool which is described in the next section on this page.
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The manually 'learning' is quite easily done, because therefor the push-button on the circuit board needs to be pressed once or up to 16 times. The number of actuation corresponds the output pair which is to be 'learned'. If one presses the push-button 17 times, one returns back into normal operation mode.
If for example one presses the push-button of the LampenChef twice, the connected lamp at output 2 starts slowly to blink. With the blinking the LampenChef indicates that it is now looking for some switching command on the CAN-bus. This switching command can be sent from every control device. The received address of the switching command will be saved permanently for this output. This way not only the address is saved but also the belonging data format, too! That means that it is possible to have three outputs at one LampenChef which react to the address 1, but one to CdB address 1, one to DCC address 1 and the other one to Motorola address 1. Certainly all kind of other address combinations function with a LampenChef. The address range the LampenChef can 'learn' comprises 16 bit, what complies with 65536 addresses...
If one has forgotten on which address the LampenChef is setted, one can read it out again. Therefor one needs to put all the 16 outputs one after the other into the learn mode, because not only all outputs of the LampenChefs are switching back an forth, it also sends the accordant position messages of the address to the CAN-bus. That implies that also the display of this address in the control unit blinks. With Märklin control units there is the little handikap, that while displaying the address range is not interpreted! Here the display of the address blinks equally if it was a CdB, DCC or a Motorola information. That is a pity, but unfortunately I can't change it. However, all of the CAN-digital-Bahn display modules do know the difference..
The LampenChef has available a position feedback, but this information is sent as answer to a recognized switch command and serves the control of the displays of the control devices only.
The properties of the LampenChefs 2.0 can be adjusted by the service tool to the operating requirements. The following description matches the program version 002, which can be used with firmware 1.5 or higher (from Febr. 2015 on).
The program requires a CC-Schnitte and Microsoft.NET. The tool is tested with XP and WIN 7. There is no error handling as Windows would like to have it. If an error occurs, the tool just crashes. This happens whenever the values read by the tool can not be displayed. This problem can be resolved quickly by using the RESET tool. For this, you just have to run the module once and cause a RESET, all settings are reset and the tool should now be able to process the messages of the module. The RESET tool can also be found in the download area.
After starting the program, one need to select the COM port of the CC-Schnitte. If it is plugged in at the computer only after the start, one can add the new interface with reload to the selection.
By this choice the button "scan" gets activated. If one actuates it, all LampenChefs are summoned to report to the PC. With these announcements the selection box gets filled. Each additional scan updates the selection, for example, if another LampenChef 2.0 is added or might not even have been indicated the first time.
The resulting list in the selection box contains all LampenChefs, sorted according to the ID of the modules. In the case that a module reports back with ID 0, a message is displayed that one still needs to assign an ID greater than 0 for this module. This assignment is done by entering a number in the module ID and this, please, must be necessarily completed by "übernehmen" (='adopt'). After that, a new scan of the bus system should occur, because the module shall now report with its new ID. At present, this way up to 99 LampenChefs can be managed, which corresponds to 1584 lamps. If this is no longer sufficient, then please just let me know, because this is just a limitation on the number of bits used.
If one selects a module from the list, it will be asked to submit all its saved settings. Furthermore, one can see under "Ausgangsverhalten" ("output behavior") the topical luminous manner of the output.
First, the addresses of the 16 outputs are listed, in addition the suitable data format CdB, DCC or MM is displayed, too.
With the various selection boxes in the middle you can now set the behaviour of the LampenChef:
up
Schalten (=switching):
switches simply on/off
Blinken (=blinking):
knows only T1, with it the blinking time is set
The set time is the value x 10 ms
2x Blinken (2x blinking):
knows two times, the third is calculated
T1 is considered in x * 10ms and gives the basic cycle
T2 is considered in x *10ms
Behaviour:
After the end of T1, the output activates for the time of T2
Is then off for the time of T2
and then on again for the time of T2
After the cycle of 3x T2, the output is then dark again and the game begins anew
Important! T1 needs to be at least 3 times greater than T2,
Example values: T1 = 50; T2 = 10
Flackern (=flickering):
The setting is fixed, only the brightness can vary!
Dimmen (= dim):
Knows only one time!
T1 gives the blink/basic cycle with which the lamp turns on and off
T1 is observed by a factor of 0.5 ms
With LEDs it is more visible when the brightness is about 10/50%
Depending on the LED one has at T1 = 20 a good effect
Electric light bulbs behave more effective and thus do look better
Gyra:
T1 and T2 are considered with 0.5 ms
T1 presets the time for the turn on and dim out
T2 is the break in between, for which the LED remains on
Example:
T1 = 30 and T2 = 100 the LED dims briefly and lights again for the time of T2
Soft-Schalten (=soft-switching):
Only knows T1, but the input value is multiplied here with 0.5 ms
T1 x * 0,5µs
T1 indicates the time in which the input reaches the maximum set brightness. Basic value where one can see it is 50
Helligkeit (=brightness):
Here the maximum brightness of the LED / lamp can be adjusted
Range of values is 1 to 20 = 20% - 100% of the time the output is switched on
Time 1 / Time 2:
Here the relevant period (T1 or T2) can be set
Test:
Here, using the red / green buttons the output behaviour can be switched on or off and this way the effect can be checked immediately
The following are some values as a kind of default setting, but of course everyone can generally find the optimal settings for himself by trial and adjust accordingly with the tool:
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Output Behaviour
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Brightness
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Time 1
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Time 2
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Switching
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depending on the lamp
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Blinking, for example, yellow traffic light at night
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20
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100
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-
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2x blinking, e.g. warning marker
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20
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100
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10
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Flickering, e.g. simple kept campfire
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5
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-
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Dim, e.g. alarming system
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10
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60
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Gyra, pulsating warnlight
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10
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30
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10
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Soft-switching
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depending on the lamp
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50
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-
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The tool is free of charge and can be downloaded from the download area of this homepage.
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v6.01.13 © 2003-2005