DccEXcontroller (Physical)
DccExController uses exactly the same hardware as the WiTcontroller, but uses the DCC-EX Native command protocol instead of the WiThrottle protocol.
From Engine Driver’s very own Peter Akers (flash62au on our Discord server), comes a physical hardware throttle using only 4 parts:
ESP32 with LiPo charger
rotary encoder
3x4 keyboard
OLED Display
Files for a 3D printed case are also available.
For a video on how to do this, click below:
Features
provides a list of discovered SSIDs with the ability to choose one. When you select one:
if it is one in your specified list, it will use that specified password
if it is a EX‑CommandStation in Access Point mode, it will guess the password
otherwise it will only connect if the password is blank
Optionally provides a list of SSIDs with the specified passwords (in the sketch) to choose from
Auto-connects to the first found Server if only one found, otherwise:
asks which to connect to
if none found will ask to enter the IP Address and Port
Guesses the IP address and Port for EX‑CommandStation WiFi Access Point mode Command Stations
Rudimentary on-the-fly consists
Assign commands directly to the 1-9 buttons (in the sketch)
Command menu including:
Able to select and deselect locos
by their DCC address, via the keypad
from the first 50 locos in the roster
Able to throw/close turnouts/points
Able to activate routes
set/unset a multiplier for the rotary encoder
Power Track On/Off
Disconnect / Reconnect
Put ESP32 in deep sleep and restart it
limited dealing with unexpected disconnects. It will throw you back to the Server selection screen.
NOTE: This is a Project and is therefore a work in progress and open source. New features are being added regularly.
Source code and instructions can be found on GitHub here: https://github.com/flash62au/DccExController
Images
Here is a connection diagram drawn in Frizing showing how to wire the parts together:
Here are pictures showing parts placement inside the case: