WiTcontroller (Physical)

Propeller Beanie Engineer Hat

WiTcontroller uses exactly the same hardware as the DccExController, but uses the WiThrottle protocol instead of the DCC-EX Native command 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 wiThrottle 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 wiThrottle Server 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 WiThtottle 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/WiTcontroller

Images

Here is a connection diagram drawn in Frizing showing how to wire the parts together:

WiTcontroller connection diagram

Here are pictures showing parts placement inside the case:

WiTcontroller assembly WitController in case