Product Description
Speedometers are mandatory safety equipment in the driver’s cab of locomotives, so it only makes sense that your railroad should have the same. But speedometers can be more effective than just displaying speed, especially for the modern Model Railroader.
Speed matching your consisted DCC locomotives is vital to the health of your locomotives and the smooth operations of your layout. The objective is to get your locomotives to run at the same speed. Not just the consist pair, but all of them so that you can consist any of them anytime with any loco in your fleet.
Old-school speed matching involves running locomotives on a long section of track and timing how long a locomotive takes to travel a defined distance. For N-Scale, 15-20 feet is needed; adjust this method to your scale, blah, blah, blah… Now, run your best locomotive past the speedometer and adjust the speed table of each locomotive to match.
Electricity is Dangerous!
In no event shall Chris Sgaraglino be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence, or another tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the projects, kits, code, designs, schematics, etc., or the contents of this website. Chris Sgaraglino reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents without prior notice.
By using any content, project, kit, or product, you fully understand that electricity can be dangerous if it is not used correctly. Therefore, by using this site and its products, assume full responsibility, are aware of this danger, and are completely well-versed in using electricity correctly to avoid fatal and non-fatal accidents.
The complete contents of our electronic devices, software, and diagrams are protected by intellectual property law, including international copyright and trademark laws. The owner of the copyrights and/or trademarks is Chris Sgaraglino. None of the software used in any of my projects is Open-Source.
View Complete Copyright Information
Question
Joel Dethlefs –
I am also interested in the speedometers. Can the trigger modules be separate from the breadboard? How far apart are they located? Is this something hidden flat at track level rather than from below? This is for HO.
Upvote if this was helpful (0) Downvote if this was not helpful (0) Watch Unwatch Flag for removal
Builder Chris –
Yes, the triggers can be separate. I can program any distance you provide. On the PC board, they are 2.65″ apart. Track level works best; they can either be set so that they trigger on the wheels or on the body, and I can program it accordingly. A lot of people like to put the sensors inside a building(s) and shoot it through a window. As long as I know the distance from center-center, I can add that variable to the code – it’s very simple..
Upvote if this was helpful (0) Downvote if this was not helpful (0) Flag for removal
Josh Saunders –
I walked in on Chris’s workshop at the NMRA convention to see what it was about, and he had an extra kit that I could use. I have struggled with Arduinos in the past, but I can’t believe I built something that works and is useful on my layout. I genuinely understood what was happening, and I am excited to build my next project. It is absolutely the best modeling investment I have made in a very long time.
Upvote if this was helpful (0) Downvote if this was not helpful (0) Watch Unwatch Flag for removal
Builder Chris –
Thank you for the kind words. It was a pleasure working with all the attendees.
Upvote if this was helpful (0) Downvote if this was not helpful (0) Flag for removal