CAN-digital-Bahn
StromSniffer 3A - not available -
The StromSniffer is a feedback module, which addresses to the 2-conductor-modelrailroader.
It can be used together with the CC-Schnitte as pure feedback system or in combination with other modules for buidling a complete digital system, too.
Application as feedback modul at the Central Station 2/3 is also possible.
The module detects the current flow of a consumer in a track section as a feedback signal, resistors from 22k Ohm on can be detected, this value depends on the level of the track voltage. It has eight current sensor inputs and an additional freeze input, which interrupts the transmission of the messages. All messages are only transferred to the system bus as long as the voltage of the supplying booster is present at the Freez input.
As a further function, the Freez status can also be read out or transmitted as a further feedback message under a freely programmable address.
Notice:
The used diodes can be stressed with up to 3 Ampere.
How the structure could look with a CC-Schnitte and a Gleisbox (Trackbox):
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or together with a Central Station 2/3:
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An additional power supply for the StromSniffer is not necessary, it is fed via the network cable that comes from the StartPunkt 2  .
The track sections that shall be reported as occupied are connected to the eight connection points at the front of the StromSniffer.
The track voltage must also be connected to each StromSniffer once. The two connections on the left are provided for this purpose. Since the inputs of the StromSniffer are galvanically isolated from the system bus, each StromSniffer can be assigned to a different circuit/booster without problems.
The connection of a track section is very simple and shown in the following picture:
Small innovations in the course of time:
From the software-version 5.04 on a supervision of the operation voltage is added.
A recurring problem with larger layouts was to detect when the operating voltage on the system bus cable became too low. Until now, it was always necessary to measure with the multimeter on the bus. This is now automatically effeczed by the operating voltage monitoring.
If the operating voltage drops below 9 volts - which is not sufficient for reliable operation with all modules of the CAN-digital-Bahn Projekt - the module freezes in the evaluation and the yellow LED starts flashing quickly.
If the operating voltage rises again, the module immediately resumes operation on its own.
If the operating voltage is too low, an additional supply via a further StartPunkt can help.
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Important while coding is that the adress 0 (all switches „off“) is not allowed for operation!
StromSniffers with the adress 0 do not send messages on the CAN-Bus.
The addressing of the StromSniffer starts, like by normal counting, with the no. 1, that, how one can see from the table, corresponds to setting switch1 ON.
If the addresse of the module is set on 1, then the eight inputs generate feedback messages with the addresses 1 to 8.
The whole further coding follows the BCD-code manner of counting. A further coding is not necessary.
As a matter of course it is possible to do jumps during assignment of the address, so that one can partition the layout into numerary groups.
In order not to interfere with the 8-digit division of feedback signals that has been common for years, the possible feedback of the FreezStatus is not subject to this coding!
An operation with the central-units of ESU (incl. Märklin CS1) or the PC-Schnitte is not possible!
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GleisReporter
| DIP-Switch |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
| Impermissible Address |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 01 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 02 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 03 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 04 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 05 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 06 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 07 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 08 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 09 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 10 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 11 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 12 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 13 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 14 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 15 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 16 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 17 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 18 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 19 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 20 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Modul 21 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| ... |
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Die CS2 (since Softwareversion 2.0) supports maximum 1024 feedback inputs at the master-CS2, under which the contacts of all StromSniffer needs to be edified. This equals up to 128 StromSniffer.
Mixing with existing s88 feedback modules is also possible, but it needs to be noted that the first StromSniffer always has a higher address than the last s88 module.
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In addition, I would like to point out that all control programs I know that work with the CS2 understand the messages of the StromSniffer.
One point about the hardware has to be mentioned:
Depending on the version of Central Station 2, a terminating resistor may have to be connected to the bottom of the CS2 when the s88 input is not used in order to suppress false messages caused by the open input.
It is sufficient to connect a 10k Ohm resistor between pins 1 and 2. This can be achieved most easily by soldering a small SMD resistor of size 0805 between two pins of a female connector. These can then be easily plugged onto the contacts
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Simulation:
In order to quickly perform a function test with the StromSniffer, you no longer need an assembly with tracks and a voltage connection! Just set the desired address on the StromSniffer and connect the module to the system bus. Voilà: the StromSniffer can already be tested.
Depending on the available devices, this test can be structured differently:
If a CC-Schnitte 2.x is available for PC operation, the service tool should be started and the StromSniffer searched for and tested.
If you only have a GleisMonitor deLuxe or a Central Station 2 for manual operation, you can activate a self-test on the StromSniffer.
To do this, simply set DIP switch 8 to „ON“ on the StromSniffer which is to send a simulation. This causes the StromSniffer to send a moving occupied signal, such as a running light, for the feedback contacts assigned to it. In the layout of the CS2, the corresponding feedback points then flash. (not in CS2 version 2.0 )
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Windigipet users will find a comparable function after calling the CC-Schnitte as central unit. From version 2018. 0 on there is the CAN-digital-Bahn module test.
The same applies of course to the LEDs connected to a GleisMonitor deLuxe, which is set to the same address as the transmitting StromSniffer. Of course, it doesn't matter where the GleisMonitor is plugged into the system bus.
But please do not forget to switch off this function after the test. The simulation mode should only be activated after starting the CS2.
Due to the great freedom of the system, it is also possible to offer the Freez message as additional feedback address.
Since each feedback message in the bus contains not only its status but also the address, it is already possible to generate feedback messages within a module at various addresses. There are no constraints of 8- or 16-bit, as required in other systems.
Thus it is quite simply possible to let a module work with 8 or even 9 feedback adresses. The activation and the necessary settings can be made via the available service tool.
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In the basic settings of all StromSniffer the transmission of the Freez status is deactivated. If it is activated, address 100 is preset. If several StromSniffers are active with this function in the bus, these addresses need to be adapted.
After the GleisReporter deLuxe have received an improved tool for a long time, it should now also be available for the StromSniffer 3A.
The tool can also be used for the old StromSniffer, but the full range of functions is only usable for StromSniffer 3A from firmware 5.0 (November 2017) or higher. The tool detects the firmware version and greys out the unavailable functions.
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The program requires a CC-Schnitte 2.x, as well as the runtime environment of LabView and should run on all Windows versions that are compatible with it. I only tested it under Windos 7.
After starting the program, select the COM port of the CC-Schnitte. If you plug the CC-Schnitte into the computer only after its startup, you can add the new interface to the selection with "Reload".
This selection activates the "scan" button. If this is activated, all StromSniffer are requested to report to the PC. The selection window is filled with these messages. Each additional scan updates the selection, for example if another StromSniffer is added or one is perhaps not displayed the first time.
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If you now select an address of a StromSniffer in the next step, it will be asked to transmit all its stored settings that the tool can display. This happens so quickly that as soon as you let go of the mouse, the current values of the selected StromSniffer can already be seen in the display. The current input status is shown in the status bar in accordance with the feedback addresses of the module. This display is always updated. If the input state changes during the call, this is immediately visible in the display.
As a first test you can now start the self-test. A feedback message should be sent via the status display. This test remains on until the check mark is removed. This way, several modules can be switched to this mode one after the other and it is possible to check in the control program whether the messages are visible there.
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Attention:
In this test mode, current messages are only partially displayed; the current input status is only transmitted again after the test has been completed.
The switch-on delay is used to set the time that a message must be continuously present at the input at least before it is to be transferred to the system. This makes it easy to suppress short messages caused, for example, by dirty tracks. The smallest adjustable time is 10ms. The time can be increased in 1ms steps up to 6 seconds.
The switch-off time is similar; it determines the time that the input must remain permanently switched off until it is accepted as free again and is to be reported to the system. Here the reaction time is usually somewhat less critical, so that one can choose a longer time for debouncing than when switching on.
The preset values have proven themselves and usually do not need to be changed.
Tip:
If you only have very short pulses from point detectors, you can very easily prepare the message for a PC program with these two settings. This way you can turn short impulses into messages up to 6 seconds long.
Now the programming of the Freez feedback:
It's actually very simple. As address you should choose a range for these messages, for example all addresses from 100, so you set the first StromSniffer to address 101 and the second to 102 and so on. If these addresses are already occupied, you can also set any! other address that is still free, even if it exists practically on another module yet. It only must not be used there, because a PC program cannot recognize the double assignment of an address.
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To activate the function, simply check the box "ON".
If this checkbox is activated, the current status of the input is always displayed. If the function is not active, the service program still reads and displays the current status at that moment via a different path when the module is called. This allows you to see if, for example, there are no messages as to whether the input is active.
If you have made too many adjustments and want to reset the settings, it is sufficient to press the "ModulReset" button. The settings are not reset by the tool, the module performs a reset and reloads the data from the internal memory. To update the display and get the current settings, the module needs to be selected again. Please wait a bit until reloading, a module reset takes about 30 seconds.
If you do not have the pin assignment of the module in your head, you can display it quickly by clicking on the "Connection diagram" (Anschlussbild) button.
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The Tool is free and can be downloaded from the download area of the homepage.
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Subject to technical changes and errors.
© 2018 by CAN-digital-Bahn
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v6.01.13 © 2003-2005