tip: µcon-s88-master used with...

Tip: µCon-s88-Master used with TrainController Date: 14-01-2015 09-11-2015 18-11-2018 link 01-02-19 s88n graphics 15-06-2019 LS digital files

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~rossstew/rms/marklin.html 1

Hi All,

This is a documentation record of the steps required to install the µCon-s88-

Master on a large layout and configure its use with TrainController.

Background My friend Rudolf is building a large computer controlled layout which has 3 rail and 2 rail components.

He asked for advice on the type of track monitoring he should use for the layout. From my past

experience with the original Märklin s88’s it was only designed to have a maximum bus length of 6m. If you

tried to extend the 6m bus length you would encounter problems with the s88 units giving false indication so

reliable computer control would be compromised. The problem is the flat cable used to connect the s88

modules together are very susceptible to electrical interference as it is electrically unscreened and with the

options of other manufacturers making similar units they have chosen to use the new s88-N standard which

use cat5/6 data cable with RJ45 connectors.

Because of the large layout I wanted to have a high speed track monitoring system that could be used with

TrainController. It was a toss-up between the µCon-s88-Master from LS_digital and the HSI-88 from LDT .

Both systems can divide the s88 bus into 3 channels. I chose the µCon-s88-Master because it is Ethernet based

and there is the ability to adjust the speed of the system.

Hardware Used

µCon-s88-Master 12Vdc power socket and Ethernet socket

RJ45 sockets for channels s88 I, s88 II and s88 III

LED indicator and Reset button

Note:

The µCon-s88-Master needs a 12Vdc

power pack with 1Amp capacity.

I only purchased the µCon-s88-Master

without the power pack so I could buy a

local power pack to avoid the use of a

power adaptor.

http://www.lsdigital.de/home.html

http://www.ldt-infocenter.com/



µCon-s88-Master

1. Jack for AC adaptor (Output 12Vdc 1Amp)

2. Socket for Network Cable (Home network)

3. Reset button to restart the µCon-s88-Master

4. LED indicates the operating status

Green: Device is in operation

Red: Device is not ready / device is in the boot process (wait a few seconds)

In operation the illuminated green LED flickers in a constant rhythm (approx 1 flash per

second) this flickering signals the connection to the PC.

5. RJ45 connection from the s88n modules for Channels I, II and III

The s88-master is now supported by Bühler electronic GmbH

Address

Bühler electronic GmbH

Ulmenstrasse 43

15370 Fredersdorf

Germany

Phone: +49 (0) 33439 867 - 0

Fax : +49 (0) 33439867 - 18

E-Mail: [email protected]

Web: LS_digital

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mailto:[email protected]




Hardware Used continued

Adaptors

If you have already made an investment in standard

Märklin s88 modules you can buy add on connector

conversion kits for the new s88-N standard shown. Huib Maaskant’s Shop

s88 Modules

Märklin 6088 or 60880

Digikeijs DR4088GND and DR4088CS

The DR4088GND module works the same as the Märklin 6088 or 60880 and the DR4088CS module is

used for current sensing on the 2 rail system.

Tip Opinion

From now on, only buy s88 modules that support the s88-N standard

See my Tip on The Diode Trick for further improvements.

http://www.floodland.nl/aim/shop.php?taal=en

http://www.digikeijs.com/

http://members.iinet.net.au/[email protected]/rms/pdf/the_diode_trick.pdf



Cat 6 Ethernet Cables

I chose to use the s88-N colours mentioned on Huib’s site s88n Standard

Link for the above diagrams shown above Ethernet-Cables-RJ45

Tip: I bought Cat 6 cable and RJ45 male plugs @32c suitable for the solid Cat 6 cable from an electrical

wholesaler with the correct crimping tool @ $48.00 Jaycar and Dicksmith are just too expensive.

All connecting Ethernet cables were made to length to suit the placement of the s88 modules. Before

installation each cable was tested with a multimeter.

Once the Cat 6 cabling has been completed from the µCon-s88-Master to all s88 modules it’s time to

setup the µCon-s88-Master before trying to use it with TrainController.

http://www.floodland.nl/aim/info_s88_kabels_en_1.htm

http://www.bb-elec.com/Learning-Center/All-White-Papers/Ethernet/Ethernet-Cables-RJ45-Colors-Crossover.aspx



µCon-s88-Master Setup

At the time of writing this article the only instructions/manual from Lokstoredigital were in the German

language. This article is only a record on how I setup the µCon-s88-Master and all technical questions

should be addressed to LS_digital

I copied the contents of the supplied CD titled ‘µCon-Tools’ to my computer.

I then opened the ‘BDA LSdigital Programmer.pdf’ and with the aid of www.bing.com/translator I got an

idea how to setup the µCon-s88-Master.

With all the s88 modules wired to the µCon-s88-Master and the s88-Master connected to Rudolf’s train

network I powered on the s88-Master and executed ‘LSdigital programmer V2.0.exe’. I received a

message that Java was required to run the program. Once Java was installed on the new computer the

‘LSdigital programmer V2.0.exe’ ran ok.

The program finds the Local

address and the µCon-s88-

Master appears with the

Version # and IP address

(which may be different for

your network). This IP address

is required for the

TrainController setup.

Clicking on the Help will show

information about the

LSdigital Programmer.


http://www.bing.com/translator/



µCon-s88-Master Setup continued

The μCon-s88-Master has different settings that need to be changed or adjusted. To change options on the

μCon-s88 Master, select the μCon-s88 Master using the mouse.

Once you click on the line for the µCon-s88-

Master the form will expand as shown. The

only things you have to change, is to correct

the S88 Module count for each channel

connector I, II and III.

In the TrainController Help files it states

Even though the µCon-S88-Master needs to know the

number of modules connected to each particular bus,

it is not necessary to specify this number explicitly.

TrainController™ calculates these numbers

according to the data loaded into the software and

configures the µCon-S88-Master automatically.

The μCon-s88-Master supports up to 48 feedback modules having 16 channels or 96 modules with

8 channels. The total number of modules must be set for each channel in the s88-Master.

Example

2* 8 channel modules on Connector I is equal to 1* 16 channel module

3* 8 channel modules on Connector I is equal to 2* 16 channel module

The μCon-s88-Master has other settings that

make the s88 bus safer and less

sensitive to errors. To select one

on and switch-off delay for

example already in the device

use the pull down menu as

shown.

Under the Pro User section the bus speed can

be adjusted. This option is only necessary in

rare cases.

The following settings can be made:

Slow = here the bus is 30-70 per second

Standard = here the bus is 80-120 per second

Fast = here the bus is 130-200 per second

The bus clock with Standard setting works best. If the Fast setting is used with some modules, errors may

occur.

For the Feedback Filter and Pro User sections I didn’t change any of these settings and left them on

Standard. With the channel count set I selected the Write button then exited the LSdigital Programmer.



µCon-s88-Master Setup continued

Under the Program button the static IP address can be change if required. The Port = 11,082 should be left

alone.

I chose to use the defaults that the programmer set.

Make a note of the IP address to be used in TrainController ‘Setup Digital Systems’

Note:

If at any time you want to make changes to the μCon-s88-Master, ensure TrainController is not running

before running the LSdigital Programmer.



µCon-s88-Master Setup with TrainController

The BDAuCon-s88-Master_V3.0.pdf is missing from the supplied CD so I downloaded it from

LSdigital-shop

Again the information is only in the German language but the pictures for non German speakers helps.

Please note the μCon-s88-Master is only

supported with TrainController from

Version 8.0 revision B4 and onwards.

From the Railroad menu select Setup

Digital Systems...

Select the Add ... button

http://www.lsdigital-shop.de/download/



µCon-s88-Master Setup with TrainController continued

From the pull down menu select μCon

μCon-s88-Master

For the IP-Address enter the correct

address you obtained when using the

LSdigital Programmer. Then select

OK.

Now TrainController has two digital systems

so select OK once again.



Important Wire Required

For your track detection to work well one of the s88 modules for your layout must be connected to the

(O) Gnd/Masse of your digital system.

The ‘T’ on the 6088/60880 module or the C connection on the DR4088GND module

Monitoring All s88 Modules

I created two Extended Accessories s88n-16.yrz and s88n-8.yrz which can be inserted into a switchboard

so at one look I can see all the s88 modules.

The s88 Contacts Chart

s88_contacts.bmp was created

so it can be inserted as a picture

in the switchboard.

As an example 2k117 is a

naming convention. The 2k

prefix means Channel II and

117 is on s88 module m8,

contact #5

Please see supplied files at the

end of this document.

(O) or



Monitoring All s88 Modules continued

I created a switchboard called s88n Monitor and displayed it as a Tabbed Document

When s88 contacts are activated the contact and pin number display red

Required Properties for the Extended Accessories

Name the device with a meaningful name

You have to be very careful to select the correct Digital System and channel.



Extended Accessories continued

Channel I Channel II Channel III

For the first s88 module of each channel the Base address must have

a value of 1.

As the s88 modules are added to each channel you must select the

correct Digital System Channel and the Base Address will increase

by +1 in the serial chain for each channel.

Indicator Names & Addresses

1k1 2k1 3k1

1k17

Statistics: Rudolf is using 24x s88n modules (16 inputs each) a total of 384 indicators.

Supplied files contained in s88n_files.zip are s88n-8.yrz, s88-16.yrz and s88_contacts.bmp

Ls_digital files contained in ls_digital.zip 11,496Kb

This document may change as I learn more about the operation of the μCon-s88-Master with

TrainController.

As always enjoy your model trains.

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~rossstew/rms/files/s88n_files.zip

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~rossstew/rms/files/ls_digital.zip

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