These products have been discontinued.

SMD8:

The SMD8 is an eight (8) output DCC accessory decoder specially suited to drive switch (turnout) machines. It features 16 remote and four local programmable routes. The SRC8 can be used with the SMD8 to provide switch position reporting (feedback) if desired.

MSRP - 89.95 USD

Manual in PDF format - 70K
Color Picture

Operation:
The SMD8 is capable of driving eight solenoid and/or stall motor type switch machines. It contains a voltage step-up Capacitor Discharge Unit to store energy. A discharge of this energy is used to energize the solenoid to change the switch state. Using a CDU reduces the current drawn from the track to a small level sufficient to recharge the CDU. However, once the CDU has been discharged (a switch state changed) a time period is required for the CDU to recharge. This is typically about three seconds. Since more than one switch my be requested to change state at the same time, as in a local route, the requests are queued so that each switch may change state in turn. A stall motor type does not use the CDU and therefore, no recharge time is required when activated.

There are four output configurations: short pulse for solenoid type machines, continually on for stall motor type machines, five second pulse for stall motor type machines where reduced track current is desired and manual control. Typically, only solenoid type machines require the CDU, so this is the only output configuration that is queued.

The SMD8 is addressed in groups of eight and may be set to any of  2040 addresses by programming the low and hi address CVs.

Two types of route control are supported.  The remote controlled routes are controlled from the command station just like a single switch is, except that multiple switches may be activated. The local routes are activated by momentarily grounding the respective input. Routes are configured by programming the respective CVs as to which outputs are selected in the route and the output state.

Remote controlled routes are in two groups of eight. Each group has a group address to allow the command station to access it.

SMD2:
The SMD2 is an dual output DCC accessory decoder specially suited to drive switch (turnout) machines. It features separate addressing for each output and separate addressing for output combinations.

MSRP - 19.95 USD

Manual in PDF format - 70K
Color Picture Board size: 1.63" X 2.75"

Operation:
The SMD2 is capable of driving two solenoid and/or stall motor type switch machines. It contains a voltage step-up Capacitor Discharge Unit to store energy. A discharge of this energy is used to energize the solenoid to change the switch state. Using a CDU reduces the current drawn from the track to a small level sufficient to recharge the CDU. However, once the CDU has been discharged (a switch state changed) a time period is required for the CDU to recharge. This is typically about three seconds. Since more than one switch my be requested to change state at the same time, as in a local route, the requests are queued so that each switch may change state in turn. A stall motor type does not use the CDU and therefore, no recharge time is required when activated.

There are four output configurations: short pulse for solenoid type machines, continually on for stall motor type machines, five second pulse for stall motor type machines where reduced track current is desired and manual control. Typically, only solenoid type machines require the CDU, so this is the only output configuration that is queued.

The SMD2 can be addressed in groups of two (sequential addresses) by programming the base address. For example, if the base address is set to three, then output one’s address is 3 and output two’s address is 4. Alternately, each output may be addressed individually (non sequential addresses). Output two’s address may be independantly set using it’s alternate address. Output one’s address is still determined by the base address.

Output combinations are possible were both output are activated by a single address. Four separate addresses are available to set the outputs to any of the four possible combinations: both outputs close, output one close/output two throw, output two close/output one throw and both outputs throw. These combination addresses are separate from the base address.

Any of  2040 addresses may be used to address the SMD2.