Digital Controlled CAR decoders with automatic braking system
for Faller Car system and Mader magnet Truck vehicles

DCCar/DC-Car © Claus Ilchmann

This decoder offers the following facilities: (see also the news section)

• Automatic braking/collision avoidance
• Use of DCC addresses 1-999
• Programmable using CVs
• Use of 4 speed tables (not with DC-CARXF decoders)
• Monitoring of vehicle’s battery charge
• The ability to control:
  • Blue lights and head lights using sensors.
  • Turn signals, blue lights, headlight, speed, etc. using a DCC controller over an Infra Red link.
  • Turn signals, blue lights, headlight, speed, etc. without a DCC controller using DC-CAR function modules.
• Turn the automatic braking/collision avoidance off remotely using a DCC controller. This enables the Faller vehicles to be loaded on trains.
• The ability to override stops using a DCC controller. Thus, for example, a fire engine can drive through a red traffic light.

An advantage of the DC-CAR of decoder is that after installation the vehicle's reed switch still works, so you can still use your existing stop sections. However you can get better realism using the Infra Red stop unit ST8DCC/ST8REL. This unit gives a softer deceleration than you get with the stop coils.

The DC-CAR01 decoder can be installed into 1:87 scale vehicles (Sprinter, truck, fire engine, etc.). The smaller DC-CAR02 decoder fits into nearly all N scale vehicles of trace N and HO scale cars. Both decoders have the automatic braking/collision avoidance system. The automatic braking/collision avoidance system does not need additional controls, programs, etc.! The distance to the preceding vehicle's transmitter is independently monitored by each vehicle. The automatic braking system (ABS) uses infra red signals. This is coded, so that there is normally no interference from sunlight, neon lamps etc.. The ABS needs an IR receiver at the front of the vehicle on the left and on the right (at height of the bumper) and two IR transmitters on the back. The decoder automatically controls the distance from the vehicle in front when driving or stopping. The brake lights work automatically. Nothing else is needed for vehicles to drive without manual control.

Driving without rear end collisions is now possible. The slowest vehicle determines the speed of the following cars. Almost completely without a 'stop and go' effect. Each vehicle adapts to the speed of the vehicle ahead. After a few seconds the following vehicle accelerates again. If the vehicle ahead is still there, the speed will drop again, otherwise if the vehicle has a clear path it will accelerate slowly back to its set speed.

Imagine, a vehicle held before a crossing at a stop section and the following car brakes (the stop light goes on for a few seconds) and stops a little way behind it, the next vehicle likewise etc.. Now a queue has formed at the crossing. If the stop section is turned off, all cars drive off in turn. That is just like real traffic. You only need one stop coil or infra red stop section at places where cars need to stop!

Setting the vehicle's speed without a DCC controller:

• By soldering two SMD resistors you can select one of four speed tables. Using another resistor you can set the starting speed. With no resistors present speed table 1 is used and the vehicle drives off, after being switched on, at maximum speed. It is better to set all parameters using the programmable CVs. Many modellers are familiar with CVs from using locomotive decoders.

Programming the decoder with a DCC controller:

• All decoder settings can be adjusted using CVs. To use this facility you will need a DCC controller with the ability to 'Program on the Main'. You cannot use a programming track output to program the DC-Car decoder. The CV system is the same as used in model railway decoders.

Monitoring the battery charge

• The battery voltage is monitored at regular intervals. If the voltage becomes lower than 0.9 V per cell with Ni-Cad batteries the vehicle indicates this by flashing the driving and stop light. With 3.6 LIPO batteries the threshold is 3.0V. The engine is set to maximum speed, so that the vehicle still carries on driving. Battery monitoring can be turned off if you do not want to use it.

Switching on with DC-CAR decoders:

• You can set the behaviour of the vehicle after switching on by wiring the 'driving mode' connection of the DC-CAR decoder:
  1. Directly connected:
     Engine is ON and the vehicle drives immediately, uncontrolled at the set maximum speed
  2. Connected through a resistor:
     Engine is OFF and the vehicle waits for a driving instruction from the DCC controller or a DC-CAR function module.

Driving with the DC-CAR decoders:

• Stopping at a stop section using a magnetic stop coil
  The brake lights are switched on for a few seconds. When restarting the vehicle continues just as abruptly as before the DC-CAR decoder was installed.
• Stopping at a stop section using an infra red stop section ST8DCC/ST8REL
  The brake lights are switched on for a few seconds. The car brakes slowly and stops after approx. 5 cm (depending upon speed). When restarting the car accelerates gradually back to its set speed.
• Driving with the automatic braking system
  As soon as the rear vehicle (V2) gets less than approx. 15-20 cm (less on curves) from the vehicle in front (V1) the braking control becomes active and slows the vehicle (V2) - switching the brake lights on for a few seconds. V2 adapts its speed to the preceding vehicle (V1) maintains this, as long as V1 is ahead of it. When the braking control recognises that V1 is no longer there, then V2 accelerates again back to its set speed.
• Stopping with the automatic braking system
  If V1 is waiting at a stop section, then V2 brakes and stops 4-5cm behind V1. The brake lights are switched on for some seconds. If V3 now drives up behind V2, it will also stop. A queue of traffic forms, using only one stop section. All the vehicles wait until V1 drives off again. As soon as the distance from V1 to V2 becomes more than the range of the braking system V2 starts off again. The vehicles start of smoothly, not jerkily. Thus the layout's road traffic behaves realistically.

Driving with a DCC controller:

• All functions of the decoder can be operated using a DCC controller. Using Infra Red transmitters, which are connected with the track connection of the DCC controller, you can drive the vehicles. You can set the speed of each individual vehicle in 28 stages, operate direction indicators, hazard indicators and flashing blue lights. You can use the Faller "rolling highway" by simply switching the automatic braking function off before driving onto the railway wagons. After driving onto the wagon you turn it back on again.
• The instructions in detail:
  Speed in 28 steps
  F0 = headlight
  F1 = left turn signal
  F2 = right turn signal
  F1+F2 = hazard flashing
  F3 = distance control on/off
  F4 = ignore magnetic stop sections
  F5 = blue light
  F6 = front warning lights
  F7 = light 2
  F8 = light 3

Headlight sensor:

• By attaching a photo-sensitive sensor (LDR) to the decoder the headlights can be operated depending on the available light. e.g. Headlight turns on when entering a tunnel and off when the vehicle comes out.

Blue light sensor:

• A second reed switch or hall effect switch can be attached to the decoder. The first time the switch is activated the blue light turns on and remains on until the switch is activated again.

DC-CAR 01 decoder specification:

• Size: 27 x 18 x 2.5 mm
• Supply voltage: 3.6 - 5 V
• 28 drive steps
• Connections for the following LEDS:
  Tail light. Brake light, Lights 1, 2 and 3, Blue light, Front warning light and turn signals
• Turn signals can only be operated using a DCC controller or DC-Car function modules
• All resistors for the LEDS are included on the circuit board

DC-CAR 02 decoder specification:

• >Size: 14 x 10 x 2.0 mm
• Supply voltage: 3.6 - 5 V
• 28 drive steps
• Connections for the following LEDS:
  Tail light. Brake light, Lights 1, 2 and 3, Blue light, Front warning light and turn signals
• Turn signals can only be operated using a DCC controller or DC-Car function modules
• All resistors for the LEDS are included on the circuit board

In development:

• Modules for traffic lights and level crossings.

For more information or suggestion for new decoders or functions, please email: modelleisenbahn.de.

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Disclaimer:
This page has been translated, with permission, from a page on Claus Ilchmann’s web site.
The original page, in German, is located here.
This translation is provided with no guarantee of accuracy or liability for errors.
Should you decide to use the DC-Car system then you should check that the functionality meets your needs by reference to the manufacturer’s web site.