OC1 Quad DCC Occupancy Detector.
Zero Level Memory, Adjustable Sensitivity, 4 amps per Block, DCC Powered, Isolated 25ma Outputs

Features

• Zero level compensation.  After you connect the OC1 to DCC power and the track segments, you remove everything from the track and press the button (see operations section for details).  This measures the current when the track is unoccupied and saves these value for each segment in the digital memory of the processor.  During normal operation, the saved zero levels are subtracted from live readings before determining whether a segment is occupied.  This greatly reduces false readings due to leakage and capacitive coupling such as from twisted pair wires. 

   

• Adjustable sensitivity from 1/4 milliamp (mA) to 3 3/4 mA in 1/4 mA steps.  For reference, a single 10 kΩ resistor accross the track draws from about 1 mA to over 2 mA depending on the DCC voltage. 

   

• Optional 2 second hold time.  The unit can be configured to hold all occupied indications for at least 2 seconds, or to make the outputs immediate. 

   

• Supports up to 4 amps current per segment. 

   

• Isolated outputs.  The outputs are completely isolated from the DCC power via opto-couplers. 

   

• Occupied indicator LEDs for each segment. 

   

• Low voltage drop.  The electronic sensors drop only 400 mV at full current and less at lower current. 

   

• The open-collector outputs can sink 25 mA, allowing most common LEDs to be driven directly without additional relays or transistors. 

   

• Can drive digital logic inputs with only a single added pullup resistor per segment. 

Connections

Input

The OC1 can be connected to up to four track segments at a time as shown in this diagram:

DCC power does not have a polarity, so can be hooked up either way.  The DCC line connected to the Pwr terminal must also be connected to the common rail for all track segments covered by the OC1 unit.  The other DCC line must be connected to the Ret terminal.  The Seg1 thru Seg4 terminals are connected to the other individual rails for each track segment.  Note that this side of the rail must be separate for each track segment.  Use insulating spacers or gaps as necessary. 

When sufficient current is detected accross track segment 1 (Seg1 terminal), the OC1 output will be asserted.  Likewise, current in segment 2 will assert the OC2 output, etc. 

Output

The five output terminals (Comm, OC1, OC2, OC3, OC4) are completely floating relative to the DCC power. 

In electronics jargon, the OC1-OC4 signals are NPN open-collector outputs with Comm being the common emitters.  In practical terms, you can think of there being four switches.  Each OC1-OC4 terminal is connected to one end of one switch, and the other ends of all four switches are connected to Comm.  When occupancy for a segment is detected, the switch is turned on, otherwise it is left off.  In essence, each OCx output is shorted to Comm when occupancy is detected, otherwise not. 

Unlike normal mechanical switches, these solid-state switches can only handle voltage in one direction.  Comm must always be at the same or lower voltage than any of the OCx outputs.  Normally Comm is connected to ground.  The OCx outputs then either connect their lines to ground or effectively stay disconnected. 

The maximum current thru each switch must also not be exceeded.  These switches can handle up to 25 mA (milliamps).  That is sufficient to light most ordinary LEDs, which are usually rated for 20 mA maximum. 

Here is a example connecting LEDs so that they light when a track segment is occupied.  This assumes separate 5 volt power is available:

With a 5 volt supply, you should not use resistors smaller than 160 Ω since that results in nearly the maximum of 20 mA the LEDs can handle.  Most LEDs are still quite bright with 10 mA current.  If that is sufficient, use 270 Ω resistors. 

Most LEDs that look like what is shown in this diagram have two leads of different length, with the longer one being the positive connection.  However, this is not a universal rule, and you should try flipping the LED around if it does not light.  The fancy electronics name for the positive lead (connected to the resistor in the diagram) is the "anode", and the other lead the "cathode".  If the LEDs are built into other equipment, like signal lights, then the documentation may only describe them with those terms.

Operation

Button

Various settings can be selected via the single user button labeled Config.  Different button actions are distinguished by different sequences of short and long presses of the momentary button.  A short button action is called a "click", which is the button held down for less than 1/3 second.  A long action is called a "press", which is the button held down for more than 1/3 second.  For successive button actions to be part of a sequence, the gap between actions must not exceed 1/2 second. 

All settings persist until deliberately changed, whether power is shut off or not. 

The valid button sequences are:

Press

Saves the immediate measured current values as the zero current level.  For occupancy to be detected, the measured current must exceed this level by the trigger threshold.  The zero current level is measured and saved for each track segment separately. 

This action is confirmed by all four lights flashing together for a short time. 

Click

Turns off the occupancy hold time.  The occupancy outputs will indicate the immediately measured conditions.  This mode can be useful for setting up and debugging because the result of actions can be seen quickly. 

This action is confirmed by the four lights showing in sequence right to left. 

Click - click

Turns occupancy hold on.  Each occupancy output will continue to be asserted for two seconds after any time occupancy is detected. 

This is probably the mode you want to use for normal operation.  The wheels of rolling stock don't always make good electrical contact with the track due to dirt and bouncing.  This setting prevents small interruptions in current from causing the output to signal no occupancy.  Also in many layouts, the signals driven by occupancy are supposed to persist for a few seconds after the a segment becomes unoccupied. 

Usually the only reason not to enable the two second occupancy hold during normal operation is if the occupancy signals are driving other equipment that also implements a hold, or driving computer inputs where the software performs its own hold logic. 

This action is confirmed by the four lights showing in sequence left to right. 

Click - press

Lowers the threshold for detecting occupancy.  Occupancy is determined by the measured current minus the calibrated zero level (see Press above) exceeding the threshold.  This threshold can be adjusted from 1 to 15, which is in units of 1/4 milliamp.  The factory default is 7 (about 1 3/4 milliamps). 

Decrease this setting if you find occupancy is not being detected when it should be.  Keep in mind that occupancy is detected by rolling stock drawing current.  Unpowered cars usually don't draw any current, so can't be detected without deliberate resistors connected between opposite wheels.  The OC1 is sensitive enough so that only 10 kΩ should be needed.  A 10 kΩ resistor draws such a tiny amount of the power that many axles can be equipped with these resistors without significant effect on the total power budget.  For example with 22 volt DCC, which is the maximum allowed by the DCC standard, a 10 kΩ resistor draws only 2.2 mA.  20 axles with 10 kΩ resistors would then draw only 44 mA. 

Increase this setting if you are seeing too many false occupancy indications.  However, check that the zero current level (see Press above) is set properly first. 

This action is confirmed by displaying the new 1-15 threshold setting in binary on the lights for one second. 

Click - click - press

Like click-press (above), except that the occupancy detection threshold is raised instead of lowered. 

Lights

The board has four LEDs labeled OC1-OC4.  During normal operation, these provide a visual indication of when occupancy is being signalled for their associated segments.  Special displays are shown on power up and after button actions.  Note that the outputs are asserted whenever the LEDs are lit.  This means occupied signals are sent after power up and after button actions, even though the associated track segments may not be occupied at that time.  The Button section (above) describes what is displayed to confirm each button action. 

On powerup, the lights display patterns to allow visually verifying their operation, and to show some of the current settings.  All four lights are flashed together briefly after powerup. 

After the initial flash, the occupancy current threshold is shown for one second.  This is the same display as follows a increment or decrement of the threshold.  See the click-press button action for details. 

After the occupancy detect threshold, the lights indicate whether occupancy hold is on or off.  The four lights are blinked in sequence, with left to right indicating occupancy hold on, and right to left indicating off.  This is deliberatey the same display as after the button actions that set the occupancy hold on or off.