Digital Inputs Using the Arduino
Arduino Nano
I have been using the nano Extensively for my projects, Whilst I have played with the Mega and the Uno, I find the Nano is the correct Price point at around $3 each, and the Number of Digital IO (16) the nano can handle is about all you want in one location.
Whats Required
1 x Nano from Ebay, aprox $3
1 x Coms lead (buy your first nano with one costs a couple dollars more
A computer , just about anything will do. I have an old Ebook which works just as well as my Current Model Dell i7 Laptop, just takes it longer to do anything.
1 x Sketch....and the supporting Library
1 x Loconet interface (A single interface can have two nano's hang off it)
Whats the Sketch
You may read and hear about these Sketch things.... The Arduino world works on Sketchs and Libraries. Sketches are scripts or set of commands that make the Ardunio perform in a given manner.
The standard Nano, UNO, Mega can all perform in multiple methods, in train terms we are interested in Inputs and outputs.
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Inputs being feedback to the system of an event Such as a block detector, or limit switch on a set of points (turn out) being made etc.
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Outputs can be for turning signals on, building lighting, and driving point motors
You dont need to no too much about how to create a sketch to use a nano for train, I have done all the hard work for you. Go to my downloads Page and there are a couple of variants to choose from
1. The input Sketch, takes 16 digital inputs and reports them on loconet.
2. The outputs Sketch, Takes 16 Digital outputs to drive LED's etc based on your needs. (must be 5v no more than 20ma)
3. Servo Driver, Drives 8 Servos for point motors or semaphore, Has 7 Lots of feedback or inputs, can be used as the limits on the popints or other inputs to Loconet
4. Universal IO, this Sketch has the ability to be both an input and an output on the one Arduino, you adjust how many of each, by default it has 8 Inputs and 8 outputs