The IR-balises are infrared LEDs with a wavelength of 950 nm. Several of these are connected in parallel and provided with a series resistor for one IR-balise, so they only transmit a few centimeters. The series resistor must be dimensioned so that a maximum current of 10mA flows at 3.3V.
Since we are still experimenting with the form factor, we cannot currently offer finished transmitters.
Our kit for Märklin C-track currently contains five IR-LEDs with a wavelength of 950 nm (e.g., Vishay TSUS 4300) and a 1 kOhm series resistor.
Note: For use in garden railways, we recommend NFC instead of IR, see CTC-NFC-Reader
For our locomotive modules, the IR receiver comes with a cable and matching mini-plug. To facilitate installation, the IR receiver is supplied separately and must still be soldered by you. In the above image, the IR receiver (black box) was glued under the front coupling (yellow).
IR-Balise Kit for the C-Track
The following image shows the C-track before processing and the parts of the IR-balise kit:
The self-construction of the IR-balise proceeds as follows:
- Measure with the PCB and drill 5 holes in the track (3 mm diameter), where the mounting pins exist under the track:
- Insert the IR-LEDs into the provided holes of the PCB (long leg towards the track center) and then fit both into the C-track.
- Solder the IR-LEDs only now.
- Remove the PCB, insert the resistor and solder it.
- Reinsert the PCB and solder the connecting wires and plug:
The positive pole (yellow cable, red heat shrink tubing in the image) connects to PWM-VCC and the negative pole (gray cable, green heat shrink tubing in the image) connects to TX-GND. - You can check whether all IR-LEDs are working with your smartphone camera.
To do this, connect the IR-balise to approximately 16V DC (red heat shrink tubing to the positive pole).
In the camera app of your smartphone, you should now see the LEDs shimmering purple (if necessary, block some of the ambient light):
Since the LEDs only radiate upwards at a fairly narrow angle, you may need to move your smartphone slightly to check all the LEDs.
If the IR-balises are connected to the CTC module (3.3 V), the smartphone camera unfortunately sees nothing. - Now only the connection to a CTC turnout module or the CTC-IO-board is missing.
The plug on the CTC module is marked with heat shrink tubing in the same colors (red, green):
IR-Balise for the C-Track Without Kit
Of course, you can also build an IR-balise without our kit, as shown in the previous instructions. For LEDs we use Vishay TSUS 4300 (wavelength 950 nm) and the resistor is 1 kOhm.
