Arduino's only works for V9?

[LegoatDTLA]

I just got started on lego train last week, and it's seem really fun. Now, Since I saw AlmightyArjen youtubes, it make me really wonders. Does Arduino's only work on V9 tracks? Is there a sensor that sense color or something to controlled?

[dr_spock]

It doesn't have to be only 9V tracks; you can also get Arduino work with the 12V track and Power Function tracks.. I've just started using Arduino with Power Function trains.

You can connect different type of sensors to Arduino--light, magnetic, RFID, etc.

[AlmightyArjen]

Like Spock said, Arduinos work also on 12V trains and PF trains. The reason why I use 9V is mainly because of the batteries. Next to that, if you control the voltage on a track, you control where the train stops. This is the case with the 9V system. If you have a PF situation, you can control the trains by emitting control signals from your Arduino to control the trains. But you don't know where it is so you need extra sensors to make it stop where you want it to stop.

[LegoatDTLA]

Thanks, got it. I'll look more into it this weekend. And sorry about the text turns small, weird when copy past one word, and size changes after that.

[Richfilth]

Check out my videos, which explain how to get started with Arduino for lego trains. Watch each of them, and you'll learn how to include libraries and how to set up infrared sensors. From there, it's a very small step to setting up an infrared LED to send out Power Functions commands via the Arduino.

Other people have even placed tiny arduinos on board their trains for further control, but that removes PF completely and just powers the motor directly from the arduino (with a battery and motor controller, of course).