Any Power Functions Alternatives?

[stu808]

Hiya all,

Does anybody know of another currently available option then Power Functions to drive their trains?

And I don't mind building it myself if I have too....

My current issue is the size of the Power Functions Receiver unit. If I could buy these _OR_ buy the PCBs for these I'm sorted http://www.hackvandedam.nl/blog/?page_id=547

Also open to other non-Lego solutions, like Arduino and PICAXE based ideas.

Many thanks

Stu :)

[peterab]

If your issue is mainly the size the easiest alternative is to remove the case. The PCB within is quite a lot smaller, a lot of the additional space is taken up with a kid friendly switch and connectors and robust packaging. I'm pretty sure with a bit of google searching you'll be able to find pictures of the internals.

Edited June 13, 2014 by peterab

[1974]

I've switched to a combination of 9V metalrails and the old RC system, no more PF here

Some trains use the integrated RC reciever/battery base but in general I take out the RC PCB and use it with a 9V battery. That is a very compact solution (I also use this with my monorails)

Works very nicely with the old black/red 12V motors, piston-rods ftw

The old system has two LED IR recievers making it possible to get a much better recepetion

Works for me

[JopieK]

we use an Arduino (custom board) at my school to control trains. It has a dedicated motor driver chip, support for front/tail lights and an XBee header. Atmega328 µC. Fits >within< 4 x 8 studs. it is about 1 stud high, so fits into a lot of trains. Power: 3.3V (of course the motor might need more volts. Much better control than LEGO PF (8 bits instead of 3).

[codefox421]

Hi Stu,

I've been designing a Bluetooth alternative to the IR receiver. It doesn't have quite the tiny 2x4 footprint of the Hack Van De Dam receiver, but at 3x4 it's not far off.

Here's more info: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=87340&hl=

Here's a video of it used in a train: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=93663&hl=

Here's the repository: https://github.com/codefox421/brickster

Rev. 1a is tested and works well; it's what I've used in my Emerald Night. However, its ability to handle current falls between the v1 and v2 IR receivers (and, I almost forgot, it has a 4x4 footprint). I've just ordered all the parts to build a few rev. 2 prototypes. Rev. 2 achieves a true 3x4 footprint and uses the same chip as the v2 IR receiver, thus handles more current than rev. 1a (though less voltage).

Best of all, it's reprogrammable. Leave off the Bluetooth module (or don't), add a few sensors on the ATtiny84's leftover ports, program it with Arduino, and you've got yourself a little LEGO robot. =)

[legoman666]

Hi Stu,

I've been designing a Bluetooth alternative to the IR receiver. It doesn't have quite the tiny 2x4 footprint of the Hack Van De Dam receiver, but at 3x4 it's not far off.

Here's more info: http://www.eurobrick...topic=87340&hl=

Here's a video of it used in a train: http://www.eurobrick...topic=93663&hl=

Here's the repository: https://github.com/c...ox421/brickster

Rev. 1a is tested and works well; it's what I've used in my Emerald Night. However, its ability to handle current falls between the v1 and v2 IR receivers (and, I almost forgot, it has a 4x4 footprint). I've just ordered all the parts to build a few rev. 2 prototypes. Rev. 2 achieves a true 3x4 footprint and uses the same chip as the v2 IR receiver, thus handles more current than rev. 1a (though less voltage).

Best of all, it's reprogrammable. Leave off the Bluetooth module (or don't), add a few sensors on the ATtiny84's leftover ports, program it with Arduino, and you've got yourself a little LEGO robot. =)

I would happily buy a few of the blank boards from you. I have a solder rework station at work I can use and I can order the chips myself. PM me if you're willing.

[codefox421]

I would happily buy a few of the blank boards from you. I have a solder rework station at work I can use and I can order the chips myself. PM me if you're willing.

I'll forgo the PM in the name of openness, but post in the Bluetooth receiver topic to keep from going off-topic here.

http://www.eurobrick...25#entry1917768