CMRI Products

Manuals and Guides

The C/MRI User's Manual V3.0

The users manual is considered by all C/MRI users to be one of the most important parts of their library and THE most important resource when wiring their layout. The Manual consists of the Main Manual & a seperate Appendices and contains 560 pages of illustrative figures, parts lists, schematics, functional diagrams, assembly instructions, test procedures, and explanatory text plus a CD crammed with software and examples.

Railroader's Application Handbook V3.0 - NOT YET RELEASED

Two Volumes, with over 500 pages packed with a broad spectrum of model railroading applications including complete chapters on

• block occupation detection
• using C/MRI with DCC
• signaling fundamentals
• ABS, APB & CTC
• interlocking plants
• computer cab control
• computer block control
• automated train operation

Both of these manuals provide extensive software coverage including:

• updated standard serial protocol subroutines
• real-time software control
• multiple application examples
• system test programs
• automated diagnostics

All software is incorporated in a 3.5" disk enclosed with the User's Manual. To fit the background and needs of different readers, examples are included in an assortment of languages including BASIC, QuickBASIC, Visual Basic, Pascal and C++.

When released, these two volumes will be in high demand and are already eagerly anticipated.

Nodes & Communications

SUSIC

The Super Universal Serial Interface Card is the communications hub for the MAXI-NODE. It boasts 1x RS232 and 2x RS485 connections. The Micro Controller based SUSIC plugs into the IOMBX I/O motherboard, for interfacing up to a total of 64 digital input and digital output cards. The SUSIC is smaller, faster, much more capable and costs less than the original USIC.

SUITABILITY: Larger or more permeant installations, Dispatcher Panels, CTC Panels.
Use the Maxi-Node anywhere you have a large amount of input and/or output all condensed into the one location, such as depots, stations, yard throats, interchanges, large & complex control panels.
REQUIRED: IOBMX,DIN32, DOUT32, RS485 if PC is more than 5 meters away OR if more than one node is required.

SMINI

The Super MINI-NODE card combines all the advanced features of the SUSIC with 48 output and 24 input I/O lines. It's really a single card providing a complete standalone serial node with 72 I/O lines.

SUITABILITY: Modular layouts, large sprawling layouts
REQUIRED: RS485 if PC is more than 5 meters away OR if more than one node is required.

IOMBX

This expanded I/O Motherboard is the backbone of the MAXI-NODE and provides 15 card slots as compared to the 13 provided by the previous IOMB. The 40-pin header, included with the IOMB, is deleted from the IOMBX in favor of adding the additional card slots. Thus, the IOMBX is the preferred motherboard for all USIC applications while the IOMB is still required when using the IBEC.

Multiple IOMBX boards can be connected together to allow up to 64 I/O Cards to be attached to a single Maxi-Node.

SUITABILITY: Larger or more permeant installations, Dispatcher Panels, CTC Panels.
Use the Maxi-Node anywhere you have a large amount of input and/or output all condensed into the one location, such as depots, stations, yard throats, interchanges, large & complex control panels.
REQUIRED: SUSIC, DIN32, DOUT32

RS485

This new RS232 to RS485 conversion card replaces the previous RS422 conversion card. Plus and minus 12Vdc power is no longer required as everything works off a standard +5Vdc supply connection. The new RS485 card retains the same advantages use of the two data direction monitoring LEDs and works with both the RS422 and RS485 standards. Line termination resistor networks are included as an integral part of the card's design.

RECOMMENDED: Where the distance from Controlling PC to a single-node installation exceeds 4 meters.
REQUIRED: Where a multi-node installation is being used.

Occupancy Detector Cards

OD

Optimized detector.
The OD is a small card that senses current flow in a section of track to determine block occupancy. The output of the card can drive LEDs or relays directly but most importantly connects directly to a line on an input card. A built-in potentiometer and test LED are used to adjust the circuit's sensitivity. Typically at its maximum sensitivity setting, a dampened finger placed across the track will register as occupied.

SUITABILITY: DC systems
RECOMMENDED: ODMB if a number of detectors are clustered together

DCCOD

DCC optimized detector.
The DCCOD is a new card introduced with this handbook specifically designed for DCC equipped railroads. If you already have ODs, you can use them with DCC but using the DCCOD provides a somewhat easier approach. To operate properly, the DCCOD requires a continuous flow of input pulses as supplied by DCC. The DCCOD will not work with straight DC layouts and therefore is not applicable to MBC, WBS, CCC or CBC operation. It does work, however, with Railcommand, CTC-80 and CTC-16 equipped railroads. The output of the DCCOD has the same drive capability as the OD. It also incorporates the built-in potentiometer and test LED for adjusting the circuit's sensitivity. Like with the OD, a dampened finger placed across the track will register as occupied.

SUITABILITY: DCC systems only
RECOMMENDED: ODMB if a number of detectors are clustered together

ODMB

Optimized detector motherboard.
The ODMB is a circuit card with connectors wired in parallel whereby up to 12 OD or DCCOD cards can be inserted. Using the ODMB cuts down on the wiring requirements and also enables the detectors to be distributed around the railroad. The power supply connections to the ODMB are slightly different depending upon whether you are using ODs or DCCODs. If more than 12 detectors are desired at any location, multiple ODMBs can be connected together.

Input/Output Cards

DIN32

This digital I/O card for the MAXI-NODE incorporates 32 input lines. The resulting smaller card provides 33% more I/O than the previous DIN card while plugging directly into the I/O motherboard. Each card is DIP switch addressable up to 64 cards per node. The card includes optional built-in input line filtering.

SUITABILITY: Larger or more permeant installations, Dispatcher Panels, CTC Panels.
Use the Maxi-Node anywhere you have a large amount of input and/or output all condensed into the one location, such as depots, stations, yard throats, interchanges, large & complex control panels.
REQUIRED: IOMBX, SUSIC

DOUT32

This digital I/O card for the MAXI-NODE incorporates 32 output lines. The resulting smaller card provides 33% more I/O than the previous DOUT card while plugging directly into the I/O motherboard. Each card is DIP switch addressable up to 64 cards per node. Drive capability has been increased with less current draw per card. Each of the card's four 8-bit ports is separately configurable to support either standard current sinking or current sourcing.

SUITABILITY: Larger or more permeant installations, Dispatcher Panels, CTC Panels.
Use the Maxi-Node anywhere you have a large amount of input and/or output all condensed into the one location, such as depots, stations, yard throats, interchanges, large & complex control panels.
REQUIRED: IOMBX or IOMB

TEST32

This new system output diagnostic test card plugs directly onto the new DOUT32 card to test all 32 output lines. An easy to read port and bit legend is printed directly on the card eliminating the need for the separate label panel used with the previous test cards. Two-lead bi-color LEDs are employed so that the same card can test current sinking as well as current sourcing outputs. Employing the TEST32 card, followed by using the standard wraparound test cable makes it a snap to completely test the entire C/MRI system.

Switch and Signal Controllers

Switch Machine Controllers

SM1

Twin-coil switch machine driver using dual input lines.
The SM1 card employs a capacitor discharge type circuit to control a single twin-coil switch machine. The computer pulls one input line low to energize one coil and the other line low to energize the other coil. The circuit's capacitor discharge feature limits the amount of time either coil is energized and also protects against both coils being energized simultaneously.

An advantage of the circuit is that you can use a very limited-current power supply to drive a nearly unlimited number of turnouts. The circuit's disadvantage is that it requires two control lines per turnout just as if the turnout was controlled by conventional pushbuttons.

SUITABILITY: Peco Point Motors or other Dual Coil Solenoid Turnout Motor

SM2

Twin-coil switch machine driver using single input line.
Like the SM1, the SM2 controls a single twin-coil switch machine. Since a switch machine is a binary device, i.e. it has two states, being either in normal or reverse positions, one control line should be all you need for control. The SM2 card's unique circuitry provides this capability. When the input transitions from low to high, one coil is energized; from high to low the other coil is energized. A built-in timing function controls the duration time that the coil is energized.

The circuit's advantage is that it cuts the number of control lines required from the computer in half. Its disadvantage is that if you elect to throw a bunch of turnouts simultaneously you need a pretty hefty power supply, plus the circuit is more sensitive to electrical noise, possibly causing an occasional unwanted throwing of the turnout. On the positive side, I have never had a customer say that they experienced unwanted turnout throws with the SM2 caused by electrical noise.

SUITABILITY: Peco Point Motors or other Dual Coil Solenoid Turnout Motor

SMC12

Switch motor control driver.
Each SMC12 card can control up to 12 low-current stall-type switchmotors. It does this by employing 6 identical circuits per card where each circuit controls 2 stall-motors. The big advantage of using the SMC12 card is that only one C/MRI output line is required per Tortoise machine. When the input line is high, polarity is applied to the switch motor in one direction and when low the polarity is applied in the opposite direction. The SMC is a great way to drive Switchmaster and Tortoise machines either with or without the computer.

SUITABILITY: Tortoise or other stall-type Turnout Motor.

Signal Controllers

SSD

Searchlight signal driver card for 2-pin LEDS.
This card is set up to drive twelve 3-color aspect searchlight signals using outputs from a DOUT32 card or an SMINI. The SSD connects between the conventional output card and the signals much like the SMC card connects between a conventional output card and Tortoise switch motors. The SSDOUT card mentioned in previous versions of the Handbook is not being produced in favor of using the SSD with the DOUT.

SUITABILITY: Searchlight Target Signals
RECOMMENDED: SMINI, DOUT, DOUT32

RSSD

Searchlight signal driver card for 3-pin LEDs.
This card is set up to drive twelve 3-color aspect searchlight signals using outputs from a DOUT32 card or an SMINI. The RSSD connects between the conventional output card and the signals much like the SMC card connects between a conventional output card and Tortoise switch motors. The SSDOUT card mentioned in previous versions of the Handbook is not being produced in favor of using the SSD with the DOUT.

SUITABILITY: Searchlight Target Signals
RECOMMENDED: SMINI, DOUT, DOUT32

Control (Cab, Computer, Block)

CRC - SPECIAL ORDER

Cab relay card.
This card is used to automatically assign any one of up to seven cabs to a block. It replaces the conventional block toggle or rotary switch used with manual block control. You need one of these cards per power block when implementing Computer Cab Control. Which relay is energized by the C/MRI software determines which cab has control of the block.

SUITABILITY: Large DC layouts with more than 2 Regular or PWM Cabs or Throttles.
REQUIRED: CMB
RECOMMENDED: CDC

CMB - SPECIAL ORDER

Cab motherboard.
A circuit card with connectors wired in parallel whereby up to 12 CRC cards can be inserted. Since the CMB contains the required cab bus connections it cuts down on the wiring requirements plus it enables the relay cards to be more easily distributed around the railroad. If more than 12 CRCs are desired at any location, multiple CMBs can be connected together.

SUITABILITY: Large DC layouts with more than 2 Regular or PWM Cabs or Throttles.
RECOMMENDED: CRC, CDC

CDC - SPECIAL ORDER

Cab display card.
This card can be used to add an optional block status display as part of a control panel track diagram when using CCC. The card incorporates a single-digit numeric LED for indicating the cab number assigned to the block, two direction LEDs to indicate the direction of travel for the cab in the block, and a block occupation LED.

SUITABILITY: Large DC blocked layouts with more than 2 Regular or PWM Cabs or Throttles.
REQUIRED: CMB, CRC

CCT4 - SPECIAL ORDER

Computer control throttle card.
Take your layout beyond CCC (Computer Cab Control) with CTC (Computer Throttle Control). Each CCT4 card contains up to four separate digital throttles. Five control line inputs are required per throttle. Four set the throttle output voltage to define speed, and the fifth line sets the output polarity to define direction of travel. The throttles can be used as separate standalone throttles, or combined in with Computer Cab Control, for automating operations, or as the basis for a Computer Block Control system.

SUITABILITY: Large DC ONLY blocked layout where you do not have throttles, or only basic throttles are needed.
REQUIRED: DOUT or DOUT32
RECOMMENDED: PPC

PPC - SPECIAL ORDER

Pulse power control card.
This card is used to convert the CCT4 throttles to pulse power outputs for improved slow speed operation. If you desire pulse operation, then you need one PPC per CCT if using the throttles as standalone units or combined with CCC. If using the CCT4s for CBC, one PPC can handle your entire layout.

REQUIRED: CCT4

Miscellanious Items

RS232 Serial Cables

These cables are suited for use with the RS485 converter, the SUSIC (in stand-alone mode) and the SMINI (also in standalone mode).
They come in lengths of 0.5m (best for the RS485 converter), 1m, 2m, 3m & 4m and can be wired for either 25pin serial (really old PCs only) or 9pin.

We do not recommend using RS232 cables longer than 4meters due to losses and instability of the signal, especially at higher speeds.

RS485 inter-node cables.

These cables are suited for connections between nodes (both SMINI and SUSIC) and can be any length you require. We use a quality 4-core cable with individually shielded cores for superior performance.
Please ask us for a quote on the cable length you need.

RS485 Bus Termination Resistor Plug Packs

These resistor Plug Packs are used to terminate the end of the RS485 bus. While the RS485 Convertor has terminating resistors built in, these are only effective if the RS485 Convertor is at one end of the communications line, and not at all if it is in the middle.

Both ends of the RS485 Bus must be terminated for reliable operation, so this plug-pack comes with two resistor packs ready for you to simply plug-in and forget.

CON72 Connector Pack

These connector packs are ideal for connecting your layout to the SMINI boards. Each pack features 72 Crimp pins and 9x 8-pin clam-shalls to accept the crimp pins.

CON32 Connector Pack

These Connector Packs are great for connecting your DIN32 and DOUT32 boards to the outside world. Featuring 32 Crimp Pins and 4x 8-pin clam-shells to accept the crimp pins.

Crimping tool for CON72 & CON32

Do you struggle getting those little crimp pins in the Connector Kits to work for you? That old pair of pliers just not doing the job? This quality special purpose crimping tool is just the ticket for getting those little pins to crimp right the first time EVERY time. While a large number of those ultra-cheap muti-purpose tools to claim to be able to do this for a fraction of the price, the results are less than mediocre. Our tool is dedicated to the job, is stong, sturdy and well built - the photo's speak for themselves. CLICK ON THE PHOTOS FOR A LARGER VIEW IN A SEPERATE WINDOW

Punchdown Tool

This punchdown tool is ideal for those who choose to use the NEW krone-block option on the SMINI RTR modules. While lacking the mechanical punch of the tools used by professionals in the networking and telco industries, these are ideal as the wires can be gently pressed into position with a reduced chance of damaging the board. We recommend placing a solid strip of styrene behind the punch-down blocks to brace the board and prevent cracking.