The Grapevine^[TM]

A complete control network for your model railroad

The Grapevine is the backbone of your signaling system. The Grapevine is:

• a hardware network, and

• a software format for sending information over that network.

 Why The Grapevine ?

• the signal bus requires a very fast response time when CTC is in use;
• The DCC format has a lot of redundancy required by the noisy rail-to-wheel environment, that the signal bus does not need;
• The DCC bus is fully utilized just sending commands to the locomotives.

Clinics and Presentations:

• April 2005 Clinic: Things you can do with Grapevine
• October 2004 NCR Regional Annual Clinic, Lansing, Mich
• May 2002 SER Regional Convention Clinic: Greenville, SC. 
  • Similar to clinic as presented at NMRA 2000 National, San Jose, CA
    •  with answers to "technical" questions asked by audience
  • SER clinic introduces Grapevine II and new Node and new driveboard
    • pre-dates the ASD (microprocessor-based detector)

• The Node, which receives data from computer and sends data to computer
• The detectors, which detects cars and engines within blocks
  • describes third generation detector, the ASD
  • How to use the Grapevine ASD, circa February 2005
• The driver boards which drive signals and switchmotors
  • the 2006 Grapevine Universal Driver Board, with 32 outputs (24 leds, and 8 switchmotors)
  • the 2003 Grapevine Driver Board, with 12 outputs to leds, switchmotors or relays
  • How to use the Grapevine 2006 24 LED Universal Driver Board
  • How to connect the Grapevine 2006 Universal Driver Board, circa December 2007
• How to connect highway flasher port, for various signal wiring conditions 
  • simple back-to-back (no additional resistors)
  • common cathode
  • common anode (2 methods)
• Using the Grapevine Detector for 3-Rail, December 2004
• How to connect the Solenoid switch machine (Peco, Atlas), for standalone or computer control
• How to connect an optical isolator to the Grapevine Node, circa February 2005
• How to connect the 3-amp Grapevine DCC Booster to the Grapevine Node, circa December 2004
  • booster design subsequently changed to automatically restore power
• Download the Grapevine Installation Instructions
• View the Grapevine Connectors diagrams, 2007

The Grapevine: More Information (This portion (c) 1996-2010)

• Is The Grapevine a complete system? YES: The Grapevine can
  • control switch motors
  • control signals
  • control train-order signals (semaphore and searchlight)
  • collect data from detectors
  • regulate fast clocks, analog and digital
  • control highway crossing flashers and gates
  • control industry gates and "blue flags"
  • control any other device (a led, a slow motor, a relay) on event or time
  • "talk" to Working Weighscales
• Is The Grapevine prototypical? YES
  • Satisfies the CFR 13-foot rule for signaling. You will own the only network fast enough to satisfy real railroad rules
  • Signaling software comes with databases of aspects for prototype railroads
  • Select the aspects/indications for your railroad
• Is the Grapevine up-to-date? YES
  • Exclusively optimized for model railroading
  • The Grapevine is the only microprocessor-based network for signaling in model railroading
  • You will be using today’s leading edge communications technology
• How do I assemble it and wire it?
  • No soldering
  • All printed boards boards come pre-assembled.
  • "Plug and click" the cabling
  • All the connections are done with plugs and sockets
    • The node-to-node cable uses telephone plugs
    • The node-to-detectors use 3-wire plugs
    • The node-to-signal boards use 14-wire ribbonwire connectors
    • Power supply wires use "crimp-on" spade plugs
  • Spend your time railroading, not doing complicated wiring
  • Download the Grapevine Installation Instructions
  • View the Grapevine Connectors diagrams
• Will The Grapevine be ‘orphaned’? NO
  • We have been at this since 1983
  • Encouraged others to build compatible devices and software
  • Published all the data formats
  • Open architecture
    • you can use other "On/Off" brands of detector (with the parallel inputs)
    • you can use any type of signals, including the ones you made yourself

1. Detectors
   • The detector meets the prototype's 13-foot rule. The whole system (detector-> Grapevine-> computer-> Grapevine-> signal) can respond to occupancy in under 0.1 seconds dropping a signal from a "proceed indication" to "red" before the lead axle has travelled further than 13 ft past the block boundary.
   • The "off delay time" follows the prototype practice; the prototype has a 5 minute rule. The hardware "off time" is 2.0 seconds. You can further adjust the off time in software.
   • The detector output is fully isolated from the track power. The detection section of the detector gets its miniscule power needs from the command control track power, while the logic section gets its power from the single Grapevine power supply. Each detection circuit has its own on-board led indicating occupancy.
   • Voltage drop across the detector is insignificant. Diodes are not required in adjacent non-detected blocks.... which means you can install this system incrementally.
   • Current rating is 7.5 amps continuous (30-amp peak).
   • The detector comes in 3 versions, all optimized for DCC. 
     • 8 blocks/board, through serial port
     • 2 blocks/board through parallel detector ports (up to 8 "parallel "detectors per Node)
     • "Parallel" detectors also detect 'motion'.  Excellent for hidden or staging track applications
2. Driver Board
   • The driver board drives searchlight-type signals, semaphores, color-position signals (CPL), Pennsy position-light-signals and 3-color signals. 
   • For searchlight signals each board drives up to 24 bi-color leds in all 7 possible aspects (R, G, Y, and flashing R, G, Y, and dark). The aspects displayed are set by you in software, and can be tailored to any prototype.
   • For position-light signals use 2-ports each
   • Color-position signals (CPL) use 2 to 10 ports, depending on number of lamps on each signal.
     
   • Driver outputs can be used to drive stall motor switchmotors.
   • These boards are designed for the Tortoise and the Hankscraft machines (AS&S,Switchmaster,...).
    
   • NOTE: Signal driver outputs can be used to drive relays (e.g. for grade-crossings, reversing loops, or wyes).
3. Power supply
   1. The only item you have to supply is a single power supply that provides 12 to 18 volts somewhat filtered dc. A suitable supply would be a 12 volt transformer, with a full-bridge chip, and a 2000 ufd cap. across the dc side (all available at Radio Shack).
   2. From this power supply, you run two #18 or #22 wires around the railroad. Then you run a connector wire from each to the boards. All the power supply connectors to the boards are crimp-type, slipping onto lugs on boards. Soldering is not required.
   3. Each board has its own on-board 5-Volt regulated power supply.
   4. Total power requirements (amps) are mostly set by how many leds/signals you have.
4. Board-to-board logic cabling and wiring
   • Cabling between the boards can be supplied. The main logic wire between the network nodes is ordinary 6-wire phone cable with phone-type (RJ12) connectors.
   • The cable from the network nodes to devices is ribbon cable. Connectors are included in the price.
   • The interface board includes the 6-ft long cable with its DB9 connector that attaches to your computer.
   • USB alternative to Interface Board
     • USB-COMi for $48 (January 2005)

Semaphore Movie       See the 3-position semaphore driver in action

Semaphore Movie       See the motor linkage and Semaphore Driverboard in action

Grapevine DCC          Grapevine generates DCC packets and data.  With ProTrak Grapevine can be your DCC system.

Working Weighscale   Unique Grapevine device.  Weighs cars and engines with near zero deflection - run engines directly over the scale.

"CarID"                      Experimental Car Identification, here shown using small barcodes. Data is read to ProTrak as described on this page.  Same code in ProTrak could be used with RFID.