Signals and Automation
Signal Logic runs on the EX-CSB1, not in an open browser. Closing or refreshing the UI does not stop enabled automation.
A signal stores:
- output type: DCC accessory or DCC-EX VPIN;
- starting accessory address or VPIN;
- address length (normally 5 for DigiSignal);
- lamp/aspect count;
- bit values for GREEN, RED, YELLOW, and WHITE.
For a start address of 100, length 5, and bit value 10110, the server writes the five physical outputs as consecutive accessory commands:
<a 100 0>
<a 101 1>
<a 102 1>
<a 103 0>
<a 104 1>
One output is processed per firmware-loop pass. In accessory mode DCC-EX queues real accessory packets on MAIN. In VPIN mode the same bits are written to consecutive DCC-EX virtual pins, allowing HAL GPIO and I²C output devices to drive the signal. The state is cached and broadcast to browser clients in both modes.
- Rules are evaluated from top to bottom.
- Every condition in a rule must match.
- The first matching rule wins.
- If no rule matches, the signal uses the safe RED fallback.
Conditions can reference:
- a turnout ID and its Closed/Thrown state, using either its accessory or VPIN feedback state;
- a sensor ID and its Active/Inactive state.
Signal, turnout, and sensor references are stored by stable layout element ID. Hardware addresses are resolved from the current layout when the firmware loads the rules. Changing an address does not require rewriting every rule.
- Outputs are sent when the desired aspect changes.
- Enabling/reloading the rules or restoring track power forces a fresh evaluation.
- Unchanged aspects are not transmitted continuously.
- With MAIN power off, no physical DCC signal reaches the decoder; power-on triggers re-evaluation.
- 24 signal groups
- 6 rules per signal
- 6 conditions per rule
- 32 monitored sensor inputs
- 1–8 consecutive accessory or VPIN outputs per signal
Use Validate rules before saving and the global CHECK command after layout editing.