DCC Specialties Sherlock Detector

DCC Specialties Sherlock Detector

Sherlock Detector Manual

The Sherlock Detector is a position detecting (pun intended) device specifically designed to work with the NCE Mini Panel. It can signal condition up to 8 photo cells located between the ties of the track and provides 8 triggers to the NCE Mini Panel, one per sensor. This means you can use up to four Sherlocks with one Mini Panel. The combination of the Sherlock with the NCE Mini Panel provides you with very powerful control of your layout. The optical sensors can provide a trigger either when they cover or uncover, and the Mini Panel can send an almost unlimited set of DCC commands based on the trigger input. The optical sensors are self-calibrating to the ambient light level present at power on. There is no need to mess with “sensitivity” adjustments. In very dark locations, a light source as small as a grain of wheat bulb is sufficient to operate the sensors.

Starting simply, you can use the Sherlock/NCE Mini Panel combo to make a point to point railroad such as a trolley run. A sensor at each end triggers the Mini Panel to send a string of DCC commands that tells the train “slow down, stop, then startup in the other direction”. While that is a great start, you can also add sensors along the way and have the train stop at intermediate stations, wait, and then startup again, including (literally) bells and whistles.

Since the combination can send DCC commands when the train is in a particular position, you can use it to set up a particular switch pattern when a train reaches a certain position. This can keep you from running mis-aligned points or route you through a complex route.

Basically, any function you do with your NCE throttle, you can now do automatically based on a train entering or leaving a particular location.