Product Information

Uhlenbrock IB-Switch 65800

Summary of Features

The IB-Switch is a versatile combination accessory and route controller that connects to the Intellibox over LocoNet. The IB-Switch provides dedicated control of up to 40 individual accessories or routes, all of which may be triggered automatically by s88 or LocoNet feedback modules. Each key pair of the IB-Switch can be freely assigned to any accessory address and any feedback contact address in the range of 1-2048. A single route may contain up to 20 steps, and it is possible to create larger routes by linking multiple routes.

Programming of the IB-Switch is straightforward and self-contained. A key pair is assigned to an individual accessory by entering its digital address numerically on the IB-Switch keyboard. This allows you to arrange your accessories on the keys in any order that you choose. Routes are input similarly, by selecting a key pair and entering the accessory address for each step. In addition, a feedback contact in your system may be assigned to any key on the IB-Switch in the same way, allowing you to activate an accessory or set/release a route automatically. Using these input methods, all programming operations are performed on the IB-Switch itself and require no other special equipment aside from the Intellibox, which serves as a LocoNet control center.

The user interface of the IB-Switch supplies clear indication of your accessory and route status at all times. Each key pair is equipped with a multi-color LED to indicate its last valid accessory or route setting. The program keys are similarly equipped to show the IB-Switch's current operating mode or programming status. Using these keys together with special configuration options, the IB-Switch may also be safeguarded from inadvertent operation or reprogramming by performing a complete keyboard lock or programming lock. The automatic operating mode is also easily toggled on the front panel using the program keys.

These carefully engineered features make the IB-Switch an extremely flexible and effective accessory control solution, and an ideal addition to the Intellibox.

Please see the sections below for more detailed information on the IB-Switch. You can also download the complete online manual for the IB-Switch here.

User Interface

While the IB-Switch keyboard contains only 20 key pairs, there are actually two independent levels of the keyboard. The "R/G" key in the upper row of the front panel allows you to toggle between a Red level and a Green level, which doubles the keyboard capacity to a total of 40 key pairs. Any key pair on either level may be assigned to control an individual accessory or an entire route in any order that you choose.

Key assignments are performed by entering one of the programming modes (Accessory, Sensor, or Route) using the top row of keys. Once in a programming mode, you can select the key or key pair to be programmed and then enter the accessory or sensor address to be assigned to it. Each row of the keyboard represents a digit in the address you wish to input (1st row = 1's, 2nd row = 10's, etc). All program information is stored in the IB-Switch's internal memory along with the last valid settings of each key pair. This information remains in memory even after the LocoNet control center is switched off or if the IB-Switch is disconnected.

In addition to controlling the programming modes, it is also possible to lock the entire IB-Switch keyboard using a special combination of the program keys. Keylock protects the IB-Switch from unauthorized or inadvertent use, and is a particularly useful feature for automated demonstration layouts. Keylock may be toggled off by the same key combination. You can also use the IB-Switch's special options group to perform a more secure Keylock as well as a ProgramLock. The ProgramLock allows access to all of the keys required for manual operation of the IB-Switch, but disables all programming modes to prevent accidental reprogramming.

Accessory Control

The IB-Switch can control accessories in the address range of 1-2048. The freely assignable keyboard makes it possible to arrange these accessory addresses in any order on the IB-Switch. In contrast to the Märklin Keyboard, the IB-Switch does not contain a coding switch to set its address in the control system or restrict the key assignment.

Between each key pair is a bright LED indicator, which will light up green if the accessory has been set to the straight position or red for the branched position. When used together with other accessory controllers such as the Intellibox and Keyboard, the IB-Switch's LED display will also update to reflect any commands issued by those devices that affect its assigned accessories. Similarly, commands issued by the IB-Switch will change the display of any other devices that control the same accessory address.

The duration of the IB-Switch's accessory commands may also be adjusted, particularly to accommodate slower turnout mechanisms. A special option allows you to adjust the duration in increments of 50 milliseconds, from 0 to 255 x 50msec.

Route Control

Any key pair of the IB-Switch may be assigned to control a route. Each route is made up of several sequential accessory commands, or steps, and may contain a maximum of 20 steps. To create routes greater than 20 steps in length, the IB-Switch allows multiple routes to be linked together by calling one route from another. Likewise, a common set of commands may be stored as a sub-route, which can be called by many different main routes and reduces the number of steps in each main route.

The IB-Switch also supports route dependency and blocking functions. For two routes to be considered dependent they have to contain at least one accessory address in common. Physically, this means that the two routes have at least one turnout in common and would overlap each other. In this case, the IB-Switch can prevent train collisions on these routes by blocking the request to activate a route if a dependent route is already active (occupied by a train). When the IB-Switch blocks a route request, it stores that request and activates it only after the dependent route has become released (unoccupied). Using a special option, it is possible for the IB-Switch to automatically assign route dependencies whenever routes are created or modified. All route dependencies are manually configurable as well.

To display the status of a route on the IB-Switch, the LED for the route's key pair will be yellow when the route is active and will be off when the route has been released. Routes can be activated on the IB-Switch by the red key assigned to that route or by other routes within the same IB-Switch. Similarly, a route is released by the green key assigned to that route, by another route that shares a common accessory address (but is not dependent), or by the switching of an accessory within the route. Routes can also be activated or released by a feedback contact that has been assigned to control that route in the IB-Switch.

Automatic Operation

Any key on the IB-Switch's keyboard may be controlled automatically by a digital feedback sensor. The IB-Switch can accept feedback information directly from LocoNet devices or from s88-compatible modules connected to the Intellibox. A feedback contact can be assigned to a red key that activates a route or sets a turnout branched, or to a green key that releases a route or sets a turnout straight. When in the sensor programming mode, you can also configure the polarity of the feedback event using the "R/G" key on the IB-Switch. The polarity determines when the feedback module will report an event: when the contact changes from open to closed, or when it changes from closed to open. This is a particularly useful feature for determining track occupation changes, and effectively doubles the functionality of each feedback contact used by the IB-Switch.

When sensor events occur in rapid succession, the IB-Switch stores them and processes them in the order that they were received. Each event is processed immediately after the IB-Switch has completed the command(s) associated with the previous sensor event. Up to 7 sensor events can be stored in the IB-Switch's internal memory.

The IB-Switch can be programmed to operate with s88 and LocoNet feedback sensors in the address range of 1-2048. This range includes the addresses 1-496 of s88-compatible modules and 497-2048 of LocoNet modules. If there are no s88 modules in the system, the LocoNet modules may use the full 1-2048 address range.

Technical Specifications