0038 Using a £3.90 Raspberry Pi Pico to control points

I've put a Raspberry Pi Pico in control of some points on my layout and replaced my Peco point lever latching switches with a more robust non-latching kind. Whilst at it I also made a bit more working space under the layout and tidied some bits of the frame.

In this video I cover what I've done with the wiring, talking about some bits and pieces that I've tried. I don't say much at all about the programming on the Raspberry Pi Pico in this one - I covered the pertinent details of that in previous videos.

The other videos in this project, which is ultimately about having virtual points and signals interlocking, are:

0028 Signal & points interlocking with a Pico - part 1
   • 0028 Signal & points interlocking wit...  

0030 Point motor control from Raspberry Pi Pico
   • 0030 Point motor control from Raspber...  


Here are links to the things that I showed in this video - I'm not specifically recommending these, they're just the things I bought and where I bought them from. Prices and availability will undoubtedly change over time, and I bought some of them over a year before using them in this video.

10x Momentary toggle switches (£10.19 at the time)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MinticeTM-Mo...

Raspberry Pi Pico, without headers (£3.90 at the time)
https://thepihut.com/products/raspber...

Small green screw terminal connectors that I used on the Pi
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0895CPTC7

Large blue screw terminal connectors on the Pi (they only fit into every-other pin hole, and it's a tight fit)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...

Self-adhesive circuit board standoffs
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...

L-shaped connectors for future Pi adventures
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00R1LE04I

Spacers between the Pi and the door
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09GMFDLH3

2x 4-relay module boards
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...

8-relay module board
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...

Lever wire connectors
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08B3XMRT7

Self-adhesive cable clips
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B426P3HF

Nail-on cable clips (but I screw them on with M2 15mm-long screws)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07M6G4V6V

Self-adhesive hook and loop tape (which I referred to as Velcro in the video)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CVX29MJ2

Countersink drill bits
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...

Spade Drill Bit Set
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...

Soldering iron station
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...