DNIN8 boards are fully assembled and ready to install on your layout or diorama. DNIN8 boards provide digital input ports allowing a microcontroller such as an Arduino or ESP controller to read buttons, switches and digital sensors. Multiple DNIN8 boards can be connected together to create a chain of up to 256 digital input ports.
Planning Your Installation #
Place your boards and board stacks near the devices they control. Any time you need more than 8 ports in a given location, stack as many boards as necessary (up to 6) to meet the needs of that location. You goal is to keep the device leads short; the only wiring running running to your controller, and between multiple boards in a chain, should be one DNIN8 logic bundle (3 wires).
Power Supply #
DNIN8 (and the companion DNIN8K Kit) were designed to use +5v TTL logic. However, the board and it’s integrated circuit is 3.3v TTL compatible; the minimum switching voltage is about 1.5 volts. This has not been fully tested but the boards should work with 3.3 volt boards using 3.3 volt TTL.
Each DNIN8 board will require 2 connections: 1) a 3-wire logic connection to the microcontroller, or to the next upstream DNIN8 board in a chain; and 2) Power connections for TTL logic.