Hornby Zero 1 Master Control R950 & Slave Control Unit R951 plus 6 R955 Loco module & R956 Accessory Module- PRE OWNED

Hornby Zero 1 Master Control R950 & Slave Control Unit R951  plus 6 R955 Loco module units (new unopened) & R956 Accessory Module- PRE OWNED

Hornby Railway's Zero1 was one of the first command control systems to be implemented with Digital technology. It was designed and manufactured by Hornby in the United Kingdom. The Zero1 master controller was built around a microcontroller.

A primary design goal for the Zero1 was a receiver that could be fitted into most of Hornby’s products.

The Zero1 used a 32-bit code generated by the custom TI TMS1000 microcontroller^[1], transmitted every third cycle of the square wave track voltage. For an 8.33-millisecond interval (60 Hz system), it replaced the track voltage. Because track power is off during transmission, the system was very resistant to interference. The code contains an identifying pulse, for up to 16 locos and 99 auxiliaries. Since Hornby was based in the United Kingdom, two different systems were made for 50 and 60 Hertz power systems which were not compatible.

The Zero1 system could operate 16 locomotives, and up to 99 accessory decoders. Due to the 4-bit microprocessor used, only 16 locomotives could be on the layout, or addresses would be duplicated. Any additional locomotives would have to be stored on an electrically dead track to prevent conflicts.

Only four locomotives could be in operation at one time, and if there were slave controllers installed, their speeds could be controlled as well. With only the Master Control Unit, three would run at their previously set speeds while one was under direct control. This limitation was imposed by the 4A power supply included with the system.

Inertia could be selected and modified via the MCU's keypad. Four levels of inertia were available.