i am about to build a control panel for my 10x11 layout. have 24 atlas TOs. i currently have all the wires (24x3) going directly into the switch controllers at one location …so it is quite the rats nest! is there a way to clean this up? I know there r a lot of dif products that have indicator lights and i am trying to figure out what i shud do…[?] any advise is welcomed. thx.
im anxious to hear these answers myself
Why do you want a control panel? Can you see the turnouts that are furthest away from the control panel? Can you tell what the train is doing from 6 feet away?
Go to walk-around control, O Grasshopper! 
Use local panels for each town or area of track, O Grasshopper!
Get yourself 2 walk-around throttles, O Grasshopper!
Of course, if this is a doughnut style layout I MIGHT take it all back and go with a single panel in the pit.
Seriously though, ditch the Atlas controllers and use individual push buttons (or momentary toggles work, too) instead. The Atlas controllers tend to stick in the “on” position which melts the switch machines. And if you are like me, you will have a hard time remembering which controller goes with which turnout. Last, as you said, you have at least 48 wires coming from your 24 controllers, and that won’t be a small panel to mount 24 controllers either.
Mount push buttons right onto a track plan diagram of the layout - one push button for each leg of the turnout. Now at least you know what each push button does.
Next step is to go to local control panels and walk-around control. For Atlas switch machines, this is really simple. Just install push buttons in a track diagram of the area that the local panel serves. You can have mulitiple panels and push buttons controlling the same turnout without any problems because the likelihood of you pushing the opposite direction push buttons for the same turnout at the same time at 2 different control panels is awful close to zero in probability terms.
Now with a local panel, since you are physically close to the turnout, you can see which way it is thrown without making your control panel look like the bridge of the Enterprise with all the lights. If you really feel the need for a light show, the easiest way is to install Atlas Snap Relays to power and switch the lights. The Snap Relay instructions cover how to wire this fa
Well one of the easiest things it to realize that the common wire doesn’t need to go to the control area at all. Just hook them all to on single wire that goes straight to the power supply. That will eliminate 24 of the wires.
freddy,
i can see just fine, but the memorization of 24 turnout positions is a bit taxing after a long day of work! obviously u have some knowledge on this, teacher of rail modelling wisdom., but your dissertation is beyond my novice skill level. all i need to do is build a simple panel that : 1) has a push button or toggle with red/grn light indicators and 2) is simple to build. i have researched a lot of dif parts but dont know enuf to buy the right items. all i need a parts list and plan! [
hookipa
Ditch the Atlas switch controls they FRY units when they stick. NOT IF but WHEN. Invest in push buttons you will be a lot happier. To make things NEAT get some ty-wraps (spot ties) and bundle the wires till they reach the panel. Using a Wire staple (the kind with the 2 nails) you can make a wire loom under the panel and route your wires.
DO NOT forget to label them BEFORE you bundle them. If the nails are to long on the wire staples just cut tem off.
apwright
In my pititful attempts at humor, I did not mean to seem condescending or a fount of knowledge. I made assumptions of understanding that were not valid, and I apologize.
In my work that pays for my toys, I implement electronic systems and infrastructure to allow real people to make decisions and control things. How real people work (or don’t work) with these systems is critical to the success of my work. Since I have already failed the 1st time with you, let me try again.
You have a large layout by my standards. I’ve helped build and wire bigger, but never had such a large layout myself. In operating a larger layout there are a lot more sensible options than on the typical 4x8 or shelf layout. Looking at your earlier post on operating 3 cabs with Atlas Selectors, I’m going to make some assumptions. PLEASE CORRECT ME where I am wrong, or furnish more information.
- You have a 10x11 HO layout, 24 turnouts, with all Atlas electrical controls.
- You want to run 3 trains simultaneously
- You are using standard DC cab control wiring, but you don’t understand it very well.
As you may have surmised from some of the feedback you are getting is that the Atlas Selectors and switch controls are not a very good answer for your situation. The Atlas electrical controls were really designed (designed in th '50s!) as a relatively inexpensive and easy-to-wire solution for running 2 trains on small table layouts. The systems does not scale up to bigger layouts very well at all.
To recommend a better control solution, I would need several more bits of information.
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What configuration is your layout? Is it L-shaped, a large table, around-the-walls, a donut with center operating pit, shelf-style against the walls?
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Some idea of the track plan. Is it a double-track continuous run with a yard? Is it single track with multiple passing sidings, and trains weaving through each other? Is it 3 sepa