control panels

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’m new to the hobby and I’m trying to design a control panel for my small rail road.Can anyone tell me where I might get imformation on design and construction of a control panel for all of the switches that I have.Thx

2

[#welcome] Welcome to the forums.

I typed, “control panels,” into the search box at the bottom of the page and got back hundreds of previous entries, ranging from very general to very specific.

My own control panels have a schematic diagram of the tracks they control (all straight lines and angles, no curves) into which the actual controls are inserted. Since you are dealing with a small layout, and (I presume) a simple, straightforward control system, I will end the description right there. (I think we are comparing a bass boat to an aircraft carrier, in regard to degree of complexity.)

Good luck in your designing.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - analog DC, MZL system)

3

‘Control Panels’ are fine for DC and 1 -2 man operation.

Blocks are controlled by 'toggle switches’ (SPDT or DPDT), mounted on a 1/8" panel. Atlas makes ‘surface-mounted’ units, and some modelers use 1/8" facia for mounting. I use 4’ white masonite panels for eack 4’ module. and ‘walk-along’ control. A 4X8 layout can use either.

DIFFERENCE in having ‘central’ control panel is ‘reachability’ and length of wires.

Material can be lexan, lucite, framed or unframed, which can be made permanent with masking (and painting the underside) , or press-on decals which wear off and can be replaced.

KEY again, is ‘reachability’. DCC eliminates block toggles, but that is all.

4

Here’s a page I created to show how I build mine.

http://www.thebinks.com/trains/control_panels.html

Feel free to post questions. This is likely overkill but you can get ideas (i.e. like using Avery label paper for the diagram etc…)

5

Here’s my staging panel:

The blue LEDs indicate which track has been selected by the turnout control toggle switches (the handle points the direction the turnout is thrown). The green and red LEDs are track occupancy indicators. Green means the track is clear. The LED changes to red when a train is over the occupancy sensor.

The graphics were made using Photoshop Elements and MS Paint. They’re printed on an 11X17 sheet of paper, then sandwiched between two thin sheets of lexan. The frame is scrap 2X8s (they had been used as temporary steps while our addition was being built), into which a groove was cut that supports the panel face.

6

Very nice job on your panel. [tup]

7

Brunton, That is one of the best control panels that I have seen. An excellent way to do a panel. Thanks for sharing.

8

Brunton.

If your layout shows half the workmanship and detail that your Control Panel does, you have a great deal to be proud of.

[tup][tup][wow][tup][tup]

Blue Flamer.

9

Quick question… Can someone draw for me a schematic that would allow me to control power to a section of track (an insulated passing siding for example) and light a green LED when power is on.

This would be on a regular old DC layout. HO scale with a Rail Power 1300 powerpack (AC and DC output). Willing to get a cheap powerpack to provide additional AC power if needed.

Thanks,

Doug

10

Triple pole switch - two poles break track power, the third breaks power to the LED.

LED is fed through a resistor from a seperate non-variable source. DC prefered but AC is ok if you add a series diode.

Alternately, use “common rail” and only break the power to one rail. This will allow you to use a douple pole switch which is a bit easier to find and cheaper too.

11

WOW, nice previous pics of control panels! I actually have 2…here is my main…yet to be labelled as nicely as the previous poster…but it is metal and works nice. The green LED’s signal the chosen route. My control is either central OR local (meaning you can follow the train and switch OR run it from the central panel). Trains run DCC… the extra switches are for the lighting, etc. I have yet to add…

I painted with yellow paint first, masked and then with black rustoleum… works for me! Hope this gives you ideas! I have another, smaller panel for my yard that uses a diode array and rotary switch I can take pic’s of if anyone wants…

As for control panels being for DC, not DCC, well, mine are for DCC and I have both local and central control as noted… lets me run train sitting and watch as well as OPERATE. I like the flexibility, but the wiring can be a pain to make both work…

Brian