I’ve found the directions for using this (on their site) way over my head. Any idea how to connect signals to it?
My suggestion is to register on the NCE-DCC forum on Yahoo Groups and ask the question there. There are several experts on NCE products, including the Mini Panel, who can answer your questions and provide technical advice.
Rich
Besides the NCE Group, in the below link are links with some videos that might help and you can store the links in Favorites.
I use to belong to that Group. Quite active.
Rich
Kirath, it would be helpful to know how you plan to use the Mini Panel.
On my layout, my signals are wired directly into Tortoises. The position of the turnout controls the color of the signal, green for straight through, red for divergent. I do not use signals for block control.
For most of my Tortoises/signals, I use DPDT toggle switches on control panels. But for my downtown passenger station, I use a Switch-8 and a Switch-It as stationary accessory decoders. i use a Mini Panel for automatic routing of the turnouts due to the complexity of the routes. A pushbutton is used to control each route.
The NCE Mini Panel is primarily used to program automatic routing. So, there may be simpler ways for you to control your signals without the need for a Mini Panel.
Rich
“The NCE Mini Panel is primarily used to program automatic routing”
Havent tried it yet myself, but isnt this the same as the macro feature in NCE devices?
Yes, it is essentially the same feature as the macro function found in NCE command stations. What the Mini Panel does is eliminate the need write macros in actual programming language terms. Instead of programming with software code, the Mini Panel simply steps the user through the macro with throttle button responses to prompts.
Rich