I received my new Walthers DCC turntable today. I see that the control box is larger than the older ones.
How can I mount it to keep the control box so it won’t be dangling by the cables? My old one had a smaller box that I fastened to the facia but this one is taller than the facia is.
Cut a plate the size of the new control box out of some panneling, then mout it to the facia, and then mount the control box to it.
I didn’t like my older controller sticking out where my knees might dislodge it, or worse, so I fastened it on a side of a leg on my former layout. I haven’t really thought about where I’ll put it on my new build.
You say this one is ‘taller’…as in it’s rectangular and about 6" or more on the long axis? Or is it thicker and sticks out even more than the grey square box of 2006 if mounted on the fascia?
Personally, I’d make a small bracket with 1/2" plywood that will contain it and protect it…a box or coffin. Mount that on a support leg high enough that you don’t have to get on your knees to press a button, maybe just under the lower lip of the fascis. I mounted my DB150 that way. If I remove the mulitple wire plug that you have to shove into a receptacle on the DB150, it will slide the whole device off the shelf…not good. So, I slid it into a box with rear wall detents that keep it from sliding backwards when I have to press the terminal plug home.
Oops, I assumed too much as is my wont. Here is the edited version
The new control box is rectangular, measuring 5" wide X 4" tall ot high, and 1" deep. The plug in control cable and the 4 power wires come out the top of the box. There are no mounting holes or other means of fastening it down. I am not sure how Walthers means for us to use the box when it is not mounted to something, in some way. I personally don’t wish to leave the thing hanging by its wires.
this is the older version but should work just as well. My TT/roundhouse panel hinges down for rear access.
-Bob
I just taped mine using duct tape. It hasn’t moved in a year.
Bob:
That turntable control panel is way too professional looking for my tastes! At least have a couple of loose wires hanging out the bottom or something![swg][bow]
Very nice! I like the colour of the fascia too.
Dave
Dave,
If you saw the underside of my layout you would be proud! Lot’s of hanging wires! But, I do use a lot of terminal strips and labels. The older I get (now 72) the more I need labels, and even then I am not sure what I may have had on my mind when I put the label there?
-Bob
Bob’s idea with the swing-down panel is a good one. Another similar idea would be to put the controller on a shelf that swivels out from below the fascia. So long as you run the cables near the pivot, it’ll let them shift.
BTW, Michael didn’t mention it, but duct tape now comes in many colors, making it easy to stylishly match it to your fascia, so that taped-down controller will blend right in…[(-D]
Really, there should be a better way to mount that box. Maybe Walthers will figure it out on the next run?