22. Model railroad control panels pt I, Introduction

[@derekmurton1656]

Thanks for coming back to me

[@denniswilson2690]

Great Video waiting for the next one

[@TheDCCGuy]

I was working on it today. Shot the whole thing then checked it on the computer and found out the microphone battery had crapped out up front so now need to do it all again tomorrow. Looking to upload it around Monday-Larry

[@thomasgrassi8817]

Larry Really enjoyed this series. Can you put a link here for the LEDs Red and Green I have all other parts. Thanks in Advance Tom

[@TheDCCGuy]

They’re in the description to part 3.

[@cooperjohnson9989]

Larry, I purchased some of the lighted push buttons and would like to use them for a yard ladder, as shown on one of the panels in your video. I am having trouble figuring out how to wire the LEDs so only the route that is selected lights up. I am using a NCE Switch 8 and mini panel. Are you able to describe the wiring of the LEDs or point me to a video?.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I wired the LED power through one of the SPDT switches built into the Tortoises so that when the points are set for a given yard track the LED located on that track is on. Pretty straightforward once you get the wiring sequence figured out. I also used one of the buck boards to create a sub bus of the correct voltage for the LEDs.

[@cooperjohnson9989]

@@TheDCCGuy thanks for getting back to me, Larry. Someone else suggested the same thing. I kinda have an idea what you are saying to do so I’ll do some experimenting and see how it works out.

[@cooperjohnson9989]

@@TheDCCGuy Larry, the issue I am having with wiring the LEDs to the tortoise SPDTs is the last turnout in the yard ladder is always going to have a lit LED for one of the routes even if one of the tracks further down the ladder is selected due to the fact that I need an LED to show the normal and reverse routing since it is the last turnout. Is there any way around this?

[@JohnPW22]

Really enjoying your videos, very useful - I've subbed! Love the panel design. Could you put in a link please for the LED panel switches, been trying to find some! Maybe you could be an affiliate for them too..!

[@TheDCCGuy]

I assume you are referring to the pushbuttons with the internal LED’s in the yard ladder I showed in the first control panel video. Those came from mouser.com and are an LP1-OA-1-A-G with the last letter indicating the LED color, in this case green. They are $2.12 for 10 or more but the price does continue to decrease with increasing volume. I just checked and they still have them.

[@JohnPW22]

@@TheDCCGuy Many thanks for your quick reply - just what I want! Cheers!

[@derekmurton1656]

Hi really enjoy your videos I have a small layout but have learnt a lot from you. I have recently built a control panel but was trying to find easy software to draw layout, without success managed to get my son to do it . Is there software about ?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Any basic drawing package will do and some can be purchased cheap on eBay. I have been using Adobe Illustrator so long I have not kept up with the current crop of programs but I bet if you do a search on KZbin for the best inexpensive graphics software you’ll get a hit or two.

[@jshellha]

Larry I am finding your videos very informative. One thing that I did NOT realize is that one could utilize the NCE Switch-8 on a Digitrax controlled layout. Does the switch-8 interface with the Loconet without a lot of electronic "work arounds"?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Actually it is very easy since the Switch8 is similar in most ways to any other accessory decoder, it doesn’t even need to be connected to Loconet. However if you want to use throttle or computer commands to control its 8 outputs you can connect it to the DCC power bus and it will do that. You can power it with either a separate power supply or with DCC power. It is a very versatile device. Although it cannot be programmed for routes, on a NCE powered layout you can combine it with a MiniPanel which can be programmed for many advanced functions. I plan a video on the Switch8/Buttonboard as well-Larry

[@TheDCCGuy]

By the way, you could even use a Switch8 on a DC layout. It can be powered with a standard DC power supply and no DCC connection is necessary. I’ll talk about that in the video on the Switch8.

[@jamesfisher4326]

The UK tension lock coupler seems to be a plastic copy of a coupler that Varney used in the 1950's

[@TheDCCGuy]

I think that was the old Mantua coupler you’re referring to. Those tension lock couplers are the UK equivalent to our old NMRA horn hook couplers that now seem to have almost disappeared. They came installed on everything for decades but now we get the copies of the KD couplers. In the UK all equipment comes with tension locks but KDs are starting to gain in popularity. However the various manufacturers still can’t seem to get the heights to match perfectly.

[@jamesfisher4326]

@@TheDCCGuy The Mantua had a short hook set near the back of the loop. Varney had the long hook like the UK tension. Made from stamped metal, the point on the Varney was dangerous to your fingers.

[@danagreen6518]

Am I able to use your method to make a controller panel for my bachmann ez track layout? via maine dlg

[@TheDCCGuy]

Do these have an internal solenoid throw mechanism. If so then there should be an accessory decoder compatible with them. Or you can use the old diode matrix and capacitive discharge circuit. At any rate you can use a control panel with them, I am just not familiar with the Bachmann devices.

[@williamturczyn4436]

Could you add parts descriptor and URL where you bought the part on each video. Thanks.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I’ll be happy to do that and will put the parts list in the description as well as mention the sources in the video. Hope you enjoy the series-Larry