Controlling Lego Switch Tracks Electrically ft. Control Panels!

[@LarrysLego]

That custom-built board at the start, though impractical, is fascinating! I concur that coming for Lego and staying for electronics seems to be the theme here

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

Well thanks for coming along for the ride!

[@tukanthemechanic5509]

I like the Wintergatan music outro

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

Thanks! My brother helped me film that over 5 years ago, glad I've been able to put it to use. Also very thankful Wintergatan allows the use of their music 😀

[@tihond11]

Why do you use DPDT switches with buttons in series? What about using just DPDT switches with momentary action (spring-loaded, allways returning to off when released) or pairs of DPST buttons (each for each railway switch position)?

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

It's just what I prefer. I wanted the electrical solution to match the Lego solution I used and I want to be able to look down and see the position on the control panel

[@BrickTrains]

Great stuff!! I really need to get a train yard setup so i can try your ideas out.

[@robkennedy3000]

Is there anywhere to get 3rd party Lego 9v brick wire ends? I know of PF cables on aliexpress ect but havent found the older 9v ones..

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

I've been trying to find them for quite a while. If I ever do my subscribers will be among the first to find out 😅

[@diatonicdelirium1743]

Why didn't you buy a two-way rocker switch? Like the momentary switches for electric windows?

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

It's certainly an option to use momentary DPDT switches. I like being able to look at the panel and see the position of switches which is why I chose this approach, especially when I made my switch yard control panel video

[@BrittneyAMcCubbin]

Dang you’re videos are addictive. I’m not into trains but anything Lego is interesting to me 😊

[@darthgbc363]

45 years ago, there were switches made for the HO scale trains. Slide it to the side & push it in for the momentary action.

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

Yep! Actually I think I still have some around here somewhere 🤔

[@onecleverpig]

Great video! Super interesting. I come for the LEGO and stay for the circuitry lesson. Thanks to you and @BrickTrains I've been scouring the local classifieds for train sets 😂 I never thought I'd see the day!

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

One of us one of us

[@chicagolandrailroader]

Good work. Lionel switch controllers are double pole and spring back. Maybe in the future you could find some old ones and see if you can use them, since you're having trouble finding double pole centering switches.

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

I just meant I couldn't find one to show in the video. I actually prefer non-momentary switches so that they show the current orientation of the switch. Using switches from model railroads is an interesting idea though!

[@TheCubedPixel]

Any advice on how to make a Lego train DCC (if possible)?

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

There is some information out there, it seems to be a VERY involved process though. It's not something I've tried and to be honest I don't have much interest myself. I've heard speculation that FX Bricks will have a DCC implementation of their replacement 9v motors at some point, I'll keep my fingers crossed

[@Sparky400]

Instead of custom Lego wiring. Why not put a spring on the Lego direction changed and then it would act like a momentary switch. Only issue I guess is you can't see what state it currently is in.

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

It's kind of a goal I set for myself to use 100% Lego components. Making custom cables is something I do a lot of anyway so it's "pure" enough for me. I just like to make folks aware of obscure things like the 4.5v sensors

[@christopherstransky9581]

For non Lego it seems like a standard Atlas remote switch controller could work and be a simpler design.

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

This is certainly true, in my case building custom controls is all part of the fun 😁

[@trainguy_33]

nice star wars reference

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

I sneak them in when I can 😅

[@JosephHacker-w6c]

Lego or not if you're using it for Lego I'm sure people wouldn't mind showing how you built it

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

I didn't show how I built the control panels since the 4.5v touch sensors are 40 years old and can be hard to find. I do have instructions for building the switch machine for the switch tracks and have added a link to the description.

[@stupid.hamster]

Pov you want to start Lego trains as a hobby but the price of trains are insane

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

They are quite high, many of the videos I make show a few ways to do things cheaper. I never had any Lego trains as a kid due to their cost