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Post by neverland on Aug 13, 2017 8:05:38 GMT -5
My one & only layout is 4 ft wide by 2 ft deep & I don't see it changing any time soon. At the moment the transformer, small switch box & the Broadway Limited Lightning & Thunder canister is sitting on a TV tray stand.
Although my hubby is an electrical engineer, he can't seem to come up with any ideas to consolidate all these boxes into a neat & orderly control panel.
My layout is very simple-- power to the tracks, 2 turn-outs, uncoupled, 4 street lamps & a track side signal light. I would love to have just a small touch system that doesn't take up the entire length along the front, which would limit my access to the back of the layout (I'm only 5'1").
Any & all suggestions are welcomed. I should mention my backboard/backdrop extends the entire length in the back & continues for 1' on either side, like a shallow U. Ideally I would love to side-mount something but Im open to any solutions.
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Post by markm on Aug 13, 2017 9:35:50 GMT -5
Hi, You haven't mentioned the specific hardware you are using for power and turnout control, so I can't be too specific yet.
For wiring the street lamps and signal, all you need are single on-off toggle switches (SPST) For the uncoupler, a momentary contact push button. The turnouts are a bit more complicated as the wiring depends on the manufacturer.
Mark
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Post by neverland on Aug 13, 2017 10:09:51 GMT -5
Hi, You haven't mentioned the specific hardware you are using for power and turnout control, so I can't be too specific yet. For wiring the street lamps and signal, all you need are single on-off toggle switches (SPST) For the uncoupler, a momentary contact push button. The turnouts are a bit more complicated as the wiring depends on the manufacturer. Mark Hi Mark, We're using a Marklin transformer, switch/control box & turn-outs-- yes, I know they are ugly but came with the train. What do you think of touch toggles? I want to consolidate all these boxes into one sleek space-saving control panel. We are running DC at the moment.
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Post by tjdreams on Aug 13, 2017 10:22:46 GMT -5
Get yourself a Box like BUD Industries PC-11495or maybe one like BUD Industries PC-11491And mount everything into one of them to create your own custom control panel. I've used both styles in the past to make control Panels / Switch boxes for my HO and O scale layouts By Removing the actual switches and controls from their current enclosure and mounting them directly into one of these boxes with a little planing and a printer or label maker you could have a very professional looking consolidated control panel. You could then mount this to the front of your layout, beside it, underneath it or where ever you want it.
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Post by markm on Aug 13, 2017 11:56:45 GMT -5
When you refer to touch toggle I assume you are talking about something like: www.berretthillshop.com/store/products/touch-controls/The accessories will work directly with them. The Märklin turnouts are three-wire units and would require a SPDT ("3-way") switch. These switches don't seem to perform that function directly, so you need to add a relay or some sort of control circuit behind them. Mark
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