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Need some advice on how to transfer this ladder design onto a panel so that I know how to wire. I have switches and Bi color led's. Just don't know where to mount the switches and led's on panel that make sen
se. Hope I am making sense!I


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I have used graph tape in the past. I don't know if that is still being made by anyone, but 1/8" automotive pin striping will work fine too.

It's easy to work with and comes in a multitude of colors to choose from.
 

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Control panel graphics

Need some advice on how to transfer this ladder design onto a panel so that I know how to wire. I have switches and Bi color led's. Just don't know where to mount the switches and led's on panel that make sen
se. Hope I am making sense!I


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tommy24a;

You might try something like this.

Electronics Technology


I used a very traditional method to make the panel graphics, but a different way of controlling turnouts than what you seem to have in mind.
Please Ignore the white panel on the left. Its switches control the four pairs of motorized doors, and LED interior lighting, in the engine house directly above. The right hand, Milwaukee Road orange and black, panel controls all the turnouts in "Cedar Falls, Washington."

The track diagram was drawn on the panel using very simplified drafting techniques. First I spray painted the entire panel orange. After the paint had thoroughly dried (overnight) I drew the track outlines with a pencil and a ruler. Once I had the faint track outline drawn, I set thin graphic tape on the pencil lines representing the tracks. I gave the panel several coats of spray can clear gloss enamel, letting each coat dry overnight. Then I drilled the hole for my one and only switch. The single rotary switch, and some diodes, control power to all the turnouts in the small yard. This is called "Route Control" and there are several circuits that can do it. I chose an elegantly simple one from a Model Railroader Magazine article.
If you are going to use the more common setup of controlling individual turnouts with one toggle switch each, then you would drill holes in the area on the control panel diagram where the two possible routes through each turnout split. Flipping the toggle up would set the turnout for the upper route on the diagram. Flipping it down would set the turnout for the lower route. You don't really need indicator LEDs since you can see which way the toggle switch is set. However if you want the LEDs, they would be set in the line equivalent to the track they represent, a bit further down the line from the toggle switch. Since the line on my rotary switch knob, and the schematic diagram lines leading to it, make it obvious which track is selected, I choose not to use LEDs.

Good luck, have fun;

Traction Fan :smilie_daumenpos:
 

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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
tommy24a;



You might try something like this.



View attachment 518564



I used a very traditional method to make the panel graphics, but a different way of controlling turnouts than what you seem to have in mind.



The track diagram was drawn on the panel using very simplified drafting techniques. First I spray painted the entire panel orange. After the paint had thoroughly dried (overnight) I drew the track outlines with a pencil and a ruler. Once I had the faint track outline drawn, I set thin graphic tape on the pencil lines representing the tracks. I gave the panel several coats of spray can clear gloss enamel, letting each coat dry overnight. Then I drilled the hole for my one and only switch. The single rotary switch and some diodes control power to all the turnouts in the small yard. This is called "Route Control" and there are several circuits that can do it. I chose an elegantly simple one from a Model Railroader Magazine article.

If you are going to use the more common setup of controlling individual turnouts with one toggle switch each, then you would drill holes in the area on the control panel diagram where the two possible routes through each turnout split. Flipping the toggle up would set the turnout for the upper route on the diagram. Flipping it down would set the turnout for the lower route. You don't really need indicator LEDs since you can see which way the toggle switch is set. However if you want the LEDs, they would be set in the line equivalent to the track they represent, a bit further down the line from the toggle switch. Since the line on my rotary switch knob and the schematic diagram lines leading to it, make it obvious which track is selected, I choose not to use LEDs.



Good luck, have fun;



Traction Fan :smilie_daumenpos:
Thanks all! Great info and a different way of doing things as well! Decisions decisions...lol

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All the turnouts use bicolor LED's in series with the stall motors and are controlled by a single push button all via a Digitrax DS64's. Some of the yard push buttons operate routes throwing more that one turnout, on the lower left pushing the button will throw the turnout into the yard as well as the turnout to the particular track. Single button control the crossovers in the upper right. The DS64 is very programmable and will allow different types of switches, routes and stall or solenoid activation. As usual with Digitrax products they are so universal that the Manual seems confusing at first, but a little extra reading brings out the ingenuity of the thing.
 

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Some vary good suggestions for turnout panel design.

I'll add another: I first painted the entire panel with
the color that will show the tracks. Then used
pin stripe tape to create the track plan. That is followed
by, again, spray painting the entire panel with the
contrasting color. When the pin stripes are removed
your track plan will show.

I used the diode matrix circuitry to control the turnout
points. You have one push button in each track on the
panel. Select the track you want as destination and push
that button. All turnouts automatically align to provide
your train path. Sounds complicated. It's not. Just
a few diodes and normally open push buttons connected to
your turnouts with a barrier strip terminal board. I
recommend the turnouts be powered by a Capacitor
Discharge circuit if you use twin coil motors.

No LEDs are necessary in the yard since the operation is
automatic.

Don
 

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Here is a picture of my son's. He used ChartPak tape, aka graph tape.
Drawing Electrical wiring Art


Not bad for a 12 year old!
Here is a detail of how the LED and push button for activation are installed.
Lighting Street light Line Plant Branch
 
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