Looking for input for planning a control panel

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Next project on my layout is building my control panel. My objective is to have a neat functional panel, easy access to all controls. I’ve got a 30B and a 17B transformer, 12 accessory control buttons, and 6 (3 pair) of switch controllers. I’m thinking of a box ½” plywood bottom, ¾” plywood sides, and ¼” plywood hinged top. Mount a power strip inside for the transformers, with a kill switch accessible from the panel top. Using terminal strips for the power distribution. Any other ideas to incorporate while I’m planning would be very appreciated.
Thanks
Jim

[Anonymous]

Jim
Masonite makes a pretty good hard-faced relatively strong surface for installing mini-toggles, small indicator lights(or LEDs?) and Panel Meters[amp & volt]. Also, a suitable durable surface for painting/coating and laying out a schematic of your track plan for location/installation of the indicators and toggles.

My first ever panel was masonite pegboard covered by white vinyl self -sticking shelf liner with skinny auto pin striping tape to represent the track schematic. The pre-drilled pegboard holes were perfect for mounting the mini-toggles and small lights.

As I recall there have been articles on Control Panel fabrication in the magazines and I believe there is a video or CD out that illustrates many features.

You will have a lot of wires behind the front so make plans for a lot of teminal strips, many w/jumpers as junction and distribution points. Also, as regards your railpower circuits it doesn't hurt to leave room for mounting/wiring spike arrestors and external fuse blocks or breaker boxes as transformer or control component protection.

When I went with Command Control and operation of trurnouts from a remote I removed my panel but may now replace it. I prefer operating turnouts with toggles.

[fwright]

Make sure the wire going to the controls are long enough for the top to hinge open all the way. At the same time, make sure the box is big enough to hold the extra wire loosely without snagging when you close the panel top. Don't ask me how I know this!

why do I always have to learn from MY mistakes?
Fred W

[Anonymous]

The October 2004 Classic Toy Trains mag had article on making control panel, I used this as guide and worked quite well . He uses pegboard with heavy paper with schematic glued to the pegboard. Then the holes of the pegboard backing are use to place switches at appropriate locations on schematic. The part I liked was putting the control panel together , wiring switches leaving enough length to connect to terminal switches at the workbench, then you don't need to work under the panel and you can do the whole thing at eye level. If you have the mag look it up, if not maybe you know someone who has copy. If all else fails, email me and give address info and I will send copy to you. Good luck. Ralph.

[lionelsoni]

A good way to handle the wires that have to move when you open the lid is the way it was done for telephone-switchboard desks: Bundle all the wires into a cable that runs the length of the hinged edge. Fasten it to the lid at one end and to the box at the other. Then, when you open the lid, the wire bundle simply twists a little along its axis; and none of the connections to the hardware are flexed at all.

I will repeat my advice for controlling switches on a map-style control panel: Put a stud (like a screw head) on the map on each branch of each switch, connected to the switch coils. Then throw switches by touching the studs with a grounded probe.

[dwiemer]

As mentioned above, the peg board is a good idea. They have a full work up of this in the Toy train Electrical book from Kalmback. You may find it in your library. It gives a detailed method of both the control panel and using small switches for operations.
Dennis

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Thank you for the inputs. !!! I really appreciate the great ideas. I'm going to incorporate several of them. I like to get input and ideas from others before I start on a project. Any more ideas????
Jim

[Anonymous]

Here,s mine




Another shot