Hi everyone,Still relatively new to the hobby and very new to wiring. Looking for a basic concept for a panel that has DPDT switches for my tortoise machines. Not really interested in anything elaborate with LEDs etc but will consider it if they are an absolute must. Thanks in advance.
Unless it is a small railroad, large control panels are rare.
LEDs arent a must but they are very easy to install. I bought about 50 on ebay that are red or green depending on the direction of the polarity. you just add them across the output of the dpdt switch and they are either red or green when you throw the switch. I find them useful because you can tell at a glance which way the turnout is alligned
Rusty_08 Hi everyone,Still relatively new to the hobby and very new to wiring. Looking for a basic concept for a panel that has DPDT switches for my tortoise machines. Not really interested in anything elaborate with LEDs etc but will consider it if they are an absolute must. Thanks in advance.
Are you asking about design and construction of the panel, or information on the wiring?
LEDs aren't required, especially if you can see the turnouts from the panel. If you mount the switches in a track diagram then you can use the position of the handles to point to the route. Or you could label each position of the switch (Main/Siding, Normal/Reverse).
The benefit of LEDs is that, if wired to the Tortoise contacts, they indicate the physical position of the Tortoise mechanism and provide assurance that it really did throw. This is useful if the turnout is not easily visible from the panel.
Wiring DPDT switches has been covered in numerous magazine articles and books.
When I built my first layout I had the 'master control panel' mentality going. Walk Around control was something just getting its footing. On my present layout I have one 'dispatcher's panel' which controls the leads to the staging tracks but for the rest of the main line turnouts there are smaller 'remote' panels.
I like to use one or two-gang household reciptacle blank covers:
Turnout-toggle-22 by Edmund, on Flickr
I try to get the polycarbonate material since they drill easily and fairly cleanly as opposed to the bakelite or acrylic styles.
Turnout-toggle-22w by Edmund, on Flickr
IMG_0171 by Edmund, on Flickr
The drawer pull adds a bit of security so a toggle doesn't get accidentally bumped.
As ndbprr states, the LEDs are easy to install and probably one of those things you 'might' get around to adding someday. Include them now and you'll be much happier. The small plastic bezels hold them well and press into the thickness of the blank covers easily.
Good Luck, Ed