any photos of control panels?

My control panels are only temporary, eventually everything will be controlled by computer with JMRI like Professor Chaos.

This one controls 20 switches in one section of the layout.

This one will control the hidden yard once I get it installed.

Here you go!

Pete

OK! NOW what is this unique piece?

Inquiring minds want to know!

OK…Let start at the top…

This is the control room of the San Leandro Historical Railway Society's outdoor G&O Division.  We have an outdoor O and G Scale garden RR.  Our controls are housed in a tough shed and all wires run from the shed to the layout.

On the top shelf we have two Z4000 which power the O lines.  The one on the left manages the inner loop which is deiced into two divisions, east and west; and then two additional blocks. The Z4000 on the right manages the outer loop's main line, which uses the start system and has 15 blocks and the yard, which is composed of four 7' through and through sidings.  This line is controlled buy the Lionel TMCC and the TMCC control box is mounted on the wall.  We started to set up for DCS and have the TIU mounted on the wall as well.

On the lower shelf is the Bridgeworkz power unit for the G Scale. it power two loops which each have award siding.  We can see on e of the UR15s mounted on the wall just left of the TIU.  we have tow of these and are not really lead with their reliability.  We will are exploring a DCC system for our outer loop on the G line.  Yo can also se the two control FOBs on each side of the Birdgeworkz unit.  the small fan unit to the right on the lower shelf is our power unit for one of  the water features we have.

All of the units are powered by three individual electrical power strips.  Running outdoors is not for the timid or weak of heart.  We have a great time with it and enjoy sharing the challenges, our learning experiences, and how we have made it work.

Who knows may be someday someone will visit us and decide to write about our project. Till then we just roll along.

Thanks for asking about our control board.

jeff

Yea, I know this post (the one I am specifically replying to) is almost 2 1/2 years old, but isn't that the beauty of this forum? One can gain valuable insight and knowledge from others, regardless of how long ago?

I've poured through the forum looking at different control panel designs and layouts, and honestly, all are very good. But the dilemma for me is, which one most closely matches what I've envisioned for my own design? This is certainly not to say that one is any better than another, but more accurately, a question of what other design has the characteristics I'd like to incorporate...not good or bad...just a personal choice.

The above board is what I'm looking to accomplish, and I already have the appropriate switches & multi-colored LED's (and mounts) to accomplish it. But, I have some questions:

1. What material was used? In my experience, Plexiglass cracks to easily, where Lexan doesn't, but is more susceptible to scratches. Any recommendations?

2. The line drawings for the track sections are exactly what I would like to accomplish, and like most people these days, I can print high-quality drawings on photo-quality paper. But this almost looks like some sort of self-adhesive 5mm tape was used (of various colors). I'm all for that, but a good understanding of what others have tried, succeeded, and failed with would be greatly appreciated.

3. I own a professional-grade label maker that allows me to produce labels with text of "black-on-white" or "black-on-clear" Mylar strips, of various thicknesses depending on the cartridge I choose. However, I'd rather not as a "Single-print" of the entire board would be better, but then again, my printer is limited to 8.5x11.

4. If necessary (based on forum member suggestions), I'm willing to go to a professional print-shop and have my layout, like above, printed on a single sheet.

5. Many panels were self-described as being a "sandwich" of two layers of some sort of clear plastic with a printed design between them. Because the thread length of the mini (not "micro") toggle switches is limited (8-10mm), if I choose to do the "sandwich" method, from experience, what thicknesses of material would I need?

All tips, advice, and contributions most welcome.

the biggest problem i had with a laser printed panel cover was UV fading.  blue lines seem to be the most susceptible and would disappear in less than a year.

Here is a slideshow of the progression of my control panel from its simple beginning in 2006 to its present finished form.

How are you using JMRI with O gauge trains? I'd love to do that myself but can't find a way for JMRI to talk to DCS. 

JMRi does talk to TMCC, but Lionel's hardware to control switches are expensive and only control 4 switches per component. The DCS AIU controls 10 switches for close to the same price as the similar Lionel item.

JMRI with DCS would be great. Anyone know how to do that?

- RICH

So, here is an additional plea to Professor Chaos.

How do you use Arduino:  Program for TMCC, program for LED lighting, program for switches or any other model railroading use such as coordination with control board?

I have an Arduino, but does not come with programing instructions and I also saw your post concerning control panel and Arduino.

This is the main control tower for the NLOE club layout

WOW John, all you need is some of those 500. dollar chairs and it would look like NASA.

Larry

HOLY CR*P John, does it land planes too?!!! That is WAY cool!!!!!!!!!!

Dan

Control Area  

  Click photo to enlarge. 

Here is a picture of the control panel for our largest yard, front and back.