Setback on Staging Control Circuit

I thought, I was heading in the right direction, but to my discovery went making the final connections to the tortoise switch machine. I develop a feed-back problem that lid up all the LED for a particular route into staging. On further study I determine my error, the diode-matrix board is wrong and how I wired the rotary selector switches are all wrong, so back to the start.

I have presently two path:

1) Re-wire selector switches, make a new diode-matrix board and build a proper power source.

2) I am investigate another approach, see David K. Smith clinic Matrix Control for Tortoise Switch Machines

More to come.................

Control Panel - More Panel Progress

Since the last post I have spend little time on the Layout, but some progress has been made.

First, more wiring inside the first control panel

Second, wiring of the Diode-Matrix and Relay board

Third, Mount and started wiring of the CAT 5 Punch-Block blocks for Tortoise Switch Machine wiring termination

Control Panel - Front Panel Progress Continue

Well it's been about a month since my last update. I have not spend much time on the layout, somewhere between a half to two hours a week, so progress has been slow. Here are some photo of were I am at today. (sorry for the lousy photos)


First - Diode-Matrix and Staging Track Power Relay board mounting back side of control panel.

Next two - Inside control panel

Next two - Front of Control Panel with power to staging selector switches.

Note above in the photo the screw heads and plug receptacle (lower right).

I am using low tech or old tech to control turnouts, using a wand to touch the screw heads to change the route of turnouts.

Control Panel - Front Panel Progress

So after a number of trial and errors.

I have fall in back to a technique I have used before 3M Striping Tape on Styrene. I the past I have used 1/8" this time 1/16" width.

Here is were I am so far.

Relay board for Staging Tracks

Completed the Relay Board that will control track power for the Staging Tracks. I made an error and followed a old diagram, by the time I realize it was to late. The diagram I follow will work the other design would have given me more options with the board.

This is the latest Design I did not follow

I am waiting on supplies to finish the front of the control panel. I am going back to an panel layout style I used on my HO Layout.

Diode-Matrix board for Staging Tracks

Update 11/22/11 - Due to some error on my part the Diode-matrix board shown here does not work will be either replace or most likely a difference path will be pursue for staging control.

Not a lot of progress since my last post.

Completed the Diode-Matrix Board for Staging Turnout Control

Diode-Matrix and Relay boards for Staging Tracks

Update 11/22/11 - Due to some error on my part the Diode-matrix board shown here does not work will be either replace or most likely a difference path will be pursue for staging control.

I have been working on the control panel for Clarksville and Staging (I will make another post for the progress so far on the front panel later).

I thought I post the PC Board layouts for (1) Diode-matrix board for staging turnout control and (2) Relay board for staging track power control.

Both boards will receive there control signals from the (2) two 2-pole Six position selector switches that will be on the control panel for each end of staging, as a track is selected the corresponding turnouts for that end of the staging will align for that track and turn on power to it.  Position 6 on the selectors will be a all off for now. I am using 12 VDC 1A rated PC board relays for track power on/off.

Control Panel and Wiring

Quick and Short update.

Been working more on the track bus and feeders. Track Buses are all in and 2/3 of the currently installed track feeder are solder to the track buses.

Pull out of storage the old control panels from my HO Layout and mounted the first one. Going to re-use the EasyDCC Accessory Decoders for Turnout Control, but I am not going to connect them to the DCC system, so they will function more like  556 flip-flop timer circuit others use for turnout control. 

Wiring and Control Panels

All boosters are in and working. Have moved on to working on the bus wiring for the mainline track these week.

I have also been working and thinking about the control panels. Here are the preliminary layouts