I have finished my control panel on my 22 x 10 O-Scale 2-Rail layout. I used basswood strip wood over masonite and mounted switches.
I am showing 4 photographs:
1 - Overall Track power wiring and switch locations...
2 - The rough plan used on the panel board...
3 - A view of the completed control panel...
4 - Closup of the larger yard...
Next, wiring the power switches and tortoise machines. I will use both contacts on the Tortoise machines to power each hot frog in parallel. Tortoise say's you can double the amps from 4 to 8 amps this way, in the event of a short at the frog due to derailment. I guess this could happen.
I have all my Buss wiring (#12) run and will connect from the power panel to the buss via terminal strips using #14 wire. I believe it is about 5' from the buss panel to the control panel. I can use smaller wire for the tortoise machines.
I chose to not use common returns so I have 1000 feet of #12 layed out. I'm told this is better for the eventual use of track detection, as all my Tortoise contacts are used up.
Thanks for looking.... Tom
