Wiring a CTC Panel

Step – By - Step Wiring directions.
CAUTION:be sure you have read and understand ALL the directions on the previous pages BEFORE you start wiring your CTC panel to your layout. You will need to solder all connections so learn how to solder well before tackling the wiring on ANY train layout and get a very low power iron for soldering to the switches.
Once you are confident in your knowledge and skills, follow the following directions to wire the CAB control rotary switches and the direction control toggle switches to each section of track on your layout.

Wire the direction control toggle switch fist. (Refer to diagram 18)
1. Connect terminal 1-C to one rail of the track (Orange).
2. Connect terminal 2-C to one rail of the track (Blue).
3. Connect terminal 1-1 to terminal 2-2 to (Red).
4. Connect terminal 1-2 to terminal 2-1 to (Green).
5. Skip to the next section if you are NOT using direction indicators with your direction control toggle switches.
6. Connect terminal 3-C to the ground of your 5VDC power supply source.
7. Connect terminal 3-1 to the flat side of the Green LED.
8. Connect terminal 3-3 to the flat side of the YELLOW LED.
9. Connect the terminals, from the round side of both LEDs to one end of a 330 (orange-orange-brown) ohm, 1/8w resistor.
10. Connect the other end of the resistor to the positive (+5VDC) side of your 5VDC power supply source.

Diagram 18

Wire the CAB control rotary switch to the direction control toggle switch. (Refer to diagram 19)
1. Connect terminal 1-C, of the rotary switch, to the toggle switch terminal 1-1 (Red).
2. Connect terminal 2-C, of the rotary switch, to the toggle switch terminal 2-1 (Green).

Wire the CABs to the rotary switch. (Refer to diagram 19)
1. Connect CAB#1 + (positive) to terminal 1-2 of the rotary switch (Red).
2. Connect CAB#1 - (negative) to terminal 2-2 of the rotary switch (Green).
3. Connect CAB#2 + (positive) to terminal 1-3 of the rotary switch (Red).
4. Connect CAB#2 - (negative) to terminal 2-3 of the rotary switch (Green).
5. Repeat, likewise, for all your cabs.

Diagram 19

As you wire other rotary switches, you should 'DAISY CHAIN' them. E.g.: rather than run a wire from each (and every) rotary switch to CAB#1 + side; run the wire from CAB#1 +to terminal 1-2 of the first rotary switch, then from this terminal to terminal 1-2 of the next rotary switch, then from this terminal to terminal 1-2 of the next rotary switch, and so on to the end. (See diagram 20)

Diagram 20

WOW!!! Just when you thought this might be everything you'd like to see on your CTC panel, I throw out another item to consider. Wouldn't it be great if you had a digital readout by each CAB control switch to quickly and plainly show which CAB had control of the track section? I found that I sometimes misread which CAB was selected for a section of track and, on occasion, had some pretty embarrassing 'situations' occur on my layout. That prompted me to develop a precise indication plan.

Click here to go to the next page and learn more about cab switching.