LCC Fusion Project
This guide defines the minimum LCC Fusion hardware
required to implement a simple half-siding within a single Pod.
It is intended as a planning reference, not an
installation or configuration guide.
The half-siding example represents a common real-world scenario: - A turnout branching from a mainline - A siding track protected by signals - Occupancy detection used to influence signaling and turnout behavior
This guide focuses on what hardware is required, where it is physically placed, and how capacity is planned.
This example assumes familiarity with earlier planning guides and focuses on applying those concepts to a concrete layout scenario.
The half-siding includes:
No node-to-node networking is assumed.
| LCC Fusion Hardware | Quantity | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Node Card | 1 | Hosts firmware, logic execution, and LCC event handling for the half-siding |
| Node Bus Hub | 1 | Interconnects all cards in the pod and distributes power and communication |
| Turnout Card | 1 | Controls the turnout motor and reports turnout position |
| Turnout Breakout Board | 1 | Connects the Turnout Card to the physical turnout machine |
| PWM Card | 1 | Drives signal LEDs with controlled brightness and aspect control |
| Signal Breakout Board | 1 | Connects signal heads to PWM outputs |
| BOD Card | 1 | Detects block occupancy for the siding and mainline |
| Block Breakout Board | 1 | Interfaces between track wiring and the BOD Card inputs |
The following components are typically centralized in one physical location, such as under the layout or inside a control enclosure:
These cards: - Share power and communication via the Node Bus - Benefit from short, clean interconnections - Are easier to service and expand when grouped together
This centralized arrangement forms the pod core.
Breakout boards are placed near the physical devices they serve:
This placement: - Minimizes long runs of device wiring - Keeps high-current or layout-voltage wiring off the pod - Simplifies troubleshooting and future changes
A typical half-siding may be divided into the following occupancy blocks:
This results in 6 blocks total, well within the capacity of a single BOD Card.
A single BOD Card supports up to 8 blocks, allowing headroom for expansion or refinement.
Signal planning directly affects PWM and Signal Breakout Board requirements.
Example signal usage for a half-siding:
This example might include: - 5 × 3-lamp signals - 8 × 2-lamp signals
A single Signal Breakout Board supports up to: - 16 individual lamps - Or combinations such as: - Five 3-lamp signals (15 lamps total) - Eight 2-lamp signals (16 lamps total)
Proper lamp counting during planning ensures: - Correct selection of PWM Cards - Correct number of Signal Breakout Boards - No redesign later due to capacity limits
This keeps the pod compact and modular.
Breakout boards connect to the layout accessory bus, not the Node Bus.
Typical uses include: - Turnout motor power - Signal LED power - Track connections for occupancy detection
This separation ensures: - High-current or layout-voltage wiring stays off the pod - Logic electronics remain isolated - Cleaner wiring and safer expansion
When planning a half-siding, consider:
These decisions influence capacity planning, not basic hardware selection.
This half-siding example serves as: