Table of contents
  1. Why Breakout Boards Matter
    1. 1. The Core Problem: Devices Are Electrically Different
    2. 2. Breakout Boards Are Device Specialists
    3. 3. Breakout Boards Hide Electrical Complexity
    4. 4. The Same I/O Card Can Support Many Devices
    5. 5. Wiring Becomes Local and Manageable
    6. 6. Breakout Boards Reduce Wiring Errors
    7. 7. Breakout Boards Enable Consistent Installation Practices
    8. 8. Breakout Boards Support Modular and Portable Layouts
    9. 9. Open-Source by Nature
    10. Why This Matters

Why Breakout Boards Matter

How LCC Fusion absorbs device-specific complexity so wiring stays simple, safe, and predictable.

With specialized I/O cards in place, the next question naturally follows:

How does LCC Fusion connect those cards to the wide variety of real-world devices found on a layout?

The answer is breakout boards.

Breakout boards are a critical—but often overlooked—part of the Fusion architecture. They are where device-specific wiring, voltage requirements, and electrical behaviors are handled so the rest of the system can remain clean and uniform.

1. The Core Problem: Devices Are Electrically Different

Layout devices may look similar on the surface, but electrically they behave very differently.

For example:

  • a two-wire sensor behaves nothing like a three-wire sensor
  • a stall motor behaves nothing like a snap-coil turnout
  • a servo requires timing signals, not voltages
  • a signal LED is driven very differently than a street lamp LED

Trying to connect these devices directly to a common I/O card would require:

  • jumpers
  • configuration switches
  • special wiring rules
  • detailed electrical knowledge

Fusion avoids this entirely by inserting a dedicated layer between I/O cards and devices.

2. Breakout Boards Are Device Specialists

A breakout board is designed for one specific class of device.

Its job is to:

  • present the correct connector type
  • provide the correct voltage
  • enforce the correct wiring pattern
  • include required protection
  • match the physical layout of the device

Each breakout board is intentionally customized.

A turnout breakout does not look like a signal breakout. A sensor breakout does not look like a lighting breakout.

And that’s the point.

3. Breakout Boards Hide Electrical Complexity

Breakout boards absorb all the messy details that users shouldn’t have to think about, such as:

  • current limiting
  • polarity handling
  • inductive protection
  • voltage conversion
  • pin ordering differences
  • connector spacing and orientation

From the user’s perspective, wiring becomes straightforward and consistent—even though the devices themselves are not.

4. The Same I/O Card Can Support Many Devices

Because breakout boards handle device-specific behavior:

  • one I/O card can support many different device types
  • changing a device does not require changing the I/O card
  • only the breakout board changes

This is especially powerful for devices like turnouts, where many motor types exist.

For example:

  • the same turnout I/O card can drive
    • slow-motion stall motors
    • snap-coil machines
    • DC gear motors
    • servos
  • each motor type simply uses a different breakout board

The I/O card remains the same.

5. Wiring Becomes Local and Manageable

Breakout boards are typically mounted:

  • near the device
  • under the layout
  • at the edge of a module

This allows:

  • short device wires
  • clean routing
  • easy access for maintenance

Instead of running long device wires back to a central electronics panel, only a single network cable runs back to the I/O card.

6. Breakout Boards Reduce Wiring Errors

Because breakout boards are designed for a specific device:

  • terminals are clearly labeled
  • wiring order is fixed
  • voltage levels are correct by design

Users do not need to interpret wiring diagrams for each device type. They simply connect wires where they belong.

This significantly reduces installation errors and troubleshooting time.

7. Breakout Boards Enable Consistent Installation Practices

No matter what device is being installed, the workflow remains the same:

  1. Plug the breakout board into the I/O card using a network cable
  2. Mount the breakout board near the device
  3. Connect the device wires to labeled terminals

The consistency of this process is a major reason Fusion scales so well.

8. Breakout Boards Support Modular and Portable Layouts

Because breakout boards use quick-connect network cables:

  • modules can be disconnected easily
  • devices stay wired to their breakout boards
  • transport and setup are faster
  • testing and reconfiguration are simpler

This is especially important for club and show layouts.

9. Open-Source by Nature

Breakout boards are an ideal place for community expansion.

Because their role is well-defined, others can create:

  • new breakout boards for uncommon devices
  • adapters for legacy hardware
  • scale-specific or manufacturer-specific connectors

All while remaining fully compatible with existing I/O cards and hubs.

Why This Matters

Breakout boards are what allow Fusion to support:

  • a wide variety of devices
  • simple, repeatable wiring
  • safe electrical operation
  • clean expansion paths

They keep complexity close to the device, where it belongs, and away from the rest of the system.

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Last updated on: December 17, 2025 © 2025 Pat Fleming