Table of contents
Table of contents
The Fusion Node Bus Hub
A single bus that eliminates card-to-card wiring and simplifies layout automation.
Once you understand why layout wiring quickly becomes unmanageable, the next question is:
How does LCC Fusion avoid this complexity altogether?
The answer is the Fusion Node Bus Hub.
The Fusion Node Bus Hub is the physical foundation of the Fusion hardware ecosystem. It replaces dozens of individual wires with a clean, structured bus that automatically delivers power, communication, and coordination to every card plugged into it.
Think of it as a small, purpose-built motherboard for your layout electronics.
1. What the Fusion Node Bus Hub Does
A Fusion Node Bus Hub is a backplane that distributes:
- operating power
- CAN bus communication
- I²C communication
- synchronization and control signals
Every card plugged into the hub receives these connections automatically.
As a result:
- Cards are never wired to each other
- Cards do not require individual power connections
- Cards do not require communication wiring
Cards simply plug into the hub and immediately become part of the system.
2. Eliminating Card-to-Card Wiring
Traditional automation systems often require:
- detector boards wired to logic boards
- logic boards wired to output boards
- output boards wired to other output boards
Fusion eliminates this entire wiring layer.
All cards communicate internally through the Fusion Node Bus Hub. No jumpers. No interconnect harnesses. No wiring diagrams between cards.
This single design choice removes one of the largest sources of wiring complexity in layout automation.
3. One Cable In, Three Cables Out
Once the cards are plugged into the Fusion Node Bus Hub, external wiring becomes very simple.
A typical automation scene—such as a siding with detection, signals, and a turnout—requires:
One network cable coming in
This connects the hub to the layout’s CAN network.
Three network cables going out
- One to the turnout breakout board
- One to the signal breakout board
- One to the block detection breakout board
That’s it.
Four network cables total. Zero wires between cards.
This wiring pattern remains the same regardless of how many cards are plugged into the hub.
4. Hub Sizes
Fusion provides two pre-designed, open-standard hub sizes:
6-Card Fusion Node Bus Hub
Designed for:
- centralized electronics locations
- yards and interlockings
- control drawers or cabinets
2-Card Fusion Node Bus Hub
Designed for:
- small scenes
- remote control points
- modular layout sections
Both hubs follow the same electrical and mechanical standard. Both behave identically from the system’s point of view.
5. Built-In Reliability (Handled Automatically)
The Fusion Node Bus Hub includes features that normally require manual configuration in other systems.
CAN bus termination
Proper termination is required for reliable CAN communication. Fusion hubs include this automatically so users never need to think about it.
I²C signal conditioning
I²C communication benefits from filtering and stabilization. Fusion hubs provide this internally to ensure reliable operation.
These features work quietly in the background without user intervention.
6. Why Fusion Uses Network Cables Wherever Possible
Fusion uses CAT-style network cables (CAT6 recommended) throughout the system because they offer practical, real-world advantages:
- Reliable connections that lock securely and tolerate repeated use
- Eight conductors in a single cable, reducing cable count
- Sufficient current capacity for low-voltage layout electronics
- Low cost, especially when cables are DIY-built
- Easy labeling and organization using colors and tags
- Quick connect/disconnect, ideal for testing, reconfiguration, and modular layouts
Network cables bring structure, consistency, and flexibility to layout wiring.
7. The Hub as the Foundation of Fusion
Because the Fusion Node Bus Hub handles all power and communication:
- I/O Cards remain simple and specialized
- Breakout Boards can be device-specific
- The Node Card can focus on LCC intelligence
- Wiring stays clean and predictable
The hub is what makes Fusion approachable, scalable, and reliable.
What’s Next
The Fusion Node Bus Hub is designed not only to simplify wiring, but also to scale naturally as layouts grow.
The next article explains how hubs expand—both locally and across the layout—without changing the wiring model.
→ See Expanding the Fusion Node Bus Hub