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Planning a Layout with LCC Fusion in Mind

Planning a Layout with LCC Fusion in Mind

How to think about structure, placement, and growth before building or wiring anything.

With the core concepts of LCC Fusion established, the next step is planning.

This article is not about schematics, parts lists, or installation steps. Instead, it focuses on how to think about a layout when Fusion is the control system—so decisions made early remain valid as the layout grows.

1. Start by Thinking in “Scenes,” Not Wires

Traditional planning often starts with wiring questions:

Where does this wire go?
How many conductors do I need?
How far back to the control panel?

Fusion planning starts differently.

You begin by identifying scenes:

a siding
a yard throat
a town
an industrial spur
a signal bridge
a module

A scene is simply a group of devices that work together:

turnouts
signals
detection
sensors

Scenes become the natural boundaries for hubs, cards, and breakout boards.

2. Identify the Devices in Each Scene

For each scene, list the physical devices involved:

how many turnouts
how many signal heads
how many blocks
how many sensors or indicators

At this stage, you do not worry about:

wiring paths
cable lengths
addressing
configuration details

You are only identifying what exists.

3. Map Devices to Breakout Boards First

In Fusion, devices always connect to breakout boards, not directly to I/O cards.

Planning becomes much clearer when you ask:

What breakout board does each device require?
Where can that breakout board be physically mounted?

This naturally answers:

how many network cables leave the hub
where short device wiring will live
where access is needed for maintenance

4. Choose Hub Locations Based on Scenes

Once scenes are defined, hub placement becomes obvious.

A Fusion Node Bus Hub is typically placed:

under a scene
near a group of related devices
where breakout boards can be reached easily

Good hub placement:

shortens device wiring
reduces clutter
improves troubleshooting
supports future expansion

You are not choosing a “central control panel.” You are placing local control points.

5. Decide Early: Centralized or Distributed

Fusion supports both styles equally well.

Centralized approach

hubs grouped in a drawer or cabinet
network cables run out to scenes
easy access to electronics

Distributed approach

hubs placed near each scene
one network cable between hubs
minimal device wiring length

Neither approach is “better.” The layout geometry usually makes the decision for you.

6. Plan for Growth, Not Completion

Most layouts grow.

Fusion planning assumes:

more turnouts will be added
more signals will appear
detection will expand
logic will become more sophisticated

Good planning leaves:

empty hub slots
room for an additional hub
accessible cable paths

You don’t need to plan everything up front—but you should plan so nothing blocks future expansion.

7. Don’t Over-Plan I/O Cards Early

It is tempting to map every card type in advance.

Fusion allows a lighter approach:

plan by capability, not exact card count
allow card selection to follow device installation
let auto-discovery shape configuration later

This reduces upfront decisions and avoids premature constraints.

8. Think About Maintenance and Access

Planning is not complete without considering:

how you’ll reach breakout boards
how cables can be unplugged
how a card can be replaced
how a module can be disconnected

Fusion’s use of hubs and network cables makes this easier—but only if access is considered early.

9. Planning Is About Reducing Surprises

Good Fusion planning ensures that:

wiring paths are short and obvious
hubs are never overloaded unexpectedly
expansion doesn’t require rewiring
configuration aligns naturally with hardware

When planning is done well, the build and installation phases feel routine rather than stressful.

Why This Matters

Fusion is designed to remove complexity—but good planning ensures you actually benefit from that design.

By thinking in scenes, hubs, and breakout boards:

wiring becomes predictable
expansion becomes routine
documentation stays accurate
troubleshooting becomes local

Planning with Fusion in mind turns layout automation from a wiring challenge into a structured design exercise.

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