Half-Siding Planning Guide

Introduction

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.

Example Scope

The half-siding includes:

One turnout controlling access to a siding
Signals governing movement into and through the siding
Occupancy detection for mainline and siding blocks
All components contained within a single LCC Fusion pod

No node-to-node networking is assumed.

Hardware Planning Summary

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

Hardware Placement Strategy

Centralized Pod Components

The following components are typically centralized in one physical location, such as under the layout or inside a control enclosure:

Node Card
Node Bus Hub
Turnout Card
PWM Card
BOD Card

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.

Distributed Breakout Boards

Breakout boards are placed near the physical devices they serve:

Turnout Breakout Board near the turnout machine
Signal Breakout Board near the signal mast(s)
Block Breakout Board near track feeder connections

This placement:

Minimizes long runs of device wiring
Keeps high-current or layout-voltage wiring off the pod
Simplifies troubleshooting and future changes

Block Planning Example

A typical half-siding may be divided into the following occupancy blocks:

2 blocks before the turnout (approach / mainline)
1 block through the turnout
1 block in the siding
2 blocks after the turnout (departure / continuation)

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 and Lamp Planning Example

Signal planning directly affects PWM and Signal Breakout Board requirements.

Example signal usage for a half-siding:

Approach signal (mainline) – 3 lamps
Turnout-protecting signal – 3 lamps
Siding exit or clearance signal – 2 lamps
Optional downstream signal(s) – 2 lamps each

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

Power Planning Overview

Pod Power Distribution

All LCC Fusion cards within the pod receive power via the Node Bus Hub
Power and communication are distributed using standard network cables
No point-to-point power wiring is required between cards

This keeps the pod compact and modular.

Layout Accessory Bus

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

Planning Notes

When planning a half-siding, consider:

How many blocks are truly needed versus desired
Whether signals protect individual blocks or grouped movements
The number of lamps per signal mast
Future expansion beyond the initial siding

These decisions influence capacity planning, not basic hardware selection.

Why This Example Matters

This half-siding example serves as:

The first multi-card planning reference in the LCC Fusion documentation
A realistic, compact operating scenario
A reusable planning pattern for other scenes
A bridge between dioramas and full layout planning