Historic Circuits → Fusion Solutions (Planner)
[TOC]
Introduction
This planner page helps you translate classic model railroad electronics (as seen in magazines/books) into modern LCC Fusion solutions. Instead of building one-off relay/timer boards, you can select a Fusion card + breakout and drive it with CDI-configured events. The comparison table below shows the legacy function, the recommended Fusion hardware, and a short note on how it’s implemented.
Scope: This project focuses on DCC and automation. Legacy DC-throttle “momentum/brake” add-ons are out of scope.
How to use this page
- Find the legacy function you want (e.g., “grade crossing flashers”).
- Use the Fusion Card(s) and Breakout listed to plan your build.
- Copy the suggested implementation notes into your wiring/config plan, then add CDI rules to generate/consume the needed events.
Tip: Pair this planner with the individual Card Assembly Guides (e.g., Node Card) for wiring, addresses, and CDI examples.
Fusion Coverage: Historic Circuits → Fusion Solutions
| Model Train Electronics Circuitry | Typical Usage | LCC Fusion Card(s) | Associated LCC Fusion Breakout Board | How it’s implemented |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detecting Trains via Track Current | ABS / CTC signaling | BOD/BSD Cards (train detection) PWM Card (LED control) Node Card (Rules & Conditional Statements) |
Block Breakout Board (block wiring) Signals Breakout Board (masts/lamps) |
Train (current) occupancy events provide events for rule conditions to compute aspects; PWM drives mast LEDs (dimming, fades, warm-up). |
| Grade Crossing Controller | Flashers, gates, bell | BOD/BSD Cards / POD Card (train detection) PWM Card (LED control) Servo Card (Crossing arm movement) Sound Card/Audio Card (Crossing bells) |
Block Breakout Board (block wiring) Signals Breakout Board (masts/lamps) Servo Motor Driver Breakout Board(servo wiring) |
Train detection(current or position) approach/occupy/clear events trigger flash patterns, gate motion, and bell/announcement audio. |
| Relay Based Controllers | Signal aspects & approach lighting crossing flashers/gate sequencing route locking (prevent conflicting moves) delayed on/off switching |
Node Card I/O, Digital I/O Card, Output Card (switch relay on/off Node Card (Rules & Conditional Statements) PWM Card / Servo Card / Turnout Card (as targets) |
Relay Breakout Board (only when switching track/power/AC loads) Signals Breakout Board (masts/lamps) Servo Motor Driver Breakout Board(servo wiring) Turnout xx Breakout Board (turnout wiring) |
Replace ladder/relay logic with LCC rules and conditions that process events (BOD/POD/UOD/buttons) and emit actions (signals, turnout throws, DCC commands). Use Relay Breakout for high-power/AC switching; otherwise drive LEDs/servos directly via PWM/Servo/Turnout. |
| ATC / Cab Signaling (event → DCC) | Enforce stop/slow/go | POD Card (position/speed) DCC Card (commands) Node Card (Rules & Conditional Statements) |
POD Breakout Board | Two train position timings are used to produce speed related events. Events are used by rule conditions to compute drive DCC speed/stop commands. |
| Station Stop / Dwell Timer | Auto stop/restart | Node Card (timers/rules) POD Card (position detection) DCC Card (Cab stop/start/delay) |
POD Breakout Board | Train detection (position) events trigger cab events for stop and delay start. |
| Speed Trap / Scale Speed | Over-speed alerts, logging | POD Card Audio Card Node Card (speed zone firmware) |
POD Breakout Board | Two sensors compute excessive scale speed within a speed zone triggering events for audio or output messages |
| Lighting Effects | Flicker, neon, warm-up | PWM Card (LED control) Node Card () |
Signals Breakout Board | CDI-selectable patterns on PWM outputs (flicker, fade, incandescent warm-up). |
| Sequential / Chase Lighting | Marquee / tower banks | PWM Card | NeoPixel Breakout Board (+ pixel string) | Event-triggered RGB patterns (chaser, marquee, fades) on addressable LEDs. |
| Sound Effects / Announcements | Bells, horns, TTS | Sound Card (MP3) Audio Card (.wav + TTS) |
— | LCC events map to playlists or speech; volume/track selection via CDI. |
| Animations (general) | Gates, semaphores, cranes | Servo Card (servos) PWM Card (DC motors) |
Servo Breakout Board Turnout Stall Switch Machine Breakout Board |
CDI motion profiles (travel, speed, easing); events start/stop sequences. |
| Auto-Reverser (loop) | Reverse polarity on short | BRD Card | Block Breakout Board | Short detection drives latching relay to flip polarity; emits LCC status events. |
| Frog Polarity Switching | Reliable turnout routing | Turnout Card | Turnout Stall Switch Machine Breakout Board | TQ relay follows turnout state to set frog polarity; sense lines can confirm position. |
| Short Detect → District Disconnect | Protect power district | BLVD Card Relay Breakout Board |
Relay Breakout Board | BLVD event trips relay to open the district; CDI policy controls auto-restore. |
| Object / Presence Detection (optical/ultrasonic) | Triggers for logic | POD Card, UOD Card, Sensor Card | POD Breakout Board UOD Breakout Board Digital Sensor Breakout Board |
Sensors generate enter/exit/threshold events for use by CDI rules. |
| Twin-Coil Turnout (CDU) | Snap-action machines | Turnout Controller (CDU variant) | — | Controlled capacitor-discharge pulses with interlock timing; event-driven. |
| Tortoise Slow-Motion Turnout | Stall motor control | Turnout Card | Turnout Stall Switch Machine Breakout Board | Direction/power handled on card; feedback lines generate LCC events when settled. |
| Turntable / Traverser Indexing | Indexed positions | PWM Card (step/dir) Node Card (rules) |
Stepper Motor Breakout Board (A4988/TMC) | Homing + indexed stops; CDI “Go to track N”; optional accel/decel ramps. |
| Voice Control (Alexa → Events) | Dispatcher/ops voice | Node Card (Alexa mapping) DCC Card |
— | Alexa intents defined in CDI → LCC Events; events drive DCC and Node actions. |
| Power Meter / Logger (bench/fascia) | Live VDC/I/alerts | Node Card (serial monitor) | (Optional) I²C Display | Live telemetry via serial; optional LCD for quick viewing during tests. |
| Isolated Hub Linking / Bus Extension | Long-run reliability | Node Bus Repeater Board | — | Placed between Node Bus Hubs; extends/cleans segments; preserves auto-termination behavior. |