Chapter 2 — Configuration
Configuration happens on the Panels DCC website in a browser — on your sofa, at a desk, or anywhere you have internet. You do not need to be next to the layout. When you are ready to run trains, PanelsDCC Control on the Raspberry Pi uses what you have set up here.
Everything is visual. There is no requirement to write scripts or edit configuration files. If you can click, type, and drag, you can add locomotives, accessories, and control panels.
Complete Getting started first (install, Wi‑Fi, Connect, first train, and your account) so Control can talk to your command station.
Recommended order
- Trains — add locomotives and their DCC numbers.
- Function maps — ready-made lists of decoder functions to load onto trains (optional until you want more than a basic throttle).
- Functions — create your own icons when the library does not fit (optional).
- Accessories — points, signals, and other layout items.
- Macros — group several accessories into one command (optional until you want that).
- Panels — draw the diagram you will operate from, and link it to those accessories.
Sensors, train detection, and route setting will be covered in later chapters. This chapter is the everyday setup path.
1. Trains
Your cloud library of locomotives, coaches, and wagons: pictures, status, DCC address, decoder notes, and function icons. Quick-add from the UK library, or enter details by hand.
2. Accessories
Create points, colour-light and semaphore signals, crossings, and custom items. Each state has a DCC number. Optionally use macros to group several accessories so you can set them together later in Control.
3. Panels
A panel is a control diagram of your layout — not a scale track plan. Place track, points, and signals, then link them to the accessories you have already created (or create a missing accessory without leaving the editor).