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Abstract. This work describes one stage in the entire process of redesigning certain components, installation and testing of a soil bin test facility in the Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka to enhance research as well as teaching and learning of soil-machine interaction. In this stage, an electric control switch for the common carriage of a soil bin test facility has been designed, constructed and tested. The electrical design of the control switch was done and simulated in PROTEUS software. Circuit components include transistor, resistors, relays, two-way switch, power switch, LED and jumper wires all connected on a veroboard. The control switch was designed to electrically control the opening and closing of a proportional valve at both ends through two solenoids attached. The opening and closing of the proportional valve in turn controls the rate of flow of the hydraulic oil which controls the RPM of the shaft of the hydraulic motor. The shaft of the hydraulic motor carries the sprocket and chain drive which moves the common carriage in the forward and reverse direction and also brings it to a stop. Simulation results showed that the switch was able to initiate motion of the common carriage in forward, reverse directions as well as to a stop position. This result was validated by physical testing of the control switch which successfully connected the chain and sprocket drive to move the common carriage in forward and reverse directions, and to a stop.