AUS Controller reported there was no training or explanation on changes to the new circuit panel that controlled the lighting at the airport and airport personnel were having difficulty in troubleshooting a lighting problem. The new panel's indicators for runway and taxiway centerline lighting were also unclear and difficult to see.

Narrative

The airport recently upgraded our airfield lighting panel and there were numerous changes to what the buttons do. An airport operations person called asking about if a specific section of lighting was turned on or not as he was troubleshooting why it wasn't working. I realized it was turned off because on the old panel you would turn the circuits controlling reverse high-speed turn off since they aren't used. The old panel also made it very clear which sections were on and off. The new panel depicts runways and taxiways much smaller and it is more difficult to tell which centerline light sections are on and off. We did not receive any training or an explanation of what changed with the new panel and no one knows exactly what buttons turn what sections on or off.We were not given an opportunity to provide input (that I'm aware of) when the airport was installing and adjusting the panel settings. At a minimum we should get a quick briefing of the changes and know that the reverse high speeds must always be on because they are tied to centerline lighting that leads to the full length of the runway. If you turn them off; a pilot might turn to Taxiway F or M and depart at the intersection because the centerline lights are not on full length.