Help with Faulty Atlas #8 turnouts

[richhotrain]

jjdamnit

As a retired electrician, one of the most difficult concepts most apprentice electricians have is grasping the three way switch; one light controlled by two separate switches. 

And, then, there is the 4-way switch.

Rich

[jjdamnit]

Hello all,

richhotrain

richhotrain wrote the following post 19 minutes ago:
jjdamnit: As a retired electrician, one of the most difficult concepts most apprentice electricians have is grasping the three way switch; one light controlled by two separate switches.
richhotrain: And, then, there is the 4-way switch.

We’re not even there yet!

Don't scare the OP away!!

Hope this helps.

[MisterBeasley]

#8 turnouts are long and have long frogs.  They need powered frogs to let locomotives traverse them reliably.

Decide how you plan to eventually power the frogs and install that now.  It's easier during initial installation than later as a retrofit.

[gmpullman]

kasskaboose

Either I'm not understanding what I'm doing wrong or there's an issue with the turnout. 

I'm at a loss for trying to understand why you drilled three holes through the frog.

Doing that guaranteed you made them into scrap. Atlas has no responsibility with this issue. Look at the bottom of the turnout in the frog area. You can see where the two contacts are embedded into the tie plastic that carry the power — under and isolated from the frog — for the two closure rails. This is what Frank and Randy pointed out in their reply on page 1.

Atlas_TO2 by Edmund, on Flickr

One is a metal strip the other is a black insulated wire. You drilled through these causing a certain short.

The bronze eye is designed to carry the power to the frog which, as many have tried to explain, has to change to match the point direction.

 

Atlas_TO1 by Edmund, on Flickr

 

Here is the "Helpful Hints" from the back of the package:

Atlas_TO by Edmund, on Flickr

Sorry I couldn't be more help,

Good Luck, Ed