My apologies if I ask all these beginner questions, but the last time I worked on a model railroad it was over 40 years ago in Germany and things have obviously changed. I am looking at buying PECO track and switches and they have two options, unsulfrog and electrofrog. For DCC, which one should I choose? Does it even matter? I also will be installing automated signals at some point. Not sure if that plays a role or not.
Thyanks in advance for any input.
My feeling is to have the best power delivery possible. That means powered frogs. A Peco Electrofrog needs some simple modifications to make it ideal for DCC, but the Peco alternative of an Insulfrog has its own potential issues. I would rather have my track be bulletproof than fit every loco with a stay alive capacitor.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Ditto. Going with electrofrog for my layout.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Steffen1601My apologies if I ask all these beginner questions, but the last time I worked on a model railroad it was over 40 years ago in Germany and things have obviously changed
Hi Steffen 1601,
You do not need to ever apologise for asking a legitimate question! If someone is critical of you for doing that, send them a lump of coal!
Steffen1601I am looking at buying PECO track and switches and they have two options, unsulfrog and electrofrog. For DCC, which one should I choose? Does it even matter?
As Randy said, using the Electrofrog option will give you more reliable track. Personally, I am using all Electrofrog turnouts on my layout because I have several two axle and three axle 'critters' where power pickup can be a problem.
You do need to make some changes to the turnouts to use with DCC. Here is an article which explains what should be done:
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches.htm
Some of the changes are necessary to prevent shorts. Others, like the jumper wires for the points, will ensure that there are no problems with electrical contact down the road. I have modified about 100 Peco Electrofrogs and Atlas Code 83 turnouts. After the first couple it doesn't take long. You do need to practice good soldering habits or you will be melting ties.
Here are some pictures of a modified Electrofrog turnout:
Steffen1601I also will be installing automated signals at some point. Not sure if that plays a role or not.
As far as I know, it doesn't matter which style of turnout you use.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
That's an interesting way to get power to the point rails - need to dig out a little trnch in the roadbed, but I can see that working. Easier than trying to solder in a tiny sliver of wire around the hinge area.
rrinkerThat's an interesting way to get power to the point rails - need to dig out a little trnch in the roadbed, but I can see that working. Easier than trying to solder in a tiny sliver of wire around the hinge area.
Yes, it was much easier to use the longer jumper wires. As you noted, proper clearance for the wires is essential or the points won't move properly, but that is easy to do. Once the track and ties are painted, the wires don't show.
I'll offer a counter to the Electrofrog comments. The unpowered section of an insulfrog is very small. If you are running small 2 axle power like Dave or older power with little power pickup, going electrofrog makes sense. Otherwise the added time/effort/expense of powering that electrofrog (which can vary based on your approach and/or needs) is probably of little benefit. And if you have to add keep alives to all your locomotives, you have more issues than a really small unpowered frog. Just my .
Mike
I will put a chunk of change in Mike's camp. Unless you are obsessive about clean track, locos with poor power pickup will have issues all over your layout, not just the turnouts. I added all-wheel pickup and weight on most of my tenders of my older steam locos. I have few 2 axle locos for fun - they are not the most useful from an operations perspective. So it's hard for me to justify electrofrog for a few locos that I rarely run anyway. When I do run 2 axle locos, I make sure their wheels are clean.
Simon
Atlas Custom-Line turnouts have a large, insulated metal frog. Those definitely need power routing to the frog. Or so everyone thinks - my last layout used the #4 because it was a small layout for smaller trains - I installed wires to power all the frogs but never had to hook them up, everything I ran worked fine, down to a GE 44 tonner. The layotu before that, the mainline turnouts were Atlas #6. Even without powering the frogs - no issues, about the smallest thing I had then was a P2K S-1 switcher. No blinking lights, no stalls, no sound cutouts on the few sound locos that eventually showed up.
Unifrog will be nice, once it gets across all production. Peco is only switching over as the tooling wears out - rather than cut new tooling for Insulfrog or Electrofrog, they are cutting any replacement tooling for the Unifrog design. I expect the Code 70 US style turnouts will be Unifrog, if they ever start shipping them.