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" PECO TURNOUTS"

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  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: west of Portland Oreg.( the city of Roses
  • 599 posts
" PECO TURNOUTS"
Posted by TrainsRMe1 on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 12:23 AM

Hi ALL,                                                                                                                           I'm adding a cross over on a mainline and a turnout from a double to single main track,  the problem seems to be that I have a short whenever I switch from main one to main two, and when I switch the crossover from main one it causes a short to main two, Im thinking I could use either insulated rail joiners or cut the rail, just asking for feedback, Thanks!!!!!                                                                                  Trainsrme1Cool

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: Miles City, Montana
  • 2,289 posts
Posted by FRRYKid on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 2:51 AM

Just a guess here but it almost sounds like you have live frogs and power routing turnouts. The classic Atlas wiring book has a article on how to properly wire them. Power feeds on that type have to be on the point side rather than the frog side. One route everything is fine. The other causes problems if the feed isn't right.

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 5:08 AM

Yeah, it would help to know if the Peco turnouts are Electrofrog, Insulfrog, or Unifrog.

Does you wiring match on the two parallel mainlines? If the feeders don't match, a short will occur when a locomotive reaches the other mainline.

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 8:04 AM

This sounds like exactly the issue I had.

I had always used Insulfrog turnouts on my N DCC layout.  The store was out, and I bought Electrofrog instead.  After installing it, I had a short.

After looking up the problem, I found the following picture.  The yellow marks are where you can cut a gap.  I did not install insulualted rail joiners.

Please let us know how you solve the issue.

 

York1 John       

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 8:57 AM

York1
The yellow marks are where you can cut a gap.  I did not install insulualted rail joiners.

Gap all four rails coming off of both frogs. Add feeders, and that should solve everything.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: west of Portland Oreg.( the city of Roses
  • 599 posts
Posted by TrainsRMe1 on Thursday, April 13, 2023 4:35 PM

Hey Thanks John, for the illustration, this helps alot, I use isulated railjoiners, so this should solve the problem,

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