PECO Electrofrog.Whats a FROG? Help with My layout Please

[BR60103]

Greg: do you have the instruction sheet that came with the switches? This has diagrams of what to do.
The electrofrog turnout is wired in the form called "traditional", "all-rail" or "Dechert" system. It's how we did things before plastic. The part of the switch consisting of the point rails (the movable bits) and the frog are all wired together. This section changes polarity when the switch points move. However, the open point is at opposite polarity to the rail beside it. Some wheels will touch both at once and cause a short. The fix requires that you break the two wires under the turnout and install a switch on the switch machine to connect the frog to the appropriate rail. The points pick up electricity by touching the stock rails (the main rails). All shown on the instruction sheet.

[Anonymous]

Ok I now understand better where the frog is (went to Peco Web page lol)Let me describe each one.Looking at the top the track comes together but just befor it touches at the point is a piece of plastic.Also where it splits into right and left just befor the point the track is sepperated by plastic. Underneath it appears there are to very tiney wires crossing and attaching the tracks as they switch? Does this help I am taking a digital if you have regular E-mail i can send please continue to help Ohh and I just ordered that kalumback Easy Model Rail Road Wiring 2nd edition. Again Thanks respectfully Greg Hall [e-mail]

[cwclark]

CACole is right...I believe you need to get a good wiring book that explains how to wire the turnouts...Kalmbach publications has some really good books (the extra expense is worth it) that will help you with your wiring..."Model Railroad Wiring Made Easy by Andy S. ( I can't spell your last name right Andy!) is a very good modern day one and so is a very old yet reliable book called "Wiring Your Model Railroad" by Lynn Wescott is another good book....they all have excellent wiring diagrams within them that will help you wire your railroad in any given wiring problem / configuration... Chuck[:D]

[cacole]

Electrofrog turnouts require that the frog be wired separately from the rest of the turnout through a special relay that changes the polarity of the frog as the turnout is thrown from one position to the other. Insulfrog turnouts do not require any special wiriing other than insulating the rails that diverge from the frog. The frog is the point where the rails cross each other in the center of the turnout.

If you have only Electrofrog turnouts, you're going to need to invest in and wire a Peco relay for each one.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my Peco turnout problem.I am still researching and looking into the problem. I guess the main thing is it has been almost 10 years since I have built a big layout and this one will be huge.I have another question what is the difference betweenInsulfrog and Electrofrog.All the boxes I have say Electrofrog. Oh and what the heck is a "Frog"? I meen not the obviouse LOL I do know of the one that sits on a lilly pad all day and eats fly's :).Also I have taken numerouse digital pictures and wanted to send them as to give a better view of what I have to work with etc. But I dont know HTLM and not sure how to send them when I try to E-Mail a responce its not like regular E-mail. Again looking forward to any suggestions and help. I want to get started but I dont want to rush and make mistakes. Thanks again respectfully Greg Hall [e-mail]