I use Peco electrofrog turnouts now and they work perfect. They require a liitle extra wiring though. I was using Peco insulfrog turnouts (plastic frog like atlas)and had lots of problems with short wheel based engines (switchers) losing contact on the frog. Im in Nscale though so may make a difference. I never have had an engine accually trip the break on my DDC system on a turnout unless the turnout was facing the wrong way. I dont like Atlas turnouts since the movable rail is loose and can move. Peco turnouts snap in place and stay in place. Not quite as prototypical but they do work great. Like the others have said, you might want to check your wheel width with a guage to make sure the wheels are in guage.
Or, Take a thin file and widen the gap between the two opposite "phase" tracks where they come together. Takes about a minute. Worked for me.
Good luck
Lee
Hi,
I had the problem that Selector pointed out on a few older generation Atlas # 6s. Fixing them is - in my opinion - an exercise in futility. Give them you your DC friends, and replace the turnouts with newer ones.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
In the frog area where the two rails come close together, separated by only a thin piece of black plastic, take some nail polish and coat the rails for a short distance (1/16 inch). This will eventually wear off but can be replaced. Then look for wheels out of gauge. Wide tires on a locomotive are usually the cause.
Capt. Briggwww.pacificcascaderailway.com
Capt. Brigg FranklinUSCG Licensed Marine OfficerCertified crazy train chaserCEO: Pacific Cascade Railway
The wheelsets are also in gauge
It's already a dcc friendly turnout. It's atlas #4 turnout mark IV.
The problem comes from the wide metal tire treads on your loco, or because the wheels are not in gauge and brush another nearby rail. One of the wheels bridges between two rails of opposite polarity/phase at/near the frog (I'm guessing) and you get the short. You can replace the turnout to a 'DCC-friendly' variety with the isolated and dead frog (has black plastic spacers filling the four gaps), or if it's already meant to be that way, and has another defect, or a poor design, just getting a new one might be less of a headache. Mind you, it will also be less of a challenge to keep and otherwise good turnout.
Crandell
I have a turnout that every time a locomotive goes over it,it shorts out my dcc system. How can I fix this? Do I just replace it?