Rob,
All of that makes sense. Guess what? I bought a bulk pack of suitcase connectors from amazon that weren't 3M brand. Looks like i will have to do a little more wiring/redo. Luckily this is a small 4x8 and won't be too be to do again.
Thanks for all of the advice!
-Nathan
BRLC42I've also ran my multi-meter to check what's going on. I'm only recieving power to my outside ralis (opposite frog rail side). This problem is happening between two turnouts. That is to say once i pass through a turnout I lose power all the way until the next turnout. After the second turnout i gain power ( past the frog rails).
Sounds to me like your problem isn't the turnouts at all, but bad connections between the frog rails and the bus. If your insulation displacement connectors (i.e. "suitcases") aren't making contact internally, you could actually have a lot of bad connections throughout the layout, but are only noticing on the frog rails since they are otherwise isolated. Other possibilities include failed solder joints at the rail, or broken feeder wires inside the insulation.
I'd suggest removing the feeders to the frog rails one at a time from the connectors to the bus, and getting power to them using clip leads. If you get continuity at the rail, the issue may simply be with poor connections under the layout. Off-brands of suitcases are known for leading to this kind of thing. You may need to upgrade to a better brand, use a more suitable tool during installation, solder to the bus, or use terminal strips.
With feeders that are properly installed, ME turnouts pretty much work every time.
I have installed insulated rail joiners between the frog rail and the next section rail. I've soldered feeders before and after the insulated joiner.
Unless you're changing polarity of the rails after the joint, or wanting to keep that piece of rail isolated for the purpose of turning it off, or detection for signalling, insulated joints aren't needed. Current ME turnouts are already gapped at the frog, so you could simply feed the frog rail by soldering a joiner to the next piece of track. Retaining the additional feeder couldn't hurt if you have it in already though.
Rob Spangler
The issue is the same with both turnouts (4x8 layout). I have installed insulated rail joiners between the frog rail and the next section rail. I've soldered feeders before and after the insulated joiner.
I've also ran my multi-meter to check what's going on. I'm only recieving power to my outside ralis (opposite frog rail side). This problem is happening between two turnouts. That is to say once i pass through a turnout I lose power all the way until the next turnout. After the second turnout i gain power ( past the frog rails). I basically have a loop so far...just checking to see if stuff works and it only half works.
I have installed insulated rail joiners on the frog rails leading to the next section of track. I've tested with a multi-meter the rails leading up to the turnouts and there is power. After the frog rails is a different story. There is no power from the frog rails and the next section of track that would lead from the frog rail.
I have feeders going to this section of track before and after the insulated rail joiners. In my view, no section would be unpowered. So basically i have a loop of track unpowered from one turnout to another.
Note: all feeders are soldered to the rails and connected to the bus with suit case connectors.
Do you have a problem with all the Micro Engineering turnouts? Did you install rail joiners between the "frog rails" and the rails adjacent to them? Are your rail joints soldered? Have you tested all the wiring connections?
Here's the diagram from the site you linked to.
Try powering a frog rail with a clip lead, with the other end connected to an adjacent rail (of the correct polarity) where you know you have power. That should stop the problem if the only issue is bad connections involving the feeders. You could have a break in the bus somewhere, so your feeders are not actually getting power. If this is happening on both rails on all your turnouts, I'd think it unlikely all the feeders have bad solder joints at the rail and/or bad connections to the bus. It may be time to get out a meter and test for continuity.
Hello,
I'm relatively new to the hobby and I'm having issues with Micro Engineering turnouts (DCC friendly). I've wired the feeders to the turnout per diagrams online.
http://www.wiringfordcc.com/switches_ME_BK.htm
The issue I have is that the frog rails have no power, even though I have feeders from the frog rails to my bus wires. I've tried a powered frog and an unpowered frog. No matter what, I still don't have power to my frog rails.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.