Peco Cd 83, Insul/Electro-Frog, etc.

[jwwhite]

Two concerns...

I love the new Peco Code 83, but am concerned about the limited selection of turnouts. Is anyone aware of a rail-joiner that allows mating Peco Code 83 flex to Peco Code 100 turnouts?

Second, anyone care to re-ignite the discussion on InsulFrog vs. ElectroFrog on a DCC layout? Due to the tremedous selection of turnouts in the Peco ElectroFrog Code 100 line, I'd really like to go with those, but am concerned about "special" wiring considerations, etc. I know I'm asking for trouble here, but which is "better", Insul- or Electo- on a DCC layout?

Thanks,

JIm

[mike33469]

My entire layout is Peco code 100 insulfrog and I think its great no special wiring, a few gaps here and there and everything works fine. Oh yeah the layout is DCC. I waited months to start the layout because I was going to use the new Peco code 83 but when I saw that several of the turnouts I needed weren,t yet available and that the code 83 was more expensive I went with code 100. I wasn't real happy with how Peco handled the code 83 intro. My layout would still be totally unusable waiting for other turnouts to become available, and I wasn't crazy about the higher prices.

[simon1966]

I use all Peco insulfrogs (100) with my layout (digitrax DCC) and they perform flawlessly. I decided not to go the electrofrog route and have had no stalling problems even with my short wheel base stuff.

[mcouvillion]

Jim,

Do you mind a dead spot in your turnout? If your engines are long enough or have enough electrical pickups that it doesn't matter, use Insulfrog. If you care, use Electrofrog. It really isn't that big of a deal to wire and you'll never have to worry about it again.

Mark C.

[GDamen]

Using Peco electrofrog's isn't difficult (at least de Code 75 one's arnt) as long as you use a switch (or better switching machine) to polerize the frog according to the position of the points.

The following pages make this a lot easier :
A good start:
http://www.electricnose.co.uk/dcc/dccpecoelectrofrogmod.html

And more complex information using tortoise switchmachines:
http://nietzsche.mems.duke.edu/~auro/trains/tech/turnouts/peco-dcc.html

Gino

[scole100]

The type of turnout, insulfrog / electrofrog, depends on the type of locomotive you will be using. I use small steam engines. I can not have a dead area on every turnout and still get around the yard. The big steam or diesel engines may have no problem at all. The electrofrog requires you to isolate each turnout and run wires to each. No special work beyond that.

[jwwhite]

Thanks for all for the generous responses...

Looks like I'll be going ElectoFrog, since I'm building a post-depression backwoods logging line using 0-6-0's, Doodlebugs, and Shays. I guess now I can justify all those Tortoise switch machines! [^]

Still wondering, though, if anyone knows of an effective way to mate Peco code 83 flex with their code 100 turnouts? Or, given the character of the layout I'm building, should I stop worrying about the more "American" look of the code 83 and just run code 75 flex with either code 75 or 100 E/F turnouts?

Thanks again to all who have replied,

Jim

[selector]

If you mean that there will be a small height disparity, I would solder the two joining rails so that they match. If that presents an electrical hazard in the way of district control, then recess the code 100 turnouts another mm or so into their supporting surface, and the two rails should meet.

Seems to me that jfugate and rrinker recommend gapping at turnouts, anyway, and using a 12-volt automobile bulb in series as a resistance buffer so that you don't run the risk of frying decoders when your loco derails at a frog and shorts the line.

[GDamen]

Jim,

QUOTE: Originally posted by jwwhite

Still wondering, though, if anyone knows of an effective way to mate Peco code 83 flex with their code 100 turnouts?

There are special transition connectors. Most brands that carry code 100 and code 83 rails have them (I recall that Roco does)

QUOTE: Or, given the character of the layout I'm building, should I stop worrying about the more "American" look of the code 83 and just run code 75 flex with either code 75 or 100 E/F turnouts?

I choose to use all code 75 finescale. This makes life easier because no differance in codes, the worse availibility of the code 83 railsprogramm (at least in the Netherlands) and my local hobbyshap has the full code 75 program on stock!

I will try to make tonight a couple of detail pictures of the code 75 used on my layout (in the meantime have a look at my website under Modelrailroad -> Project USA)

Gino

[GMTRacing]

Jim there are both transition tracks and joiners available. For what it's worth, my GE44T switcher runs happily back and forth over my Peco insulfrog small radius switches.
regards, J.R.

[BR60103]

Jim: I always suggest electrofrog if it's available, but I don't lose any sleep if it isn't. I haven't used the code 83, but I mix code 100 and code 70. I push a rail joiner onto the code 100, squa***he bit that sticks out with pliers and solder the smaller rail on top. A little bend should get the rail tops to line up.
Also check Loys Toys website for wiring for various brands of turnouts for DCC.
And most of the Electrofrogs are also available as Insulfrogs.