Live frogs and DCC

[Blind Bruce]

I use "DCCfriendly" turnouts on my layout but I have several leftovers from my DC days that do not have insulated frogs. Is there any reason I cannot use them on stub spurs? These spurs would need to be powered by the turnout in a power routing configuration.

[tstage]

Bruce,

I have Fast Tracks turnouts on my layout (all live frogs) and they work just fine.  The key is that the frogs have been properly gapped and powered.  And I operate them with Caboose Industries 220S ground throws.

If you properly gap and power your turnouts, you should have no problems at all - whether you use the power ground throw or Tortoise.

Tom

[Blind Bruce]

Thanks Tom. I was trying to get away without gapping the frogs. That operation is a little beyond my eyesight capabilities.

[rrinker]

 All you should need to worry about is gapping them past the diverging end. There's really no rule that says the gaps around the frog have to be as close to the frog as possible - in fact if you extend th diverging rails out a ways before gapping, and provide switched power of the proper polarity (contacts on switch motor or a relay or something), the rails approaching the frog from the 'wrong' side (against the way the points are set) will have both rails the same polarity and the train will stop before it derails.

The only danger of the frog not being gapped on the point side is the open point rail and the adjacent stock rail will be opposite polarities, and a too wide or an out of gauge wheelset might brush the point rail and cause a short.

                                                   --Randy