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DCC turn outs

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  • Member since
    March 2009
  • 21 posts
DCC turn outs
Posted by ornreecuss on Sunday, March 21, 2010 8:33 AM

Would any one know who make turn outs that will work with DCC.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: Kansas
  • 808 posts
Posted by jamnest on Sunday, March 21, 2010 8:36 AM

I use both Atlas Code 83 and the new Walthers Code 83 turnouts (HO scale) with DCC.  They work great.  They are DCC friendly and you do not have to do any special wiring.

Jim, Modeling the Kansas City Southern Lines in HO scale.

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • 4,612 posts
Posted by Hamltnblue on Sunday, March 21, 2010 8:36 AM

 You can upgrade practically any turnout using a Tortoise switch engine or similar, and a DCC accessory switch such as the NCE switch 8 or switch-it. I use them and they're great.

Also There will soon be a tortoise with DCC built in.

http://www.ncecorporation.com/ncetest/switchb1.pdf

http://www.ncecorporation.com/ncetest/switch_8.pdf

Springfield PA

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Metro East St. Louis
  • 5,743 posts
Posted by simon1966 on Sunday, March 21, 2010 8:38 AM

I use Peco Insulfrog turnouts with my DCC layout with no problems.

Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum

  • Member since
    March 2009
  • 21 posts
Posted by ornreecuss on Sunday, March 21, 2010 8:46 AM

What about Micro Engineering?

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Posted by Hamltnblue on Sunday, March 21, 2010 8:50 AM

 That would be the "or similar" Whistling

Springfield PA

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Posted by ornreecuss on Sunday, March 21, 2010 8:51 AM

What?

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Sunday, March 21, 2010 10:52 AM

Huh? Laugh

Big Smile

The Micro Engineering turnouts are offered in DCC-friendly format, so the frogs are isolated from the rest of the turnout.

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/mce/mce14705.htm

Note:  I merely googled and came up with this site offering the turnouts and also a description. I have never purchased from, nor communicated with, hobbylink.

-Crandell

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • From: Enfield, CT
  • 935 posts
Posted by Doc in CT on Monday, March 22, 2010 7:52 AM
DCC friendly is more than just an isolated frog;  do read Allan Gartner's Wiring for DCC

Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Monday, March 22, 2010 8:09 AM

What do you mean by "works with DCC?"

There are two aspects to consider.  First, does the trackwork support DCC easily?  This is determined by whether the frog is conducting or non-conducting, and whether the turnout is "power routing" or not.  It lets you know if you can use the turnout to power the diverging routes (frog end) from the incoming route (point end.)  Depending on the turnout, you may be forced to have feeders beyond the turnout, have optional feeders beyond the turnout, or have no feeders beyond the turnout (without insulators.)

The other aspect is the control of the turnout.  This is all about how the switch machine is controlled.  While you can use DCC to control turnouts, you don't have to.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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